THE SEVERANS • Marcus Aurelius = last of the “5 good emperors” • son Commodus deranged -megalomania -divine aspirations (Hercules and Jupiter) -no interest in statecraft or military -renamed himself “Hercules Romanus” -renamed Rome “Colonia Commodiana” • portraiture highly resembles father -beard, heavy eyelids, aloof gaze • assassinated with damnatio memoriae in 192 -later rescinded
à
Marcus Aurelius, d. 180 CE Commodus THE SEVERANS IN ROME Five Good Emperors (96-180) à Commodus (180-192) à Civil War à SEVERANS • Septimius Severus born in N. Africa (Leptis Magna, Libya) • assumes imperial throne in 193 CE after successful military career • two sons, Caracalla and Geta
à à Caracalla (198-217)
Commodus Septimus Severus (193-211) Geta (killed in 212) Forma Urbis Romae • Severan map of entire city • installed in Te m plu m Pacis • shows all buildings, streets, infrastructure, building heights • most important monuments labelled • function unknown
http://formaurbis.stanford.edu Severan Palace (domus Severiana) on the Palatine
• only substructures survive • included private bath complex • looms over Circus Maximus Septizodium • monumental structure attested in literary evidence • destroyed in late 16th c. • partially documented and labeled on Forma Urbis plan • elevation recorded in multiple drawings prior to destruction • 3 storeys of columns -resembles stages of Roman theatres Function of Septizodium • monumental fountain • visual anchor for those entering city from S “Septizodium” • name only attested for monuments in N. Africa • general agareementon association with 7 planets -sculptural finds provide support
Problems?
vs.
Septizodium, Rome
Cincari (Tunisia) Lambaesis (Algeria) Arch of Septimius Severus • dedicated in 203 for victory in Parthian wars of 190s • war/victory monument • originally topped with emperor in chariot • 4 large panels above side arches -narrative scenes of wars -small frieze depicting triumphal procession
• column bases = Roman troops with prisoners -well-preserved due to buried state One Big Happy Family…?
• Septimius depicted resembling Marcus Aurelius -suggests dynastic continuity despite civil war • Julia Domna (wife) depicted similar to Livia, wife of Augustus -characteristic wig to hide hair loss -mother of a new dynasty • sons Caracalla and Geta, co-heirs, depicted alongside parents • Caracalla has Geta murdered after death of father and joint-ascension to throne Caracalla • portraits convey stern intensity, strength, toughness • extension of new tendency to convey personality in addition to physiognomy Arch of the Argentarii (bankers), Rome
• group dedication by guild of bankers and cattle dealers/ moneychangers • base of Capitoline hill entering Forum Boarium, at HQ of guild(?) • general praise for imperial generosity • shows conformity to imperial messages -Parthians in captivity -father in law (Plautianus), Geta, and wife (Plautilla) all erased in imagery and inscription BATHS OF CARACALLA, ca. 215 CE
frigidarium
natatio
Vaults
• extensive use of cross vaults • dome over caldarium only slightly smaller than Pantheon -similar use of step-rings as buttresses -oculus? frigidarium
natatio frigidarium
natatio Amenities • dressing rooms • libraries • warm rooms • schools • hot room • green space • cold plunge room • stadium • swimming pool Decorative Elements
“Farnese Hercules”