As the second largest building program in Rome, the projects of Domitian deserve to be compared t... more As the second largest building program in Rome, the projects of Domitian deserve to be compared to those of Augustus. The trend in the scholarship is to interpret Domitian’s Rome as a “re-making of Augustan Rome.” This view, however, suffers from the pervasive use of the label “Flavian,” which conflates the three members of the family into a coherent entity. Such characterization is quite misleading. While Titus’ rule was too short to allow for an accurate assessment of his personal impact, there were hardly two more different rulers than Vespasian and Domitian. Domitian’s reign demands a more nuanced definition than simply “Flavian.” The adjective “Domitianic” will therefore be used in this chapter. Whereas Vespasian intended to create a link to Augustus as the founder of imperial Rome and was consistent in pursuing this political agenda even in his building projects, Domitianic architecture and urban topography fully conveyed Domitian’s own original vision for the city. This chapter focuses on two examples of the conflicting connection between Domitian and his inherited legacies: the construction of the forum of Domitian and the erection of the Equus Domitiani in the Roman Forum.
Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents ... more Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents us with several opportunities to un-damn the youngest Flavian emperor. Second only to those of Augustus, Domitian’s buildings and urban interventions changed the face of ancient Rome, leaving an indelible mark and surviving his damnatio memoriae. In this chapter, I discuss the forum of Domitian’s strange end module, the Porticus Absidata, as a case study of a large, coherent building program, revealing an image of Domitian that does not match the accounts surviving from the period of Nerva and Trajan.
Expedition: The magazine of the University of Pennsylvania, 2013
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
While Domitian’s damnatio memoriae led to the destruction of the emperor’s image, the massive arc... more While Domitian’s damnatio memoriae led to the destruction of the emperor’s image, the massive architectural footprint he left on the city of Rome was indelible. Most scholarly assessments of Domitian’s building program emphasize the Flavian emperor’s continuity with Vespasian and his more retrospective connection with Augustan policy. On closer inspection, however, his architectural projects exhibit an undeniable thirst for innovation. This dissertation provides the first systematic analysis of the entire building program carried out by Domitian in Rome between 81 and 96 A.D., and repositions this emperor among the great urban planners. His building program is characterized by scale and lavishness as a reflection of his grandeur and by an unprecedented planning for crowd management and circulation in larger public spaces. The imperial complex on the Palatine — the palace, the Domus Tiberiana and the Vigna Barberini — responded efficaciously to the increasing needs of the imperial se...
Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents ... more Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents us with several opportunities to un-damn the youngest Flavian emperor. Second only to those of Augustus, Domitian’s buildings and urban interventions changed the face of ancient Rome, leaving an indelible mark and surviving his damnatio memoriae. In this chapter, I discuss the forum of Domitian’s strange end module, the Porticus Absidata, as a case study of a large, coherent building program, revealing an image of Domitian that does not match the accounts surviving from the period of Nerva and Trajan.
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
L'entrata al foro di Nerva dalla Subura fu risolta attraverso un curioso portico a forma di ferro... more L'entrata al foro di Nerva dalla Subura fu risolta attraverso un curioso portico a forma di ferro di cavallo comunemente identificato nella cosiddetta porticus absidata delle fonti. L'edificio è stato analizzato nel dettaglio del design architettonico e delle decorazioni da Bauer che ne ha proposto una pianta ed un alzato ricostruttivi in un articolo del 1983. Lo studio proposto in questo contributo ha un duplice scopo. Da una parte si vuole qui proporre una nuova ricostruzione dell'alzato della Porticus alla luce di una rilettura di alcuni dati già elaborati da Bauer che ha portato alla realizzazione di un modello in 3D. Il modello permette di comprendere in pieno la funzione particolare della porticus come passaggio operante la complessa transizione, spaziale ed ideologica, tra la Subura e il foro. Il modello qui presentato risponde più accuratamente ai dati archeologici e all'interpretazione dell'edificio. La seconda parte di questo contributo è dedicata ad un'interpretazione dell'uso dello spazio e dei passaggi di traffico che porta nuova luce al concetto originante elaborato da Rabirio, architetto di corte di Domiziano, e consente interessanti paralleli con altri edifici domizianei come il palazzo imperiale sul Palatino. Si vedrà come la progettazione della porticus risponda alle esigenze di operare uno stretto controllo sul traffico in entrata dalla Subura utilizzando efficaci soluzioni architettoniche e visive.
The entrance to the forum of Nerva from the Subura was monumentalized by an unusual horse-shoe shaped porticus commonly identified in the porticus absidata mentioned in the ancient sources. The architectural design and decoration of the building have been investigated in detail by Bauer who suggested a reconstructing plan and elevation in his 1983 article. The scope of this paper is twofold. On one hand a new reconstruction of the elevation, based on the data already gathered by Bauer, is here presented in a 3D model. This model allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the porticus as passage operating the complex transition ‒ both topographical and ideological ‒ from the Subura to the forum. The model here presented fits more accurately within the archaeological data and the interpretation of the building. The second part of the paper offers a further analysis of the building with a focus on the use of the space and traffic paths that sheds new light on the originating concepts employed by Rabirius, Domitian's court architect. This analysis allows for interesting comparanda with other examples of Rabirian buildings such as the imperial palace on the Palatine. It will be shown how the design of the porticus fits the need of monitoring the incoming traffic through effective architectural and visual solutions.
The study of this amphorae context shed some light on the unfinished building project carried out... more The study of this amphorae context shed some light on the unfinished building project carried out by Nero in the area later occupied by the forum of Nerva. The most obvious characteristic of the context found in Room 3 is the large majority of amphora fragments present in the
deposit. Moreover, the average dimension of the fragments is around cm. 25/30 whereas the average dimension of the fragments
from the other ceramic classes is much smaller (approximately cm. 2-5). The really significant aspects of this context is in the types
of amphora used, mainly Dressel 20 and Dressel 1, and in large dimension of fragments. These characteristics suggest a usage for
drainage and structural purposes. The selection of the material makes us think that these fragments were particularly suitable to
bear weights and avoid dampness.
This paper focuses on the differences of ceramic classes in two close contexts. The selection of ... more This paper focuses on the differences of ceramic classes in two close contexts. The selection of the material recognized during the analysis of the context of Room 3 becomes increasingly important when compared with the fills of the Rooms 1 and 2, presenting a different spectrum of ceramic classes. Dissimilarities within the same filling action – that most likely occurred in a short period of time – required a particular analysis focusing on the method of filling in the Republican structures.
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
As the second largest building program in Rome, the projects of Domitian deserve to be compared t... more As the second largest building program in Rome, the projects of Domitian deserve to be compared to those of Augustus. The trend in the scholarship is to interpret Domitian’s Rome as a “re-making of Augustan Rome.” This view, however, suffers from the pervasive use of the label “Flavian,” which conflates the three members of the family into a coherent entity. Such characterization is quite misleading. While Titus’ rule was too short to allow for an accurate assessment of his personal impact, there were hardly two more different rulers than Vespasian and Domitian. Domitian’s reign demands a more nuanced definition than simply “Flavian.” The adjective “Domitianic” will therefore be used in this chapter. Whereas Vespasian intended to create a link to Augustus as the founder of imperial Rome and was consistent in pursuing this political agenda even in his building projects, Domitianic architecture and urban topography fully conveyed Domitian’s own original vision for the city. This chapter focuses on two examples of the conflicting connection between Domitian and his inherited legacies: the construction of the forum of Domitian and the erection of the Equus Domitiani in the Roman Forum.
Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents ... more Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents us with several opportunities to un-damn the youngest Flavian emperor. Second only to those of Augustus, Domitian’s buildings and urban interventions changed the face of ancient Rome, leaving an indelible mark and surviving his damnatio memoriae. In this chapter, I discuss the forum of Domitian’s strange end module, the Porticus Absidata, as a case study of a large, coherent building program, revealing an image of Domitian that does not match the accounts surviving from the period of Nerva and Trajan.
Expedition: The magazine of the University of Pennsylvania, 2013
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
While Domitian’s damnatio memoriae led to the destruction of the emperor’s image, the massive arc... more While Domitian’s damnatio memoriae led to the destruction of the emperor’s image, the massive architectural footprint he left on the city of Rome was indelible. Most scholarly assessments of Domitian’s building program emphasize the Flavian emperor’s continuity with Vespasian and his more retrospective connection with Augustan policy. On closer inspection, however, his architectural projects exhibit an undeniable thirst for innovation. This dissertation provides the first systematic analysis of the entire building program carried out by Domitian in Rome between 81 and 96 A.D., and repositions this emperor among the great urban planners. His building program is characterized by scale and lavishness as a reflection of his grandeur and by an unprecedented planning for crowd management and circulation in larger public spaces. The imperial complex on the Palatine — the palace, the Domus Tiberiana and the Vigna Barberini — responded efficaciously to the increasing needs of the imperial se...
Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents ... more Domitian’s urban vision as it emerged from his architectural and topographical projects presents us with several opportunities to un-damn the youngest Flavian emperor. Second only to those of Augustus, Domitian’s buildings and urban interventions changed the face of ancient Rome, leaving an indelible mark and surviving his damnatio memoriae. In this chapter, I discuss the forum of Domitian’s strange end module, the Porticus Absidata, as a case study of a large, coherent building program, revealing an image of Domitian that does not match the accounts surviving from the period of Nerva and Trajan.
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
L'entrata al foro di Nerva dalla Subura fu risolta attraverso un curioso portico a forma di ferro... more L'entrata al foro di Nerva dalla Subura fu risolta attraverso un curioso portico a forma di ferro di cavallo comunemente identificato nella cosiddetta porticus absidata delle fonti. L'edificio è stato analizzato nel dettaglio del design architettonico e delle decorazioni da Bauer che ne ha proposto una pianta ed un alzato ricostruttivi in un articolo del 1983. Lo studio proposto in questo contributo ha un duplice scopo. Da una parte si vuole qui proporre una nuova ricostruzione dell'alzato della Porticus alla luce di una rilettura di alcuni dati già elaborati da Bauer che ha portato alla realizzazione di un modello in 3D. Il modello permette di comprendere in pieno la funzione particolare della porticus come passaggio operante la complessa transizione, spaziale ed ideologica, tra la Subura e il foro. Il modello qui presentato risponde più accuratamente ai dati archeologici e all'interpretazione dell'edificio. La seconda parte di questo contributo è dedicata ad un'interpretazione dell'uso dello spazio e dei passaggi di traffico che porta nuova luce al concetto originante elaborato da Rabirio, architetto di corte di Domiziano, e consente interessanti paralleli con altri edifici domizianei come il palazzo imperiale sul Palatino. Si vedrà come la progettazione della porticus risponda alle esigenze di operare uno stretto controllo sul traffico in entrata dalla Subura utilizzando efficaci soluzioni architettoniche e visive.
The entrance to the forum of Nerva from the Subura was monumentalized by an unusual horse-shoe shaped porticus commonly identified in the porticus absidata mentioned in the ancient sources. The architectural design and decoration of the building have been investigated in detail by Bauer who suggested a reconstructing plan and elevation in his 1983 article. The scope of this paper is twofold. On one hand a new reconstruction of the elevation, based on the data already gathered by Bauer, is here presented in a 3D model. This model allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the porticus as passage operating the complex transition ‒ both topographical and ideological ‒ from the Subura to the forum. The model here presented fits more accurately within the archaeological data and the interpretation of the building. The second part of the paper offers a further analysis of the building with a focus on the use of the space and traffic paths that sheds new light on the originating concepts employed by Rabirius, Domitian's court architect. This analysis allows for interesting comparanda with other examples of Rabirian buildings such as the imperial palace on the Palatine. It will be shown how the design of the porticus fits the need of monitoring the incoming traffic through effective architectural and visual solutions.
The study of this amphorae context shed some light on the unfinished building project carried out... more The study of this amphorae context shed some light on the unfinished building project carried out by Nero in the area later occupied by the forum of Nerva. The most obvious characteristic of the context found in Room 3 is the large majority of amphora fragments present in the
deposit. Moreover, the average dimension of the fragments is around cm. 25/30 whereas the average dimension of the fragments
from the other ceramic classes is much smaller (approximately cm. 2-5). The really significant aspects of this context is in the types
of amphora used, mainly Dressel 20 and Dressel 1, and in large dimension of fragments. These characteristics suggest a usage for
drainage and structural purposes. The selection of the material makes us think that these fragments were particularly suitable to
bear weights and avoid dampness.
This paper focuses on the differences of ceramic classes in two close contexts. The selection of ... more This paper focuses on the differences of ceramic classes in two close contexts. The selection of the material recognized during the analysis of the context of Room 3 becomes increasingly important when compared with the fills of the Rooms 1 and 2, presenting a different spectrum of ceramic classes. Dissimilarities within the same filling action – that most likely occurred in a short period of time – required a particular analysis focusing on the method of filling in the Republican structures.
This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the Unive... more This paper examines several marble capitals recovered in the excavations carried out by the University of Pennsylvania in the early 1900s in the round church in Beth-Shean with a twofold aim. First, it will be shown that the capitals originally used as dating evidence are, in fact, spolia from Roman buildings from the 3rd century AD. Secondly, the decoration of the capitals will be examined to suggest a different dating of the church construction on the grounds of two comparisons. The new dating of the Round Church to the last quarter of the fifth or beginning of the sixth century fits much better with the overall analysis of Beth Shean in this period.
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This chapter focuses on two examples of the conflicting connection between Domitian and his inherited legacies: the construction of the forum of Domitian and the erection of the Equus Domitiani in the Roman Forum.
Lo studio proposto in questo contributo ha un duplice scopo. Da una parte si vuole qui proporre una nuova ricostruzione dell'alzato della Porticus alla luce di una rilettura di alcuni dati già elaborati da Bauer che ha portato alla realizzazione di un modello in 3D. Il modello permette di comprendere in pieno la funzione particolare della porticus come passaggio operante la complessa transizione, spaziale ed ideologica, tra la Subura e il foro. Il modello qui presentato risponde più accuratamente ai dati archeologici e all'interpretazione dell'edificio.
La seconda parte di questo contributo è dedicata ad un'interpretazione dell'uso dello spazio e dei passaggi di traffico che porta nuova luce al concetto originante elaborato da Rabirio, architetto di corte di Domiziano, e consente interessanti paralleli con altri edifici domizianei come il palazzo imperiale sul Palatino. Si vedrà come la progettazione della porticus risponda alle esigenze di operare uno stretto controllo sul traffico in entrata dalla Subura utilizzando efficaci soluzioni architettoniche e visive.
The entrance to the forum of Nerva from the Subura was monumentalized by an unusual horse-shoe shaped porticus commonly identified in the porticus absidata mentioned in the ancient sources. The architectural design and decoration of the building have been investigated in detail by Bauer who suggested a reconstructing plan and elevation in his 1983 article.
The scope of this paper is twofold. On one hand a new reconstruction of the elevation, based on the data already gathered by Bauer, is here presented in a 3D model. This model allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the porticus as passage operating the complex transition ‒ both topographical and ideological ‒ from the Subura to the forum. The model here presented fits more accurately within the archaeological data and the interpretation of the building.
The second part of the paper offers a further analysis of the building with a focus on the use of the space and traffic paths that sheds new light on the originating concepts employed by Rabirius, Domitian's court architect. This analysis allows for interesting comparanda with other examples of Rabirian buildings such as the imperial palace on the Palatine. It will be shown how the design of the porticus fits the need of monitoring the incoming traffic through effective architectural and visual solutions.
deposit. Moreover, the average dimension of the fragments is around cm. 25/30 whereas the average dimension of the fragments
from the other ceramic classes is much smaller (approximately cm. 2-5). The really significant aspects of this context is in the types
of amphora used, mainly Dressel 20 and Dressel 1, and in large dimension of fragments. These characteristics suggest a usage for
drainage and structural purposes. The selection of the material makes us think that these fragments were particularly suitable to
bear weights and avoid dampness.
when compared with the fills of the Rooms 1 and 2, presenting a different spectrum of ceramic classes. Dissimilarities within the
same filling action – that most likely occurred in a short period of time – required a particular analysis focusing on the method of
filling in the Republican structures.
This chapter focuses on two examples of the conflicting connection between Domitian and his inherited legacies: the construction of the forum of Domitian and the erection of the Equus Domitiani in the Roman Forum.
Lo studio proposto in questo contributo ha un duplice scopo. Da una parte si vuole qui proporre una nuova ricostruzione dell'alzato della Porticus alla luce di una rilettura di alcuni dati già elaborati da Bauer che ha portato alla realizzazione di un modello in 3D. Il modello permette di comprendere in pieno la funzione particolare della porticus come passaggio operante la complessa transizione, spaziale ed ideologica, tra la Subura e il foro. Il modello qui presentato risponde più accuratamente ai dati archeologici e all'interpretazione dell'edificio.
La seconda parte di questo contributo è dedicata ad un'interpretazione dell'uso dello spazio e dei passaggi di traffico che porta nuova luce al concetto originante elaborato da Rabirio, architetto di corte di Domiziano, e consente interessanti paralleli con altri edifici domizianei come il palazzo imperiale sul Palatino. Si vedrà come la progettazione della porticus risponda alle esigenze di operare uno stretto controllo sul traffico in entrata dalla Subura utilizzando efficaci soluzioni architettoniche e visive.
The entrance to the forum of Nerva from the Subura was monumentalized by an unusual horse-shoe shaped porticus commonly identified in the porticus absidata mentioned in the ancient sources. The architectural design and decoration of the building have been investigated in detail by Bauer who suggested a reconstructing plan and elevation in his 1983 article.
The scope of this paper is twofold. On one hand a new reconstruction of the elevation, based on the data already gathered by Bauer, is here presented in a 3D model. This model allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the porticus as passage operating the complex transition ‒ both topographical and ideological ‒ from the Subura to the forum. The model here presented fits more accurately within the archaeological data and the interpretation of the building.
The second part of the paper offers a further analysis of the building with a focus on the use of the space and traffic paths that sheds new light on the originating concepts employed by Rabirius, Domitian's court architect. This analysis allows for interesting comparanda with other examples of Rabirian buildings such as the imperial palace on the Palatine. It will be shown how the design of the porticus fits the need of monitoring the incoming traffic through effective architectural and visual solutions.
deposit. Moreover, the average dimension of the fragments is around cm. 25/30 whereas the average dimension of the fragments
from the other ceramic classes is much smaller (approximately cm. 2-5). The really significant aspects of this context is in the types
of amphora used, mainly Dressel 20 and Dressel 1, and in large dimension of fragments. These characteristics suggest a usage for
drainage and structural purposes. The selection of the material makes us think that these fragments were particularly suitable to
bear weights and avoid dampness.
when compared with the fills of the Rooms 1 and 2, presenting a different spectrum of ceramic classes. Dissimilarities within the
same filling action – that most likely occurred in a short period of time – required a particular analysis focusing on the method of
filling in the Republican structures.