The Flavian Monuments

I decided to focus on the Flavian dynasty monuments which served as one medium for Vespasian and his sons to dictate how Romans saw them and consequently respected them as leaders.

The Temple of Pacis, for example, housed the plunder from the Jewish war and consequently would serve "as a public commitment to Vespasian's desire for peace in the empire, both against provincial revolts and internal civil war" (Kannenberg, n.d.). The structure itself was "a rectangular hall in the centre of the east side set flush with the portico" (Delane, 2012). Very little remains of this structure today, and consequently is not being used in any capacity beyond a nod to history.

The Temple of the Divine Claudius was also meant to dictate commentary among the people. Its purpose was to house the imperial cult and to connect the Flavians to "the last of the "good" emperors of the Julio-Claudian Dynasty, and therefore establish a sense of imperial continuity" (Kannenberg, n.d.). Similar to the Temple of Paris, much of it no longer stands today.

The Arch of Titus, like the Temple of Peace, is a reminder of the triumph during the Jewish War. "Sculptural relief panels on the interior passage of the arch portray details of the triumphal procession. One panel shows soldiers carrying a menorah and other furnishings from the Temple. The other side features the emperor driving a four-horse chariot, being crowned by a victory figure, while he gestures to the assembled crowd. Prominently placed in the Forum of Rome, the arch is both a recognition of Titus's achievements and a challenge for emperors to come. Anyone who passed through the Arch of Titus was reminded immediately of the great deeds Titus had done in order to deserve deification by the senate after his death" (Schowalter, 2022). Today it is a glimpse into the past for tourists and historians alike, giving a descriptive account of the Flavian dynasty's perspective in Ancient Rome.

Lastly, the Flavian Amphitheater, or Colosseum is arguably the most familiar to the masses. It "was a gift to the Roman people and an implicit critique of the selfish reign of Nero" (Kannenberg, n.d.). All the Flavian emperors would contribute to the development of this monumental statement of Roman imperialism (Lecture). "This marble-covered structure reached four stories high, and the top was fitted with mastlike devices that could support a canopy to shade spectators. It also featured an elaborate substructure with cages for wild animals and passageways that allowed for the movement of animals, personnel, and equipment to different spots in the arena. The longest axis of the elliptical structure measured 188 meters (616 feet), and it could hold up to fifty thousand spectators. Vespasian began the construction, but the amphitheater was dedicated by Titus in 80 ce and not fully completed until the reign of Domitian (81–96 ce)", (Schowalter, 2022).

Bibliography

Amariei, S.(n.d.).[photograph of the Flavian Amphitheater]. AF1QipO0jDqEA4d2y-H9bcfOJ3NgTPhpbdFNFdwB3eZu=s1360-w1360-h1020 

Bucciarelli, S.(n.d.).[photograph of the Temple of Peace].  AF1QipP5rMpIWHI3iB1z7melIRmKkFmRfLLHJWiRwrFv=s1360-w1360-h1020  

Ciccorelli, A.(n.d.).[photograph of the Temple of the Divine Claudius].  AF1QipP6M_G9WoNiUfHAqtmMCX2bFYwAf93kGQZPYG36=s1360-w1360-h1020  

Coralli, A.(n.d.).[photograph of the Arch of Titus]. AF1QipMPURG9KjjmeB7DzF9koKIXsldosxx5M-K5SnrN=s1360-w1360-h1020 

Delane, J. (2012). templum Pacis. In Oxford Classical Dictionary(4). Oxford University Press.

Kannenberg, C.(n.d.). L12 Flavian Propaganda: Construction Projects. In A. Instructor (Ed.), HIST 101: The Roman Republic and Empire.

Schowalter, D. (2022). Churches in Context: The Jesus Movement in the Roman World. In Coogan, M. (Ed.), Oxford History of the Biblical World. Oxford University Press.