1. AD
Paul Artus p.104
Workbook p. 92
Arch of Constantine

2. But first...a list of Emperors
Trajanic Dynasty
Nerva AD96-98
Trajan AD98-117
Hadrian AD
Antonine Dynasty
Antoninus Pius AD
Marcus Aurelius AD
Lucis Verus AD
Commodus AD
Severan dynasty
(11 emperors)
Emperors during the height of crisis AD
Philip the Arabian
Many others (constant change)
Constantine AD
Julio-Claudian dynasty
Augustus 27BC- AD14
Tiberius AD
Caligula AD37 – 41
Claudius AD
Nero AD54- 68
Year of 4 emperors
(AD 68 –AD69)
Galba
Otho
Vitellius
Flavian Dynasty
Vespasian AD69-79
Titus AD79-81
Domitian AD 81-96

3. Hippo and arch!

4. Usurper – person who tries to steal your job (as emperor) without authority to
Decursio – emperor riding into battle
Adventus Augusti – triumphal return of Emperor into Rome
Oratio – The Emperor speaking to the Roman people
Donatio – the gift of money, given to the people from the Emperor’s own purse
Vocab list for The Arch Of Constantine add to the bottom, of p.93 in your workbook

5. Work books p. 92, Paul Artus p. 103
Location: West side of the Colosseum, in Rome
Architectural type: arch
Dates of Construction: AD
Purpose: celebrate Constantine’s victory over the usurper Maxentius
Inscription: The centre of the attic on the north and south sides is a long inscription that proclaims that the Arch was dedicated to Constantine by the Senate and people of Rome on the occasion of his victory over a ‘usurper/tyrant’ (referring to Constantine defeating the Emperor Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian bridge, Italy in AD312)
Dimensions: Height 21m, width 25.7m, depth 7.4m
Central archway – height 11.5m, width 6.5m
Side archways – height 7.4 m, width 3.36m

6. Inscription

7. What type of columns Are on the arch of Constantine?
This here is a pilaster – a flat
Square column that is carved into the wall

8. What type of capitals are these columns?
This here is a pilaster – a flat
Square column that is carved into the wall

9. Are the columns engaged
Or free standing?

10. Glue the handout to your workbook p
Glue the handout to your workbook p.91, annotate the sculptural features of this building
Projecting plinths (with men ‘Dacians’ on them)
Inscription on attic
Corinthian capitals with
Fluted columns
entablature
Each column has a pilaster behind it. Columns are freestanding
roundels
The spandrels of the main arch begin at the height of the small arches
2 small vaulted arches flank central archway
Bases of columns are engaged
Projecting Pedestal

11. This arch has relief on it that were taken from buildings made for previous great emperors – Marcus Aurelius, Hadrian & Trajan. The reliefs show these different Emperors doing great things.
Why would Constantine want to have relief taken from other great emperors on his arch?
What does doing this, tell us about about Constantine?
Why would he not have chosen to put reliefs from Commodus on his arch?

12. Arch of Constantine, p.92 workbook
Was there a purpose behind this piece?
Constantine’s arch made as a dedication to Emperor Constantine after his victory over the tyrant / usurper, Maxentius in 312AD
Write on page 93:
Taking reliefs from earlier monuments shows an element of nostalgia for Rome’s ‘golden age’of prosperity, wealth, success, military victories and when the Empire was at its height. It linked Constantine with previous good emperors and their qualities (Trajan, Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius).
This is a piece of Imperial Propaganda, as each piece which is sourced from a different monument still carries the same message – the emperor’s virtue, his military power and his support of the traditional values loved by Romans. (all ideas from past imperial propaganda, still relevant for Constantine)
There was possible a decline in skilled sculptors

13. Trajan
Parts taken from the emperor
Trajan: Brown

15. Are these people Roman? Why/Why not?

16. Stone figures on the projecting plinth along
the attic are Dacian captives. They are Foreign (barbarian)- long trousers, shaggy beard, felt caps.
These were taken from TRAJAN’s forum. (AD )
There are 8
Statues.
Hands and heads
Have been
Restored.
Links back to
Success over
Foreign enemies.
& says Constantine
Is a great general
Like Trajan

17. Find notes about the relief taken from Trajan’s
Period in Paul Artus and write it onto the
page
‘decursio’ (emperor riding into battle) at the head of the army while the Enemy fall beneath
His horses hooves.
‘Adventus Augusti’
The triumphal Emperor returning to Rome. – Trajan stands, About to be crowned with laurel wreath
by the goddess of victory
Head of these has been re-carved to resemble the head of Constantine!

18. Trajan friezes
Are highlighted

19. MARCUS AURELIUS
Parts taken from the emperor
Yellow

20. Find the information about Marcus Aurelius’ reliefs in Paul Artus
Find the information about Marcus Aurelius’ reliefs in Paul Artus. The heads are 18th cent restorations. These reliefs (of him Accepting the surrender Of German prisoners) all show Marcus Aurelius’ virtue of Clementia – forbearance and moderation

21. Commemorate Marcus Aurelius Victory in Germany & Eastern Europe. 4 on
Attic is decorated with 8 rectangular reliefs, between the Dacian captives
Commemorate
Marcus Aurelius
Victory in Germany
& Eastern Europe. 4 on
Each side.

22. Hadrian
Parts taken from the emperor
Trajan: Brown

23. Hadrian: Blue The roundels 2.36m diameter 4 on each Side.
North side:(Left to Right): a boar hunt, sacrifice to Apollo, Lion hunt, sacrifice to Hercules.
South side: (Left to Right): hunting emperor, sacrifice to Silvanus (Italian nature god), bear hunt, sacrifice to Diana
These commemorate the Emperor’s love of hunting & his devotion to the gods. Hunting also represents the quality of virtus – courage, determination, manliness & piety in his sacrifice

24. Bear hunt
Sacrifice to Diana

25. Sacrifice to Apollo
Boar hunt

26. Hunting party setting out
Sacrifice to Silvanus

27. Sacrifice to Hercules
Lion hunt

28. COnstantine
Parts taken from the emperor
Green

29. Relief from Constantine period is highlighted

30. Reliefs from constantine’s era
Inscriptions over the roundels commemorate the 10th anniversary of Constantine’s rule in 315AD (this is where the dates for the arch come from)

31. The long narrow frieze below the roundels shows episodes in Constantine’s life
West = Constantine’s army leaving Milan
South = Seige of Verona
= Battle at Milvian bridge where Maxentius (the usurper) died
East = Constantine enters Rome in triumph
North = Constantine addresses the people in
Roman Forum (Oratio)
=Constantine distributes money to them (Donatio) showing his generosity

32. On the east and west sides of the arch (the short sides) are two roundels.
West – Moon (Luna) setting
East – sun (Sol) rising in a chariot
…Both carved in high relief

33. Also from constantine
Winged figures of victory in spandrels of central arch
Personifications of the 4 seasons beneath figures of victory
River gods in spandrels of side arches
Pedestals of column bases decorated with Victory, Roman Soldiers & Barbarian captives

34. Constantine Relief donatio
Emperor sitting on a raised platform to emphasis his importance & surrounded by ministers and Advisers, (all dressed in toga contablulata) A lot of movement in their heads.
Oratio:
Statues Of Marcus Aurelius & Hadrian feature
In this relief as background. (Representing
Virtue and piety, as these emperors both
Had strong reputations for having these
qualities)
donatio

36. Stylistic features – p.93 of workbook
On panels of Trajan there is use of perspective, front figures carved in high relief, and back in low
Marcus Aurelius reliefs are very static, formal composition & less figures. This is because they have a symbolic function representing ideas & virtues. Marcus Aurelius is positioned higher so it draws attention to him
Hadrian’s roundels are very simple – only a few characters & depth achieved with high & low relief
Constantine’s panels do not have the same attention to detail or modelling. The decoration is very flat & shallow

37. F a c t s – p.93 workbook
The arch is the same size and shape of the arch of Septimius Severus
It is the last triumphal arch built in Rome
Constantine rejected traditional Roman religion in favour of Christianity (he died a baptised christian)
Built while Constantine was still alive (different to arch of Titus)
It is also different to the Arch of Titus in that it has 3 arches and is more elaborate and detailed.
Constantine ruled as emperor for ten years, this was impressive as most did not last very long
The monument is ‘architecturally harmonious’ (balanced)

38. Hippo and arch!!!