Augustus Caesar Imperialism

The art I selected from the Roman Empire is the architectural structure of the Colosseum, or amphitheater. This structure reveals the importance that the Romans’ placed on entertainment, in so much that Benton and DiYanni indicate “it was official policy that the state should provide entertainment for the public” (Benton, DiYanni, p. 108). The relationship between the art and the culture is distinguished and represented by the size of the structure; it being able to accommodate such large crowds of people indicates that the Romans placed much importance in attending the entertainment provided. The Colosseum influenced the culture by providing ample space for everyone to enjoy entertainment. The culture influenced the art by supporting through attendance to the different entertainment during that time.

The people of Rome loved Augustus. They loved him for his accomplishments and achievements. For example, he double the size of Rome while he ruled. They also made a coin for him with his head on the front and his last name, Caesar inscribed on there. On the back was a crocodile which had the words “AEGVPTO CAPTA” which meant “Egypt Captured” for Augustus’s victory in capturing Egypt, but specifically the Battle of Actium.

Along with the paintings, Romans had a wide variety of other arts ranging in many different fields of interest. For example, the wealthy owned papyrus scrolls and other documents that they read (Nardo, 70). Music also spread joy and was even played at special occasions, like weddings, as it is today in addition to formal concerts and theaters. Moreover, plays and theatrical arts were performed on stages by prominent actors of the field and written by even more famous writers, like Plautus and Terence (Hinds, 31). Art also played a role in advancing the society through architecture, like the famous arches found along theaters, bridges, and other great structures. But most importantly, the Romans cherished

1. The Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic located on the entrance wall of the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia in Ravenna, Italy was made circa 425 AD. A mausoleum is a monumental tomb, usually meant for entombing the dead above ground. The mosaic is displayed in a lunette-a semi-circular wall of a vaulted room. Even though the image of Christ as the Good Shepherd was a common one in catacombs in previous centuries, the way that Christ was shown in art had changed since Christianity had been adopted as Rome's official religion and the image of Christ in the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was no different. Previously Christ had been shown as a simple carpenter, but in the Christ as the Good Shepherd mosaic he is shown in a fine Roman wear. At the time, Greeks thought that they could create order within their environments and thus create statues that were "perfect." This is what they believed they were doing with the way Christ was shown in the mosaic at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia; creating a more worldly, powerful image of Christ. Christ is shown with a large golden nimbus (halo), a royal purple mangle over a golden tunic and holding a tall cross. Also depicted in the mosaic at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a set of three sheep on each side of Christ, with him touching one on the nose.

Shortly after Rome made the transition from pagan practices to embracing Christianity as their formal faith, Christ's depiction in art went through various restorations. Some of the most widely popular illustrations were that of Christ sacrificed on the cross to his ultimate ascension into the Kingdom of Heaven after overcoming death. Since the image portrays Christ in luxurious attire resembling the Roman toga, the viewer can perceive that the mosaic was meant to present Christ in an imperialistic fashion. This is perhaps directed in part to the Byzantine emperors preferring to worship Christ in a way traditional and symbolic of their historical and early customs rather than how he really looked.

Roman portraiture was one of the most significant periods in the development of portrait art. The characteristics of Roman portraitures are more modest, realistic, idealized, and natural. Also, the body compositions, muscles and facial expressions of portraits and sculptures are more advanced. Many roman portraits are directly linked to specific individuals, such as gods and emperors. They were often used for propaganda purposes and included ideological messages in the pose, accoutrements, or costume of the figure.

With the adoption of Christianity as the official religion, art was able, so to speak, to come above ground in the old pagan city of Rome, and painting, instead of being restricted to the decoration of the walls of the Catacombs or of small chambers and chapels, came into use on a large scale in the new churches that were at once set up. At the same time patronage moved from the hands of the poorer classes to the richer, and artists of outstanding quality came to be employed as well as those of obscurer character, who would work for small fees (www.religion-online.org). To wall painting was added the more luxurious art of mosaic; numerous sculptures were done, and minor objects, often in expensive materials, were in addition produced in the service of the Church, so that art production became at the same time both more extensive and more luxurious (www.religion-online.org ).

When Christians first began to use art within the church it was to defend and communicate the truth about God and the world. Throughout time a lot of controversies began to form about art being used to describe Christianity. The visual culture of the early church was very modest and until about 200 A.D most visual imagery was found in catacombs, the burial places of Christians. So the only art that was known was symbols such as fishes and only the people who were intended to know them. Art was not intended like it is today, it was exclusive and misunderstood.

There were several influences the art and architecture of classical Rome had upon the development of Christian art and architecture. According to Wikipedia (2018), early Christianity used the same media as the surrounding pagan culture. Artistic media such as fresco sculpture and mosaic were used. Early Christian art used Romans forms and styles too, for example, the late classical style where that which had a portrayal of human body and one which presented space its impression (Wikipedia, 2018).

The Romans had art in their daily lives. They were influenced and mimicked the Greek art. The Romans made statues, sculptures, mosaics and murals. They added a sense of style to their lives. They had metalwork, gem cutting, and they added designs to furniture.

The Jewish community started Christianity, but Christianity later spread and convert from all over the Greco-Roman world were attracted by this religion during the progress of the first century CE. Ideas, traditions, ways of worship and traditions were brought along by the new convert of Christianity and it was adopted by their faith. This is through art because Christians who were once pagans of the Roman Empire stick to their artistic heritage when they became followers of Jesus Christ. Roman artistic forms and motifs and also Roman architecture were being used by this new convert to express their new faith. In further explanation, we’ll see how Roman art influenced the developing art of early Christians.

Mosaics were an extremely important part of early Christian Art. Mosaics were used in early Christian architecture to display a new Christian message, replacing paintings. An example used of this architecture is the Galla Placida (425-426), which uses a mosaic that depicts Saint Lawrence, to whom that building was dedicated too. The building also featured mosaics in the vaults and panels of marbled sheathing the walls below. During Byzantine times the fresco came to replace the mosaics.

The Mosaic Floor of the Beth Alpha Synagogue (p. 219) is a beautiful example of a mosaic with panels that portray the story of The Metaphysical Realm, The Celestial Realm, and the Terrestrial Realm. The Torah allowed images as long as they weren’t worshipped. Placement of images on the floor demonstrated that they were not worshipping the image itself. In contrast, the Christians banned images of the cross on floors so that they were not tread upon.

Christian art and iconography began, about two hundred years after the birth of Christ. Western Christian art and religious iconography was based on the classical art styles and imagery by the Ancient Romans. Medieval art iconography began to relate more to text of the Bible. Religious Christian art was created in the form of illuminated manuscripts, mosaics, and fresco paintings adorned churches. The colors of art were generally muted except those used in manuscripts and stained glass windows. Figures varied in sizes in relation their importance. Unlike artists in the Byzantine period who avoided making sculptures at all costs, Romanesque artists made sculptures which were often large, made of stone, and

Throughout history art has consistently reflected the cultural values and social structures of individual civilizations. Ancient art serves as a useful tool to help historians decipher some important aspects of ancient culture. From art we can determine the basic moral and philosophical beliefs of many ancient societies. The differences in arts purpose in Greece and Rome, for example, show us the fundamental differences in each culture's political and moral system. The primary objective of Greek art was to explore the order of nature and to convey philosophical thought, while Roman art was used primarily as a medium to project the authority and importance of the current ruler and the greatness of