-
Period: 28,000 BCE to 25,000 BCE
Venus of Willendorf
Paleolithic. Found in Willendorf, Austria. She has no face, tiny hands, and no feet. She has large breasts and thighs, pointing to a fertility statue that may have been passed around to pregnant women in the tribe (Chapter 1). -
22,000 BCE
Spotted Horses & Negative Hands
Paleolithic. Found in Pech-Merle, France. The negative prints of hands were made by blowing dark pigment at their hands. There is some significance to the various dots and squares and may have been an early form of writing (Chapter 1) -
Period: 15,000 BCE to 13,000 BCE
Hall of Bulls
Paleolithic. Found in Lascaux, France. The animals are accurately colored, The different stylizations of the drawings point to these murals being done by multiple artists. We also see some of the first appearances of painted men. This was probably not art for art's sake, but rather ritualistic and may have helped them with a hunt (Chapter 1). -
Period: 13,000 BCE to 11,000 BCE
Bison Ceiling Painting in Altamira Cave
Paleolithic. Found in Altamira, Spain. Each bison is 5 feet long. A lot of the same expressions of animals are seen here as the ones that were found on the Namibian murals and date 15,000 years earlier (Chapter 1). -
Period: 6750 BCE to 6250 BCE
Human Figure, Ain Ghazal, Jordan
Neolithic. Found in Ain Ghazal, Jordan. This statue shows that people were starting to pay attention to more personal traits. It is not naturalistic and the proportions were off (Chapter 1). -
Period: 6000 BCE to 5900 BCE
Çatal Höyük Village
Neolithic. Çatal Höyük in modern day Turkey. This was one of the earliest towns found. It was built on a hill so the villagers could see what was coming. There were no doors, but rather ladders up and then away into the buildings. They had shrine rooms with bulls that represented strength and fertility. They generally painted what they saw (Chapter 1). -
Period: 3200 BCE to 2500 BCE
Megalithic Tomb at Newgrange
Neolithic. Found in Newgrange, Ireland. This megalithic structure is a tomb. The passage grave leads to a tumulus. We see the formation of a primitive dome and corbeled vaulting with this tomb (Chapter 1). -
Period: 3200 BCE to 3000 BCE
White Temple, Uruk
Mesopotamian. Found in modern-day Warka, Iraq. This structure has damage because it is made of mudbrick, which erodes over time. This kind of structure was common at the time because of how important Gods were in daily life. It is on a bent-axis plan (Chapter 2). -
Period: 3000 BCE to 2920 BCE
Palette of King Narmer
Egyptian. Predynastic. Found in Hierakonpolis, Eqypt. It was a ceremonial makeup palette. It symbolized the unification of upper and lower Egypt. It follows a hierarchy of scale, it has registered and is in composite view. This style evolved in Egypt and made its way to Mesopotamia. It has many symbolic meanings in it, like the incense meaning it is on holy ground (Chapter 3). -
2700 BCE
Sumerian Votive Statuary
Mesopotamian. Found in Eshnunna (modern-day Tell Asmar), Iraq. These figures were offerings to the Gods. They are not naturalistic but look very happy. Male statues were generally in skirts and female statues were generally in a dress that went over the arm. They are in eternal prayer (Chapter 2). -
Period: 2630 BCE to 2611 BCE
Imhotep, stepped pyramid of Djoser
Egyptian. Found in Saqqara, Egypt. This was one of the first structures made of stone, rather than mudbrick. It is 7 mastaba on top of each other. It is a funerary temple. It has convex fluted columns that were reminiscent of bundles of reeds. This was designed by the architect Imhotep (Chapter 3). -
Period: 2600 BCE to 2300 BCE
Cycladic Statuettes
Aegean. From Syros, Greece. These marble statues are usually of nude women. Artists at the time did not sign their work and they are hard to date but are from prehistoric Aegean times (Chapter 4). -
Period: 2551 BCE to 2472 BCE
4th Dynasty Pyramids of Gizeh
Egyptian. Old Kingdom. Found in Gizeh, Egypt.
Khufu: 2551 BCE - 2428 BCE
Khafre: 2520 BCE - 2494 BCE
Menkaure Pyramid: 2490 BCE - 2472 BCE
These pyramids were built for the 4th dynasty kings. The Great Sphinx was built at the same time for Khafre because it came to him in a dream (Chapter 3). -
Period: 2550 BCE to 1600 BCE
Stonehenge
Neolithic. Found in Wiltshire, England on the Salisbury Plains. This megalithic structure has some of the earliest examples of post and lintel construction. No one is entirely sure what it was used for, but it was possibly a gravesite. It was built over a period of time. The blue stones are from Wales, which is over 100 miles away. Druids still worship here on the winter and summer solstices (Chapter 1). -
Period: 2520 BCE to 2494 BCE
Khafre Enthroned
Egyptian. Old Kingdom. Found in Gizeh, Egypt. It is made of diorite, which is hard to carve but keeps its shape very well. He is wearing the Nemes headdress, the Osirin beard, and the traditional Shendyt. He is not completely freed from the block, which is traditional. He is proportional and perfect, as Pharaohs were meant to be divine rulers (Chapter 3). -
Period: 2334 BCE to 2279 BCE
Sargon of Akkad
Mesopotamia. Founded the Akkadian Empire (Chapter 2). -
Period: 2254 BCE to 2218 BCE
Victory Stele of Naram-SIn
Mesopotamian. Found in Susa, Iran. It tells the story of Naram-Sin's conquest. The suns represent the Gods. It is a relief sculpture. It follows registers, the hierarchy of scale, and is in composite view (Chapter 2). -
Period: 2250 BCE to 2200 BCE
Head of Akkadian Ruler
Mesopotamian. Found in Nineveh, Iraq. It is the oldest lifesize metalworking we have found. It is made of copper. It is stylized. The eyes were gouged out as a political statement. Conveys the king's presence, even when he is not there. This is a symbol of an absolute monarchy. -
2100 BCE
Gudea of Lagash
Mesopotamia. Found in Girsu, Iraq. The stone, Diorite, had to be imported from Egypt. In one statue, he is seated and holding the plan for the temple. In another, he is holding an overflowing water jar, which represents prosperity (Chapter 2). -
2000 BCE
The Standard of Ur from Tomb 779
Mesopotamian. Found in Ur, Iraq. This is split into 2 sides, the war side and the peace side. It was made with lapis lazuli and red limestone. We see that the art is in registers, it has a hierarchy of scale, and a composite view of human figures. This may have been some of the earliest political propaganda, or a narrative (Chapter 2). -
1780 BCE
Stele with the Laws of Hammurabi
Mesopotamia. Found in Babylon or Susa, Iraq. This stele is the written laws of Hammurabi. An eye for an eye, a hand for a hand. Laws were based on wealth. The rich could buy off their penalty. It was political propaganda of the God Shamash giving Hammurabi the laws. It follows the hierarchy of scale. It is a relief sculpture (Chapter 2). -
Period: 1650 BCE to 1625 BCE
Landscape with Swallows (Spring Fresco)
Aegean. From the south and west walls of room Delta 2 in Akrotiri, Thera, Greece. This is a true fresco. These types of paintings were usually decorations for homes and shrines. This is the most complete and largest fresco surviving from the period. The goal was not to render the landscape exactly, but instead to capture its essence (Chapter 4). -
Period: 1600 BCE to 1500 BCE
Funerary Mask, Grave Circle A
Aegean. From Mycena, Greece. This mask is made by utilizing the repousse method and taking a sheet of gold and beating the details in from the back. This was probably not intended as an individual portrait, but it does have individual features. The other items in the grave, such as a gold-encrusted dagger, point to this being a king (Chapter 4). -
1500 BCE
Harvesters Vase
Aegean. From Hagia Triada, Greece. It is a relief on a vase of young singing farmers. This artist was one of the first people to pay attention to the muscular and skeletal structures of humans. All but one character is is the composite view. It also has individual characters (Chapter 4). -
Period: 1473 BCE to 1458 BCE
Hatshepsut with Offering Jars
Egyptian. New Kingdom. Found in the upper court of her mortuary temple in Deir el Bahri, Egypt. In this statue, she appears with the Nemes headdress, the Osirin beard, and the Shendyt skirt. She has no breasts, as she wanted to appear male. She was the daughter of Thutmosis I and reigned for 22 years. She was possibly in a relationship with Senmer, who may be Princess Nefrua's father (Chapter 3). -
Period: 1400 BCE to 1200 BCE
Corbeled Arches, Vaults, and Domes
Aegean. A primitive form of this structure can be found at the Tiryns in the galleries. They are irregular cyclopean blocks that go up in a horizontal way until the two ends meet. The weight of the bricks holds each side up (Chapter 4). -
Period: 1353 BCE to 1335 BCE
Akhenaten
Egyptian. Amarna Style. New Kingdom. From the temple of Aton, Karnak, Egypt. Akhenaten abandoned the traditional Egyptian religion and introduced monotheism in the name of the god Aton, who was portrayed as a sexless sun disk. He also moved the capital from Thebes to Akhenaten. His body was often mishappened and flawed, a steep departure from other royal statues (Chapter 3). -
1323 BCE
Tutankhamen
Egyptian. New Kingdom. From his tomb in Thebes, Egypt. Some of the most impressive works we have from Egypt come from "King Tut's" tomb. His sarcophagus is especially impressive. It is made of entirely gold, turquoise, and lapis lazuli. Some of the symbology is taken from the Amarna period, like the sun risk emanating the Ankh, or symbol of life. His death mask is also gold and symbolizes the unification of upper and lower Egypt (Chapter 3). -
Period: 1303 BCE to 1213 BCE
Ramses II
Pharaoh. New Kingdom. Though he was not the firstborn son, he became heir to the throne when his older brother died. Ramses II lived until he was in his 90s, which was very rare at the time and still kind of is (Chapter 3). -
Period: 1300 BCE to 1250 BCE
Lion's Gate
Aegean. From Mycenae, Greece. This gate has a relief panel of two confronting lions. The gate is actually two massive monolithic posts with a massive lintel between them. On top of it is a corbelled arch, which leaves an opening to lessen the weight (Chapter 4). -
Period: 1290 BCE to 1224
Temple of Ramses II
Egyptian. New Kingdom. Found in Abu Simbel, Egypt. This was originally a storage spot for goods. It features four colossal statues of Ramses II. It's been theorized that Ramses II was trying to deify himself death. Inside, the walls are painted with the narrative of the Battle of Kadesh. More recently, people moved the statue to make room for a dam later (Chapter 3). -
Period: 750 BCE to 730 BCE
Herakles and Nessos
Archaic Greek. From Olympia, Greece. It is made of bronze. Most sculptures during the Geometric period were small. This one depicts a hero fighting a centaur. It is thought that it is Herakles and Nessos, but we cannot be sure. We see an introduction of Greek mythos in art. The man is larger than the centaur to show that he won. "Reason always overpowers chaos" (Chapter 5). -
740 BCE
Geometric Krater
Archaic Greek. From Dipylon Cemetery, Athens, Greece. This is one of the earliest examples of Greek figure painting. This vase marked the grave of a man who passed away. It is over 3' tall. Most of it is painted with abstract patterning, but humans are present too. This reintroduces humans to Greek art. It is narrative and was made around the same time as Homer's Epics (Chapter 5). -
Period: 650 BCE to 640 BCE
Fibula with Oriental Lions
Etruscan. From Regolini-Galassi Tomb, Cerveteri, Italy. This was a fibula meant to be fastened to a gown. It used the repousse technique and also granulation, which is like sodering little balls to a metal surface. It was indicative of newly acquired wealth (Chapter 6). -
Period: 645 BCE to 640 BCE
Ashurbanipal Hunting Lions
Mesopotamia. Found in Nineveh, Iraq. It is a relief sculpture. The artist has seen a lion, as evident from the lion's musculature. It is a very low relief. It shows Ashurbanipal hunting lions. Hunting lions were seen as a manly virtue, akin to warfare. The Assyrian empire was being to decline at this point (Chapter 2). -
575 BCE
Ishtar Gate
Mesopotamia. Found in Babylon, Iraq. This work is an impressive show of tile work. Islamic art would later borrow from this tradition of tile work in the middle east 1200 years later. It has real and made-up animal reliefs. It also has a large arcuated opening (Chapter 2). -
570 BCE
Francios Vase
Archaic Greek. From Chiusi, Italy.
Artist: Kleitias and Ergotimos.
This is a fairly early example of black-figure style painting. It was a new kind of Krater with volute-shaped handles. It has 200 figures in 5 registers and labels animals, people, and even inanimate objects. It is has been painted with Greek mythology in mind (Chapter 5). -
550 BCE
Temple of Hera I
Archaic Greek. From Paestum, Italy. This is a peristyle of huge early Doric temples. The columns were tightly packed together and thick with flat capitals. The entire thing is 80' by 170'. The ridge beam makes it so a row of columns precludes the cult statue. The columns also have pronounced swelling. Around this time, Greek architects were trying to find the ideal proportions (Chapter 5). -
530 BCE
Peplos Kore
Archaic Greek. From the Acropolis, Athens, Greece. During this time, women were always clothed. We are not sure which goddess this is because her identifying symbol in her left hand is missing. It was originally thought that all Peplos Kore figures wore peplos, but they actually wear one of four designs. The cloth covers the figure. Traces of paint have been found on it. It has an archaic smile (Chapter 5). -
Period: 525 BCE to 520 BCE
Achilles and Ajax Playing a Dice Game
Archaic Greek. From Orvieto, Italy.
Artist: Andokides Painter.
This marks the invention of red-figure painting. The painter was anonymous. It is the opposite of the black-figure style and they used soft brushes to paint in the details. They were even able to build up the paint to give a relief type of feel to it (Chapter 5). -
Period: 510 BCE to 500 BCE
Apulu
Etruscan. From the roof of the Portonaccio Temple in Veii, Italy. This is a terracotta figure that is lifesized. It is of the myth of Hercules and Apollo. Hermes and Artemis are also present on the roof. He has almond-shaped eyes, he is angular and stylized. He has an archaic smile (Chapter 6). -
Period: 500 BCE to 480 BCE
The Capitoline Wolf
Etruscan. Found in Rome, Italy. This scene depicts the she-wolf who adopted Romulus and Ramus and raised them. Romulus ended up killing Ramus and founded Rome on April 21st, 753 BCE. This statue was cast using the lost-wax method and was cast in its entirety, a method that hadn't been done before. The infants were added in the 15th century BCE (Chapter 6). -
Period: 480 BCE to 470 BCE
Tomb of Leopards
Etruscan. From the Monterozzi necropolis in Taraquinia, Italy. These figures have unusually large hands, which was common in Etruscan art. One man holds up an egg, a symbol of rebirth and the afterlife. The stylization of the figures was common in Greek art of the same time. The scene depicts a joyous banquet, even though it is funerary. These types of events were only for the wealthy (Chapter 6). -
Period: 470 BCE to 399 BCE
Socrates
Greek. Born in 470 BCE in Athens, he was a great philosopher. He was killed in 399 BCE because he wouldn't stop calling the jury stupid after they accused him of corrupting the youth. -
450 BCE
Diskobotos
Classical Greek. From Esquiline Hill.
Artist: Myron
The original of this sculpture has been lost, but Roman marble copies still exist. The body is posed in an almost archaic manner with the torso facing toward you and the limbs in profile. The limbs also form intersecting arches. Though the tension is throughout the body, the face lacks any (Chapter 5). -
Period: 447 BCE to 438 BCE
The Parthenon
Classical Greek. From the Acropolis, Athens, Greece.
Architect: Iktinos, assisted by Kallikrates and Phidias.
The Parthenon is viewed as the ideal solution in the quest for perfect proportions in Doric temples. It strictly adheres to harmonic numeral values and has a controlling ratio of x=2y+1. Because of this, it's actually a little bit irregular in shape (Chapter 5). -
Period: 428 BCE to 348 BCE
Plato
Greek. A student and scribe of Aristotle. He was a great philosopher in his own right and thought democracy was deeply flawed, as it had killed his teacher. -
Period: 356 BCE to 323 BCE
Head of Alexander the Great
Hellenistic Greek. From Pella, Greece.
Alexander the Great was the king. Because there are so many images of him that have been made much later after his death, it is hard to pinpoint which was an actual depiction of him. It is believed that this bust may be official though (Chapter 5). -
Period: 350 BCE to 340 BCE
Aphrodite of Knidos
Hellenistic Greek. From the Temple in Knidos.
Artist: Praxiteles
This was the first nude statue of a Greek goddess. Before this, women were always clothed, because of this, this statue caused a stir. She is standing in a contrapposto position. This way of depicting goddesses would later become standard (Chapter 5). -
Period: 336 BCE to 323 BCE
Alexander the Great
Greek. Alexander the Great was king of Macedon from 336 BCE - 323 BCE. He led many military campaigns and conquered many different places, expanding the empire. He also ushered in the Hellenistic period. -
Period: 237 BCE to 47 BCE
Temple of Horus
Ptolemaic Egyptian. Found in Edfu, Egypt. This temple follows the Pylon temple scheme from a thousand years ago. The entrance is impressive and boasts images of Horus (Chapter 3). -
Period: 175 BCE to 100 BCE
First Style Wall Painting
Roman Republic. From Herculaneum, Italy. Preserved by a Volcanic eruption, we got a look into how Roman life was actually life during this time period. The first style wall paintings were meant to emulate expressive stone, like marble. They were painted in true fresco and follow the 3-part entablature of the architrave, frieze, and cornice (Chapter 7). -
Period: 150 BCE to 100 BCE
Old Market Woman
Hellenistic Greek. Found in Rome, Italy. This piece is consistent with many other Hellenistic works of the time. There are many statues of old people and the lower brow; something that used to be reserved for red-figured style painting. This statue depicts an old woman going to sell her chickens, fruits, and vegetables at the market. This is in tune with the cosmopolitan world of the time (Chapter 5). -
75 BCE
Temple of Portunus
Roman Republic. From Rome, Italy. This temple takes influence from both the Etruscans and the Greeks. It has both freestanding and engaged columns. It only has one cella, meaning it is a temple dedicated just to Portunus (Chapter 7). -
Period: 60 BCE to 20 BCE
Second Style Wall Painting
Roman Republic/Imperal. With this style, we see a shift in style. The architectural elements with this style are scaled to the wall, while the illusionary elements have early aspects of the use of perspective. They have a great sense of depth. In the Dionysiac Mystery Frieze in Room 5 of the Villa of Mysteries, they also use a red, brilliant red paint made of mercury. It is also painted in true fresco (Chapter 7). -
Period: 60 BCE to 40 BCE
Head of Old Man
Roman Republic. From Osimo, Italy. Departing from the Greeks, Romans were concerned with capturing the individual. There are many, many portraits from this time. This portrait follows the rule of verism, meaning it aims to be as accurate as possible. It was not meant to flatter the person, but to be truthful. Romans of the time engaged in ancestor worship (Chapter 7). -
Period: 49 BCE to 44 BCE
Julius Ceaser
Roman Republic/Dictator. Ceaser's rise to the throne marks the end of the Roman Republic. He also led many sieges and was a brilliant military commander. He was assassinated by Brutus. Following his death, there were a series of civil wars before Octavius, later named Augustus, would take the throne. He reigned as dictator from 49 BCE - 44 BCE. -
44 BCE
Denarius with Portrait of Julius Ceaser
Roman Republic. From Rome, Italy. We start to see heavier political propaganda during this time period. These coins are an example of that (Chapter 7). -
Period: 27 BCE to 14
Augustus
Roman Emperor. Gaius Octavius, later renamed Augustus by the Senate, was the first Roman emperor after Julius Ceaser's assassination. He was responsible for the buildings of new roads and aqueducts, as well as several temples throughout the new empire. He reigned from 27 BCE to 14 CE (Chapter 7). -
20 BCE
Portrait of Augustus as a General
Imperial Roman. From Primaporta, Italy. His arm is out, indicating that he is speaking to his troops. The curls are to remind you of Julius Ceaser. He is barefoot. It is a propaganda piece with iconography embedded into the breastplate. -
Period: 20 BCE to 20
Third Style Wall Painting
Imperial Roman. With this style, there is not nearly as much illusionism. Only small fantasy scenes are painted in a wash of flat color. The architectural detailing is not scaled to the wall and is rather fragile and dainty. The Detail of the Third Style Wall Painting from Cubiculum 15 in the Villa of Agrippa Postumus in Boscotrecase, Italy is a good example of this. It also followed the 3-part division that the earlier two styles have followed (Chapter 7). -
Period: 13 BCE to 9 BCE
Ara Pacis Augustae
Imperial Roman. From Rome, Italy. It is a temple dedicated to Pax, the goddess of peace, but might be for a different goddess. It also celebrates the return of Augustus from Spain. It is both a historical account of what happened and political propaganda (Chapter 7). -
Period: 1 CE to 33
Jesus of Nazareth
Judaism. He claimed to be the son of God and began Christianity. He was crucified. Jesus of Nazareth would later influence Constantine to abandon the traditional Roman religion and instill Christianity into Rome. Even later, that would inspire the entire Vatican to set up in Rome. -
Period: 20 to 79
Fourth Style Wall Painting
Imperial Roman. The fourth style was a combination of the previous three styles. It also followed the 3-part division. The frieze contains the third style, the cornice contains the second style, and the architrave contains the first style. A good example is The Fourth Style Wall Paintings in Ixion Room (Triclinium P) of the House of Vettii in Pompeii, Italy ca. 70 CE - 79 CE. This style often had a lot of copies of Greek paintings (Chapter 5). -
Period: 26 to 36
Pontius Pilate
Imperial Roman. He ruled over the 5th Prefect of Judaea and ordered Jesus's crucifixion. -
Period: 41 to 54
Claudius
Roman Emperor. Cladius was another Roman Emperor. He was responsible for greatly expanding the Roman Empire as well as several public works, such as expanding roads and building new aqueducts. He reigned from 41 CE - 54 CE. -
Period: 54 to 68
Nero
Roman Emperor. Nero was a tyrannical Roman Emperor. He succeeded Claudius. It is rumored that he burned down half of Rome to build the Domus Areus, his pleasure palace. Nero's death marked the end of the Julio-Claudian line. He reigned from 54 CE - 68 CE. -
Period: 60 to 79
Brawl in the Pompeii Amphitheater
Imperial Roman. From a wall painting in House I,3,23 in Pompeii, Italy. This scene depicts gladiators brawling. Wall paintings of this period were inspired by the theater. They generally painted what they saw. It is a true fresco. Amphitheaters were like Greek theaters, but it was freestanding. It also consisted of two theaters front to front (Chapter 7). -
Period: 62 to 79
Neptune and Amphitrite
Imperial Roman. From a wall in the Summer Triclinium of the House of Neptune and Amphitrite. This is a very intricate wall mosaic. They gave the illusion of depth by adding darker stones to create shadows. They were essentially painting with tiles. It is 8' x 10', so it is rather large. Seashells line the borders. The figures are standing in contrapposto (Chapter 7). -
Period: 69 to 79
Vespasian
Roman Emperor. The first emperor of the Flavian dynasty. He constructed the Colosseum and expanded the Roman Empire into Britain. He reigned from 69 CE - 79 CE. -
Period: 70 to 79
Portrait of Husband and Wife
Imperial Roman. From a wall painting in House VII, 2, 6, in Pompeii, Italy. This is a true fresco of a married couple. They are shown to be highly educated, as the woman is holding a stylus and a tablet and the man is holding a scroll. It is not overly naturalistic (Chapter 7). -
Period: 70 to 80
The Colosseum
Imperial Roman. From Rome, Italy. This colosseum was commissioned by Vespasian on the land where Nero's palace lake used to be. It held 50,000 people and they even held mock naval battles in it. It was and still is one of the most impressive structures ever built (Chapter 7). -
81
Arch of Titus
Imperial Roman. From Rome, Italy. It was built after Titus died and his younger brother took power. It is a freestanding arch called a triumphal arch. They could only be gifted to the emperor by the senate. Reliefs of past victories are carved into the spandrel and it tells the narrative of the God Titus (Chapter 7). -
112
Column of Trajan
Imperial Roman. From Forum of Trajan, Rome, Italy. The Column of Trajan is an extremely detailed column that tells the story of the Dacian Wars in 150 episodes. It is 128' tall. Apollodorus of Damascus was probably the creator of it. It is amazing (Chapter 7). -
Period: 117 to 120
Portrait Bust of Hadrian
Imperial Roman. From Rome, Italy. He is seen in military dress, with a beard, and longer hair. He was known as the Philosopher-king and started the trend of bearded emperors (Chapter 7). -
Period: 117 to 138
Hadrian
Roman Emperor. He was known to be part of the 5 Good Emperors. He unified Rome and built an 80-mile wall around Roman territory. He is also responsible for the Pantheon. He reigned from 117 CE - 138 CE. -
125
Pantheon
Imperial Roman. From Rome, Italy. This was commissioned by Hadrian and was dedicated to all of the gods. Though, it may have been the work of Hadrian himself. The walls were constructed with concrete but were mixed with other materials as the walls went up toward the oculus. It was a masterpiece of architecture. Oddly, the facade protrudes out and may have originally been intended to be back further (Chapter 7). -
Period: 193 to 211
Septimius Severus
Roman Emperor. He was responsible for a lot of the development of civil law. -
Period: 198 to 221
Caracalla
Roman Emperor. He led a number of campaigns, was not a good emperor, killed his own brother, and built the Baths of Caracalla, the last great Roman monument. He reigned from 198 CE - 221 CE. -
Period: 211 to 217
Bust of Caracalla
Imperial Roman. From Rome, but is in Berlin. This portrait marks more characterization of personality in Roman portraiture. Caracalla breaks from the tradition of bearded emperors at this point. He was not a good person and his scary face was intentional (Chapter 7). -
260
Triumph of Shapur I Over Valerian
Mesopotamia. Found in Bishapur, Iran. This was created near the end of the Roman Empire and you can see the mixture of styles between Mesopotamian styles and Roman styles. It celebrates Shapur I's victory over Valerian (Chapter 2). -
300
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs
Imperial Rome. From Constantinople. This sculpture marks a drastic change from the last several hundred years. With the establishment of the tetrarchy in 293 CE, we see a loss in individuality which has historically been very important to the Romans. The only thing that is different is their beards, and the junior tetrarch has no beard. It is meant to symbolize unity (Chapter 7). -
Period: 306 to 337
Constantine the Great
Roman Emperor. He legalized Christianity and then declared himself Christian. He made sweeping reforms to the government. He is a Christian icon to this day. He reigned from 306 CE - 337 CE. -
Period: 315 to 330
Portrait of Constantine
Imperial Rome. From the Basilica Nova, Rome, Italy. This portrait marks the end of the Tetrarchs. Throwing back to the time of Augustus, this portrait has the eternal youth factor. It was absolutely colossal, standing at 8'6". His personality has been lost, a departure from Caracalla. He held an orb to symbolize global power, though it could have been a cross of Christ (Chapter 7).