The Grandeur That Was Rome: Roman Art and Archaeology

by Jennifer Tobin

The words “Ancient Rome” immediately conjure up images of crazy emperors hosting lavish feasts and orgiastic parties, scenes of chariot races and gladiatorial combat, processions of conquering armies, and legions defending against invading barbarians.Yet on further consideration Ancient Rome was also the genesis for numerous more lofty developments, such as senatorial government, the art of oratory, historical writing, the biography, and, of course, law. From toga parties to the alphabet, from the veto to carrying a bride over the threshold (an ancient Roman custom), in many ways the world of Rome is still with us today. Perhaps this is the reason why the Romans of the past seem so familiar to us. But this familiarity also stems from the nature of the remains left behind by the Romans: graffiti scratched on the wall of a tavern complaining about price gouging, a poignant epitaph carved on a tombstone mourning the loss of a son who died at age three, plates of food left on a table at Pompeii, abandoned in the face of volcanic eruption.

This course serves as a companion to the Modern Scholar course The Glory That Was Greece: Greek Art and Archaeology. Lines from Edgar Allan Poe’s poem To Helen are the source for the titles.There is no mystery why Poe used the word “grandeur” to describe Rome.At its height the Roman Empire stretched from the western shores of Britain to the Euphrates, and from the Rhine to the Sudan.The city of Rome in the second century AD boasted a population of over five million, who were served by eleven aqueduct systems and dozens of baths, markets, theaters, and temples. But as the saying goes, neither the Empire nor the city of Rome was “built in a day,” and Rome’s growth from a village of mud huts on the banks of the Tiber River to a shining marble-clad fulcrum of a vast empire was a slow process. Furthermore, the “grandeur” of Rome evolved out of the ability of its leaders and artisans to adopt and adapt useful and beautiful ideas and forms from the peoples the great city conquered. In many ways, the art and culture of Rome was a distillation of the ancient world as a whole in that they contained elements borrowed from Greece, Egypt, and the Near East.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Art

Audiobook

First published March 28, 2011

Reviews

[November Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This really isn't about art or archeology beyond some tidbits here and there, it's more an overview of Rome from it's post-Etruscan foundations to Constantine, but it's engaging enough that I still enjoyed it.

[John Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A series of fourteen lectures that each build on a brief synopsis of historic periods in the timeline of Rome and then discussion on the corresponding architecture, crafts and arts produced from them. Beginning with an early peoples that occupied the area of the seven hills, the Villanovans, through the Etruscans, early kings of the city state of Rome, the Republic, and the various eras of the Empire, the lectures finish just before the age of Byzantium. I particularly enjoyed the frequent dashes over to Google to see the artifacts discussed as I did not have the usual accompanying workbook for the lectures making for a fun treasure hunt!

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to these series of of lectures that focused on the emperors of Rome, chronologically, and their artistic and archaeological contributions to the Roman Empire, learning a good bit.

[Daphne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way too much time spent on the history of Rome. I would say less than half of the time was spent actually discussing art and archaeology. There are tons of popular books out about the history of Rome, so spending that much time on information freely available elsewhere, and very little about what the subjects actually should have been passed on the title/description made me not really like this one much.

I almost stopped about a 1/3rd of the way in because I already knew everything the author was talking about. Definitely a waste of time for anyone that has a year or two of studying the history of Rome under their belts.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

My second"Modern Scholar" learning experience in the car. The Roman History was interesting, and full of little details. It dovetails very well with the podcast on the History of Britain I was listening to until my ipod died.
I can't decide whether to listen to this again or try another one.

[Michael Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

A mix of history, art, and archeology that stays at a fairly high level, but includes enough details at times to keep it interesting. A good beginner course.

[Tchipakkan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good basic introduction