Vocabulary & Terms
Imperial Rome I
Imperial Rome II
Imperial Rome III
Important Things You Should Know
100
This costly and labor-intensive visual artform, is made by inlaying small pieces of colored material. This artform allowed for the decoration allowed for durability, a greater color intensity and a slightly irregular/reflective surface.
Mosaic
100
This was the earliest free-standing arch in Rome, and was constructed by Domitian to honor the victories of his brother, Titus. Commemorating the sack of Jerusalem by the Romans, and the return to Rome of treasures and spoils of war.
The Arch of Titus
100
Which emperor is this marble portrait supposed to depict?
Constantine the Great
100
The name of a single-family townhouse inhabited by the upper and wealthy middle classes in Ancient Rome. It includes architectural elements, such as an atrium, impluvium, cubicula, tablinum, and peristyle. As well as beautifully decorated mural paintings, like in Pompeii, which especially helped give an insight into domestic life.
Domos
100
What was the difference between the Republic of Rome and the era of Imperial Rome?
Roman Republic was governed by a shared power with an electorial Senate, while Imperial Rome was an autocracy ruled by a single emperor who held supreme military and political authority.
200
These are the small pieces of colored stone, marble, glass, or gold-backed glass used in a mosaic.
Tessarae
200
The Arch of Titus includes architectural elements, such as: a four-horse chariot, pedestal, entablatures, arch, _______ (1) (molding of the arch), keystone, voussoirs, ________ (2) (victory figures), pairs of engaged columns, Composite Order, and a _______ (arch. in postal lintel construction)
1. archivolt 2. spandrels 3. fornix
200
This was the last great building project in Imperial Rome; a cross-over between a typical frigidarium and a Roman secular basilica. When completed, the structure was the largest roofed interior in Rome. It included large vaults with lateral barrel vault extensions, a large clerestory and monumental statue of the emperor.
The Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine
200
This Roman city founded by Emperor Trajan in what would be present-day Algeria, employs the grid-plan of Roman military encampments; introducing the terms “cardo” (the primary north–south street), “decumanus” (an east–west-oriented street), and “insulae” (either a multi-story apartment building or an entire city block).
Timgad
200
What is the symbolic meaning of the keystone in the Arch of Titus?
The Personification of Rome
300
This marble male portrait is an example of _______. An extreme form of realism in Roman portraiture that aims to depict subjects with strict, unfiltered truthfulness—including physical flaws and imperfections, due to The Roman ideal that wisdom, responsibility, and experience came with seniority.
Verism
300
This building in the Forum of Trajan was prototype for Constantine’s early Christian basilicas. It served as a pathway to the other buildings in the forum and had colonnade on margins for easy movement, as well as columns at the top to allow natural light in.
The Basilica Ulpia
300
Showing power through it's large scale and imperfections through crease and furrows. Who is this veristic bronze sculpture supposed to depict?
Brutus
300
The ancient city of Petra, was the capital of the Nabatean kingdom and is prime example of syncretism as an early center of cultural trade. The rock-cut tombs and the so-called ________ (El Khasneh) are combine greco-roman temple architecture with built local materials by being cut directly into the rock surface.
Treasury
300
A mixed style of classical architecture that combines the scroll-like volutes of the Ionic order with the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order
Composite Order
400
" Portrait of A Woman" uses this artistic technique to combine roman portrait tradition and egyptian burial tradition. This technique uses a wax, resin, and pigment melted and applied to an artwork or preserve an image. (Hot wax painting)
Encaustic Technique
400
This structure is three-dimensional chronicle of Trajan’s victorious wars against the Dacians; anyone wishing to read thefull narrative has to circumambulate around it and you can only see the upper portion from the neighboring libraries. It also functions as a mausolum, due to the bottom being a tomb.
The Column of Trajan
400
Republican verism gives way to the serene, agelessness, such as seen in the marble of ________ ___ ___________. This is similar to the youthful statues of Hellenistic sculptures of Alexander the Great.
Augustus of Primaporta
400
This high-relief grave stone with funerary Banquet from Palmyra, was likely used as a seal opening to a family burial. What exactly is it depicting?
A man with his son and two daughters. (Likely veery important and wealthy)
400
An ancient Roman city that was destroyed and buried under volcanic ash and pumice after Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 CE.
Pompeii
500
A wedge-shaped stone, brick, or concrete block used to build an arch or vault.
Vouissoir
500
This entire complex, included not only sophisticated bathing facilities, but also contained lecture halls, libraries and an array of temples. Acting as a symbol of Rome, where bathing was combined with activities of learning and socializing that brought the Roman people together.
The Baths of Caracalla
500
This spectacular gilded bronze portrait of ______ _______ on horseback was spared the melting pot in the medieval period, because Christians misidentified the subject as Constantine the Great, champion of Christianity.
Marcus Aurelius
500
The inscription of "Aqmat, daughter of Agago" is on a limetone ______ _______ from Palmyra. It's life-size with strict frontality and large staring eyes, wearing a local dress and holding a headband/veil (possible symbol of chastity) setting her apart from elite women of Rome.
Funerary bust
500
ISIS occupied this ancient city on two separate occasions between 2015 and 2017, and destroyed many of its historic treasures.
Palmyra