Download RD Milns Antiquities Museum Education Program

RD Milns Antiquities Museum Education Program - Teaching Resources
Module title: Rome - Art
Year Level: Years 11/12
Activity titles:
The use of art as propaganda:
1. Julio-Claudian Period (Activity 1)
2. Imperial Period (Hadrian to Constantine)
(Activity 2)
Objectives:
 For students to gain an understanding of the use of art by the Julio-Claudian dynasty and the Imperial family to convey political messages to the
people of the Roman Empire.
Outcomes:
 An understanding of Roman artistic styles, coinage, and sculpture.
 Students to develop an understanding of the use of art in political competition and propaganda during the Roman Empire.
Queensland/Australian Curriculum Links:
Senior:
This workshop incorporates elements from three general objectives: planning and using an historical research process; forming historical knowledge
through critical inquiry; and, communicating historical knowledge.
Themes Addressed:
Theme 1: Studies of archaeology
Theme 4: Studies of the everyday lives of people in ancient societies
Theme 8: Studies of the arts
Theme 15: A study of political centrism in Rome
Key Terms:
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Altar: Roman altars were usually stone, and dedicated to a particular deity. They were often used for the burning of sacrificial offerings to a god,
usually decorated with reliefs, and were located in front of temples or as standalone structures on their own.
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Augustus: The title taken by the nephew and adopted son of Julius Caesar, Octavian, the first Roman Emperor, who reigned from 27BC to AD
14. He fought against and defeated Caesar’s murderers Brutus and Cassius in a conflict known as the Civil War, and subsequently defeated his
former ally Marc Antony in 31 BC, leaving him in control of Rome.
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Augustan Peace: During the reign of the Emperor Augustus, many contemporary figures such as Livy and Virgil believed the effects of his rule
were positive, including peace and prosperity being brought to Rome after many years of civil strife, and security within its provincial territories.
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Battle of Carrhae: A battle between the Parthia and the Rome. The Roman side was commanded by the general Marcus Licinius Crassus in
53 BC.
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Claudius: Emperor of Rome from AD 41-54. Claudius was proclaimed emperor by the Roman army following the murder of his nephew
Caligula. He was said to have had a limp and a stammer, making him a target for ridicule, and leading to misrepresentation of his character.
Claudius, like many emperors, was deified upon his death.
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Column of Trajan: This column was dedicated in AD 113, and acted as a monument commemorating the Emperor Trajan’s efforts in the
Dacian Wars. The reliefs decorating the outside of the column depict scenes from the Dacian campaigns. Most scenes on the reliefs, however,
follow the conventions of Imperial propaganda. The column itself appeared on a number of coins minted within the reign of Trajan, with an
Imperial statue of Trajan himself portrayed on the top.
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Corona Civica: A Roman decoration for valour, appearing as a wreath made of oak leaves. The corona civica was a military award given to
individuals who had saved the life of a fellow Roman in battle.
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Curia Iulia: Dedicated by Octavian (Augustus) in 29 BC, this building was commissioned by Julius Caesar during his dictatorship. It was used
as a new senate-house, and was completed by Augustus as part of his city-wide improvement of public amenities and buildings, in order to
ensure Rome’s worth as the capital of the empire.
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Dacian: The Dacians, an agriculturally skilled people from Dacia, a territory located in the lower Danube region. Celtic invaders appear to have
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influenced the Dacians from the 4 century BC, after which time an adoption of Celtic culture is evident within the Dacian populations. The
defeat of Dacia and subsequent incorporation of Dacian territory into the Roman Empire was brought about by the Emperor Trajan.
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Danube: The Danube is a river in Europe. The province of Dacia was located in the area surrounding the lower Danube, and was one of the
frontiers of the Roman Empire.
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Decebalus: Decebalus was the king of Dacia, who was involved in a series of campaigns against Rome. A peace was negotiated with
Decebalus by the Emperor Domitian, under which he was established as non-threatening to Rome. The Emperor Trajan, however, desired
military glory and grew suspicious of Decebalus’ power, and campaigned against him successfully in the Dacian Wars.
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Emperor: The head of the Roman state in the Imperial period.
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Forum of Trajan: This forum was built by the emperor Trajan, and funded though the spoils of his Dacian War. It is the greatest of the fora
constructed in the Imperial period. This colonnaded forum was dedicated in AD 112 and was 310 metres by 185 metres in size.
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Hadrian: Emperor from AD 117-38 who was adopted by his predecessor, Trajan. Instead of expanding of the empire, Hadrian chose to
concentrate on consolidating defence in the frontiers of the empire’s existing territory. His construction of ‘Hadrian’s Wall’ across Britain is
evidence of this policy, and the wall helped to divide the northern areas of Britain from the Romanised south.
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Julio-Claudian Period: The time during which emperors descended from the Julian and Claudian families reigned, from Augustus to Nero
(circa 20 BC-AD 68).
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Livia: The wife of the Emperor Augustus, and the mother of the emperor Tiberius. She lived from 58 BC-AD 29 and her villa in Prima Porta, a
few miles north of Rome, was where the famous Prima Porta statue was found.
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Lugdunum: A Roman colony founded in 43BC, located in modern day Lyon, France. It had a large population, and was regarded as the
religious, administrative, financial, and commercial centre of the three Gauls. The colony also incorporated a branch of the imperial mint.
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Marcus Aurelius: Emperor from AD 161-80, who was adopted by the emperor Antoninus Pius. He was a follower of Stoic philosophy and an
educated member of an aristocratic family. His work Meditations, written in Greek, was composed in his army camps whilst the empire was
under threat from invasions, war, and plague.
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Nero: Emperor from AD 54-68, and the successor of the emperor Claudius. The first few years of his reign were considered excellent. The
murder of his mother, Agrippina the Younger, widely believed to have been organised by Nero, was considered to be end of the ‘good’ part of
his reign. The great fire of Rome broke out during this time in AD 64, with rumours that the emperor had started the fire himself. After the fire,
Nero built his ‘Golden House’, an extravagant royal palace, on the site that would later become the Colosseum.
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Parthia: A semi-nomadic military aristocracy who ruled an empire from the Euphrates to the Indus rivers. The Parthians fought a series of wars
against the Romans, and were famous for their cavalry.
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Pietas (Piety): Roman piety can be understood as the attitude of duty and respect towards the gods, fatherland, parents, and kinsmen. Pietas
was personified by the Romans as a deity, and was dedicated a temple in Rome, however, this was destroyed in 44 BC. The notion of pietas
Augusta, or Augustan Piety, often appeared on coinage or within inscriptions in the Imperial period.
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Pliny the Younger: A senator who lived from AD 61/2 - 112/13. Pliny was the author of a series of letters, published in ten books, one of which
was published posthumously, which discussed his life and times. He also composed a piece known as the Panegyric, which seeks to praise the
Emperor Trajan for the deeds undertaken within his consulship. Pliny was the nephew and adopted son of Pliny the Elder, an administrator and
encyclopaedic writer who died in the eruptions of Mt. Vesuvius, which destroyed the towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum.
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Prima Porta: A marble statue of the Emperor Augustus found in the villa of his wife Livia at Prima Porta, north of Rome. The Prima Porta dates
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to the early 1 century AD, and was probably made after Augustus’ death. It may be a copy of an earlier bronze statue that was publically
displayed.
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Propaganda: A means by which information is manipulated to mould opinion, especially in a political or social context. It could be used to
change attitudes or, more commonly in ancient Rome, to reinforce them.
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Republic: The system by which Rome was governed prior to the rule of the emperors. The Republic dates from the end of the reign of the last
king of Rome in 510 BC to Augustus’ rise to prominence after the defeat of Marc Antony in 30 BC. The key governing body within the Republic
was the senate, within which policies were decided upon. The highest offices in politics, religion, and the military within the Republic were
usually occupied by nobles, especially the highly sought after consulship.
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Res Gestae: The Res Gestae was a list of the achievements of the emperor Augustus, which was posthumously inscribed on bronze pillars
placed outside the entrance to his mausoleum in Rome. It was probably composed just before Augustus’ death, and it places heavy emphasis
Augustus’ contribution to the honours bestowed upon him by Rome, the benefactions given to the city by the emperor, as well as his military
achievements. This document is composed in the same manner as the self-advertisements of great men within the Republic period. The Res
Gestae should not be considered a complete record of Augustus’ achievements, as it downplays a number of his deeds that he did not wish to
highlight, such as the time before his defeat of Marc Antony.
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River God: River gods were typically depicted as male, and were personifications of the inanimate power of a river. Shrines were sometimes
located on river banks for the god, and offerings could be made to the river itself. River worshippers were particularly concerned with purification
and healing.
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Senate: The senate had judicial, financial, and religious powers within the republic, and had permanent membership, with the body comprised of
ex-magistrates. The senate lost its power in the late Republic when it was unable to compete with prominent individuals such as Pompey and
Caesar who had strong military support. Despite the loss of its ‘real’ authority in the late Republic, the senate continued to play an important role
in the Imperial period, as it retained some of its power over certain Roman provinces, and of the public treasury. Senate meetings were held in
the curia (senate-house), located in the forum.
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Severus Alexander: Emperor from AD 222-35, who became emperor after the murder of Elagabalus in AD 222, and took the name ‘Severus’
upon his accession. His Persian Expedition in AD 231-233 is not widely regarded as largely successful, however it did manage to maintain
Roman control over the province of Mesopotamia. Severus Alexander was murdered with his mother prior to a campaign against the Alamanni
in Germany, with his memory being condemned. Despite this, he was later deified in AD 238.
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Suetonius: Suetonius, who lived from circa AD 69-140, was a Roman biographer and imperial secretary to the Emperor Hadrian. He was the
author of the Lives of the 12 Caesars, a set of imperial biographies from Julius Caesar to Domitian, which follow a set pattern of composition,
and display an interest in the virtues and vices of the subjects. Suetonius, however, appears to report his findings without critical evaluation,
leading to questionable reliability.
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Tacitus: An ancient Roman historian and orator who lived from circa AD 55-120. One of his most significant works, the Histories, investigates
the period from the death of Nero to the death of Domitian. Another of Tacitus’ significant works, the Annals, although much does not survive,
covers the reigns of emperors from Augustus to Nero.
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Temple of Janus: Janus was the Roman god of doorways and gateways, who was depicted as a bearded double-headed man. The doors to
his temple in the forum were closed in times of peace, with the ritual notably performed three times during the reign of Augustus, and more
frequently later in the Imperial period. His temple was depicted on Roman coinage, commonly as a gateway.
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Tiberius: Emperor from AD 14-37 who was the son of Livia from her previous marriage. Tiberius was the stepson and successor of Augustus,
although he lacked popularity. Due to this unpopularity, the two major sources on his life have questionable reliability. Therefore it can be difficult
to construct an objective view of his reign and character.
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Tiridates of Parthia: The brother of king Vologeses I of Parthia, and ruler of Armenia. Tiridates journeyed to Rome in order to receive the crown
of Armenia ceremonially from the emperor Nero in AD 66. This was as a result of the Roman conflict with Parthia over the territory of Armenia.
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Trajan: Emperor from AD 98-117, who was adopted by the Emperor Nerva. He was heavily involved in the military and remained on campaign
during his reign, consolidating the frontiers on the Rhine and only came to Rome upon the death of his adoptive father. Trajan completed a
number of public works in his reign, including the construction of Baths, a Forum and a Basilica all bearing his name. He embarked on a war in
Dacia, modern day Romania, against King Decebalus.
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Vespasian: Emperor from 69-79 AD, and the first of the Flavian dynasty. He was involved in the military prior to his succession as emperor. A
number of public works were commenced within his reign, including the Colosseum, which was later completed by his son, Titus.
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Victory: The personification of victoria, Victory was worshipped as a deity, particularly within the military. She was sometimes given additional
names associating her with various legions, and commonly with particular emperors.
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Virtus: The Roman idea of ‘manly courage’. This trait was thought of more generally as ‘excellence’, and was often thought to be demonstrated
in an individual’s service to the Roman state.
Recommended Resources:
RD Milns Antiquities Museum Online Collection Database: http://www.uq.edu.au/antiquities/collection/catalogue
Perseus Digital Library (http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/ ): Excellent collection of searchable online sources.
Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World (http://press.princeton.edu/titles/6773.html ): Comprehensive ancient atlas published by Princeton
University press. Ipad version available.
Google Art Project (http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/project/art-project): Online collaboration of museums.
Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/ht/?period=04&region=eusb): Metropolitan Museum of Fine Art’s online timeline.
Ancient Sources:
Suetonius, The Twelve Caesars
- Augustus
- Tiberius
- Caligula
- Claudius
- Nero
Tacitus, The Histories
- Nero to Domitian
Tacitus, The Annals
- Tiberius to Nero
Tactius, Agricola
- Biography of Tactius’ father in law Gnaeus Julius Agricola, Governor of Britain.
Marcus Aurelius’, Meditations
Cassius Dio, Histories
- Augustus
- Fragmentary after Claudius
Pliny the Elder, Natural Histories
- Book 36 (Art History)
Pliny the Younger, Letters
- Book 10 (Correspondence with Trajan)