BUILDING IN THE CITY OF ROME UNDER TRAJAN AND HADRIAN HADRIAN’S PANTHEON TRAJAN’S COLUMN

THE BUILDING PRGRAMMES OF BOTH TRAJAN AND HADRIAN IN THE CITY OF ROME Many of Trajan and Hadrian’s predecessors in the office of Princeps had built extensively in the city of Rome (as well as encouraging such activities throughout the empire). AUGUSTUS found Rome a city of brick and left it a city of marble – a city which was worthy of being the capital of an empire. NERO had built extensively and is particularly known for “The Golden House” (no longer extant). VESPASIAN had initiated “the Flavian Amphitheatre” (the ‘Colosseum’). DOMITIAN was a prolific builder, although very little of his work is left – other than an additional forum quickly renamed to associate it with Nerva.

6. Both TRAJAN and HADRIAN built extensively too and much of their work is still visible and constitutes some of the sites which remain tourist attractions. 7. For some of their work what remains is less visible and what they did can only be reconstructed from limited archaeological excavations. TRAJAN His main work comprises: His FORUM His COLUMN and the associated LIBRARIES His MARKET COMPLEX His HARBOUR

Trajan’s Forum Inaugurated in AD 112; Necessitated the removal of huge quantities of earth from the sides of the Quirinal and Capitoline Hills; 200 m x 120 m – with exedrae on two sides; North of the great basilica, a smaller piazza with a library on either side (for Greek and Latin texts) – with Trajan’s column between; To the north of the piazza, the eventual temple of the deified Trajan.

THE IMPERIAL FORA

Additions since Augustus’ Forum: Temple of Peace (Vespasian) b) Forum Transitorium (Domitian & Nerva)

An aureus of Trajan celebrating his forum. The FORVM TRAIAN(VM)

The BASILICA VLPIA

The forum from the great basilica The great basilica

The small piazza with the Column and two libraries

Trajan’s Column completed in AD 113; supervising architect (as with the entire forum): Apollodorus of Damascus. Basics: 30 m (98 ft) tall; consists of 20 marble drums – each weighing 32 tons; the 190 m frieze winds round 23 times; the spiral staircase has 185 stairs – leading to the viewing platform, which originally had a statue of Trajan [replaced by one of St Peter in 1587].

Trajan’s Markets a) built between 107 and 110; b) large complex of shops, warehouses, and offices; c) lower part comprised 2 large halls; d) arched roof with a concrete vault on piers; it let in sunlight but not rain.

Trajan’s Baths

Detail of central pool

The baths were started in 104 and dedicated in 109

Trajan’s Harbour (Portus) Trajan contributed significantly to the importation of produce destined for the City of Rome by building a magnificent harbour to complement and replace that of Claudius (completed and celebrated by Nero). NERO CELEBRATES THE COMPLETION OF THE HARBOUR

Coin of TRAJAN celebrating his HARBOUR

Features of Trajan’s portus: a) It involved a massive network of canals. b) At its entrance was a great lighthouse (the base of which may have now been identified by satellite imaging) which is said to have been visible 20 miles out at sea. c) It had massive ship sheds which will certainly have made an impression on those arriving. d) There was also a colossal statue of Trajan (not yet identified). e) Cargo was unloaded from the ships that arrived on to smaller vessels which went to and up the Tiber to Rome or to a canal which went directly to Rome – shortening the journey. )

Sketch of Trajan’s harbour

RECONSTRUCTION OF TRAJAN’S HARBOUR

Hadrian’s Principal Building Projects in the City The PANTHEON His MAUSOLEUM The TEMPLE OF VENUS AND ROME The ATHENAEUM The Pantheon Rebuilt in AD 126: Agrippa’s original pantheon had been destroyed by fire in AD 80; it was rebuilt by Domitian, but destroyed again in AD 110. Still the world’s largest unre-inforced concrete dome – its 142 ft height is the same as the diameter of its interior circle.

The Pantheon - the temple of all the gods

Only the dedication of Agrippa’s pantheon built under Augustus survives M. AGRIPPA L.F. COS TERTIUM FECIT

The Temple of Venus and Rome

VENVS ET ROMA

Hadrian’s Mausoleum The mausoleum of Augustus The mausoleum of Hadrian Hadrian’s mausoleum was built between 130 and 138. It received his ashes, those of Sabina, and those of his first heir, Lucius Caesar. The mausoleum of Hadrian

THE ATHENAEUM Built in AD 123 (on the evidence of brick stamps found since 2009 and which date the structure 12 years earlier than any previously known evidence) it comprised three great rectangular halls where poets, rhetoricians, and others could read their works to up to 900 audience members. Excavation of the site was completed (after three years) only in December 2012, the previously unknown structure having come to light below the Piazza Venezia (the huge roundabout in central Rome) during excavations for a station for the new third metro line for Rome.

Hadrian’s ATHENAEUM

ARTIST’S SKETCH OF ONE OF THE HALLS RECENT EXCAVATIONS (2009 – 2012)