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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "AH 290-3"
COURSE NAME: "Ancient Rome and Its Monuments"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2018
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Massimo Betello
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 9:30-11:20 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: On-site; activity fee: €40 or $52
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
STUDENTS SHOULD NOT REGISTER FOR BOTH AH190 and AH290
Rome City Series - This on-site course considers the art and architecture of ancient Rome through visits to museums and archaeological sites. The course covers the visual culture and architecture of Rome beginning with the Iron Age and ending with the time of Constantine. A broad variety of issues are raised, including patronage, style and iconography, artistic and architectural techniques, Roman religion, business and entertainment.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
he monuments of Ancient Rome are the most visible and iconic remains of what was once the capital of an empire that surrounded the entire Mediterranean more than 1500 years ago. Why were they built? What was their message? Why are they still standing? What can they tell us about the society that built them?
This course will analyze the archaeology, art, architecture and topography of Ancient Rome, especially how its buildings, statues, materials and techniques were an expression and in service of the political and social circumstances.
The on-site classes will offer a chronological journey showing the progress of Rome from one of several small hilltop villages in central Italy to the most important metropolis in the Mediterranean world. However, at times this temporal approach cannot be followed as a result of the contiguity of important monuments from different periods: in this case all of them will be analyzed.
The site visits will be done both in different areas of the city and in museums so as to obtain a most complete understanding of the appearance of monuments: they were not only composed of physical structures but also decorated with art, providing a deliberate combination that wanted to generate a meaningful visual influence—which in modern times we are no longer used to decode. This course will provide the skills necessary to understand what their message and social meanings were.
Effective note-taking is fundamental to a successful outcome of this course.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Taking this course will provide the students with:

1)    the ability to delineate the evolution of the topography of the ancient city of Rome;

2)    the ability to describe selected Roman monuments and to understand their connections and importance with the history of Rome;

3)    the ability to use architectural, archaeological and artistic terminology;

4)    an understanding of the development of Roman art and architecture. This is not meant to be just knowledge of their chronological progress, but also of their messages originated by the dynamic interaction of inspiration, response and emulation;

5)    the ability to illustrate and discuss some aspects of the living legacy of Roman architecture and art. Rome: which are still sources of inspiration for the modern world;

6)    enhanced research skills in Roman art and architecture;

7)    an enhanced ability to present an organized argument with logical progression and with appropriate supporting evidence;

8)    an improved ability in public speaking.


TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Rome. Oxford Archaeological Guide (2010) Claridge, Amanda Oxford University Press ISBN 9780199546831 DG62.C53     
Art History Course Reader Dept. of Art History, JCU ---    
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Rome Alive: A Source-Guide to the Ancient City Aicher, PeterWauconda, Ill.: Bolchazy-Carducci, 2004978-0-86516-473-4REF DG13 .A37 2004 
A History of Roman ArtSteven L. Tuck, Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2015978-1-4443-3026-7N5740.T83 2015Available for free as an ebook from JCU library
A Short Guide to Writing About ArtSylvan Barnet11 edition (Boston: Pearson, 2014)978-0-205-88699-9REF N7476.B 37 

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Academic participation Discussion and exchange of ideas based on reading of material covered and of new material under investigation. 10%
Class presentation Research presentation to class (10 mins) 15%
Short analytical paper Research paper (4-5 pages)20%
Mid-term examidentifications, multiple choices, true-false, and short essays.25%
Final exam Like the midtmern30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
ASuperior work directly addresses the question or problem raised; provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information; demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory; and has an element of originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading.
BGood work is highly competent; directly addresses the question or problem raised; demonstrates some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice; and discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CSatisfactory work provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings only; it may have some significant structural flaw, absence of information or research background, or too casual and imprecise a treatment, or contain only a minimum of interpretation.
DPoor work lacks a coherent grasp of the material; fails to support its argument with sufficient evidence; indicates a hasty or unconsidered preparation, and/or fails to fulfill the assignment in some way; omits important information and includes irrelevant points.
FFailure work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question; most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Attendance will be taken at every class.
More than 4 absences regardless of the reason (that is missing more than 20% of the course) will have you fail the class.
Absences due to lack of registration into the class at the beginning of the semester count against the 4 absences as the student is still missing parts of the course.
Every student who has accumulated ONE or less absences (regardless of the reason – in this case late registration is not counted) by the day of the midterm will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the midterm. Every student who has accumulated TWO or less absences (regardless of the reasons) by the day of the final exam will be allowed to answer to the extra credit questions on the final exam.

As from the university catalog:

Attendance Policy"
Specific requirements for attendance in any given course, except as described below, are the prerogative of the instructor and will be stated in the course syllabus distributed by the instructor at the beginning of the term.

The Dean’s Office may grant exemptions from specific attendance policies in the case of a chronic medical condition or other serious problem. Students seeking such an exemption must ask a Dean as soon as they are aware of a situation impeding their required attendance. Students who cannot meet the attendance requirements for a particular class may be advised to withdraw from it.

Absences from major examinations require a Dean’s Office excuse, insofar as the student may seek to take a make-up exam. The Dean’s Office will only excuse such absences when they are caused by serious impediments, such as a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which the student is attending the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students seeking such an excuse must notify their instructor, or the Dean’s Office, as soon as possible, and no later than the beginning of the exam.

Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday must notify their instructors by the end of the Add/Drop period (during the first week of classes). Students missing a class for this reason also must make prior arrangements with their instructor to make up any work.

Exams - Absences and Makeups

Instructors may, at their discretion, give makeups on quizzes or other less important graded work to students absent without an official excuse. However, because make-up exams require new exams to be prepared, written and proctored at times outside the regular class period, major examinations (midterms, finals) may only be re-administered with approval from the Dean’s Office. 

A student absent from a class meeting in which a major examination has been scheduled, who wishes to make-up that exam, must ask the Dean’s Office for an official excuse. Such absence will be excused only if the student: 

  1. has notified the Dean’s Office or his or her instructor of his or her inability to attend before the beginning of the class meeting in which the examination was scheduled
  2. subsequently presents to the Dean’s Office with documented evidence of a serious difficulty preventing attendance. 

Serious difficulties entitling a student to make-up a missed exam include a student’s own illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which the student is attending the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Missed exams owing to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel plans or difficulties, student misunderstandings, alarm clock failure, or personal convenience, will not be excused.”

 

ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

 

01 class.

Mon. May 21

Introduction to the course.

Content: Course requirements, logistics, etc. Course-work: academic and study resources[MB1] .

Meeting point: JCU, Guarini Campus, GK11

 

02 class.

Tues. May 22

 

Mythological and topographical origins

Content: Early Rome between Etruria and Magna Grecia; building materials and orders. Tiber Island; Forum Boarium; Circus Maximus; Palatine and Capitoline Hills

Meeting point: JCU, Guarini Campus, GK11.

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 4-9 (history), 39-44 (stones), 52-54 (orders), 124 (Palatine), 257-8 (Tiber island), 259-61 (Capitoline) 285-8 (Forum Boarium), 299-300 (Circus Maximus). Tuck: Chapter 1.

 

03 class.

Wed. May 23

Capitoline Museums

Regal and early Republican Rome: memory and politics

Content: Forum Romanum: arena for civic identity and the survival of Regal period monuments; Forum Romanum (Temple of Vesta; Temple of Saturn); Palatine (Romulus); Capitoline (Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus).

Meeting point: statue of M. Aurelius in Piazza Campidoglio 1. (Claridge 2010: fig 109).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 5-10 (history), 63-66 (Forum), 71-77 (Senate + Black Stone), 83-84 (Saturn), 94-95 (Castor), 105-10 (Vesta), 125-6, 131-4 (Palatine), 259-61, 268-70 (Capitoline); Tuck: Chapter 2: 29-36.

 

04 class.

Thur. May 24

Republican Rome: honor and politics

Content: Republican period expansion; the military triumph; Forum Boarium (Round temple; Temple of Portunus), Circus Flaminius area (victory temples, Portico of Metellus).

Meeting point: round temple of the forum boarium (tempio di Ercole Vincitore) Piazza della Bocca della Verita’.

Assigned reading: CLARIDGE 2010: 5-10 (history), 250-1, 253-6, 275-82 (Circus Flaminius area); TUCK: Chapter 3: 63-64 (Fabii tomb), 65 (feature box), 69-70 (Brutus), 80-83 (Temple of Portunus, Round Temple).

 


 

05 class.

Mon. May 28

Late Republican Rome: competition and influence

Content: Late Republican Rome and the Hellenistic world: victory temples at Largo Argentina; Theatre of Pompey. Museo Barraco. Piazza Navona.

Meeting point: Largo Argentina, in front of the shop “Azienda tessile Romana”, where the cat sanctuary is located.

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 9-12 (history), 55-60 (building types),; 197-204 (Fields of Mars), 239-46 (Theatre of Pompey, victory temples); AICHER: ch. 86 (theater Pompey). Tuck: Chapter 4:78-83, 85 (featured box), 92-93 (theater complex of Pompey).

 

06 class.

Tues. May 29

The Roman Forum

Late Republican Rome: monumentalizing the city

Content: Late Republican Rome and the Hellenistic world: triumphal displays; Rome as a world city? Forum Romanum and Forum of Caesar.

Meeting point: biglietteria Foro Romano, Largo della Salara Vecchia, 5/6. located between Piazza Venezia and the Colosseum (Claridge 2010: figs 1, 60).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 9-12 (history), 63-71 (Roman Forum), 71-75 (Senate), 75-78 (black stone), 85-86 (Rostra), 92-93 (Basilica Giulia), 100-3 (Temple of Deified Caesar), 161-9 (Forum of Caesar); AICHER ch. 43 (temple of deified Caesar) ch. 73 (Forum of Caesar); Tuck: 93-94 (Forum of Caesar).

 

07 class.

Wed. May 30

Augustus: a celebration of power and benefaction.

Themes/works: Forum of Augustus; Pantheon and building works of Agrippa; Temple of Apollo Sosianus; Augustan painted interiors; Houses of Augustus and Livia; Temple of Apollo Palatinus Actiacus; Statue of Augustus of Prima Porta.

Meeting point: JCU, Guarini, GK11

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 12-15 (history), 51-52 (interior decoration) 177-80 (Forum of Augustus), 277-279 (Apollo Sosianus); 135-142 (House of Augustus and Livia), 142-145 (Temple of Apollo Palatinus); AICHER ch. 62 (House of Augustus), ch. 74 (Forum of Augustus); Tuck, Chapter 5: 124-127 (Forum of Augustus); 128-130 (t. of Apollo Palatinus), 130-132 (house of Augustus).

 

08 class.

Thurs May 31

Museum of the Ara Pacis

Augustus: a celebration of peace

Content: The creation of the principate: the princeps as role model; senators as stakeholders in a new order. Mausoleum of Augustus; Ara Pacis Augustae; Horologium Augusti;

Meeting point: entrance to the “Museo dell’Ara Pacis Augustae”, Piazza Augusto Imperatore (Claridge 2010: fig 77).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 12-15 (history), 44-51 (concrete and exterior finishing), 204-207 (Mausoleum of Augustus), 207-214 (Ara Pacis), 214-217 (Augustan obelisk). AICHER ch. 95 (altar of Augustan peace), ch. 96 (Mausoleum of Augustus). Tuck: Chapter 5:118-124 (Augustus mausoleum and ara).

 


 

09 class.

Mon. June 4

Palatine Hill

Nero and the Flavians: the imperial palace

Content: The emperor and Rome: articulating imperial status; positive and negative role models: Nero, Vespasian, Domitian. Domus Aurea, Arch of Titus; Palace of Domitian (and Severan extensions)
Meeting point: ticket office for the Palatine Hill, Via di San Gregorio, 30. (Claridge 2010: figs 36 [labeled exit]).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 16-18 (history), 121-123 (Arch of Titus); 125-126 (Palatine hill); 145-56 (Domitian’s Palace); 301-6 (Domus Aurea), 306 (Colossus). AICHER ch. 65 (Palace of Domitian); 68 (Domus Aurea). Tuck, Chapter 6:167-170 (Domus Aurea), Chapter 7:201-202 (arch of Titus), 205-209 (Palace of Diocletian).

 

10 class.

Tue. June 5

Museum of Palazzo Massimo

Late Republic and early Imperial Rome: portraits of power

Content: Roman portrait traditions: late Republic to Flavians; impact of Greek and freedmen traditions;. Republican veristic and Augustan and Flavian and Hadrianic portraiture; Statue of general from Tivoli; statue of Augustus from Via Labicana; freedmen relief.

Meeting point: entrance of the Museum “Palazzo Massimo”, Largo di Villa Perpetti (near Termini station ) (Claridge 2010: fig 180).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 12-18 (History). Tuck: 108-12 (Late republican portraits), 114-117 (portraits of Augustus), 147(Tiberius and Caligula portraits), 157-158 (portraits of Claudius), 164 (portraits of Nero), 181 (Flavian portraiture), 197-199 (Domitian portraiture).

 

11 class.

Wed. June 6

Flavian rebuilding of Rome

Content: The emperor and Rome: Vespasian, Domitian; Hadrian. Templum Pacis, Flavian amphitheater, Forum Transitorium; San Clemente

Meeting point: statue of M. Aurelius in Piazza Campidoglio 1.

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 17-21 (history), 82-83 (Temple of Vespasian and Titus); 170-4 (Temple of Peace), 174-76 (Forum of Nerva); 312-9 (Colosseum); 319-232 (San Clemente). AICHER ch 70 (Colosseum). Tuck, Chapter 7: 182-186 (Colosseum, Bath of Titus).

 

12 class.

Thur. June 7.

Trajan: the emperor and the Empire

Content: Depictions of war and peace in the 2nd cent. AD; depicting non-Romans, depicting empire. Forum and Column of Trajan; Markets of Trajan
Meeting point: column of Trajan, Via dei Fori Imperiali (Claridge 2010: fig 60).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 18-21 (history), 180-186 (Forum of Trajan) 186-192 (Column of Trajan) 193-196 (markets of Trajan). AICHER ch. 78 (f. Traian), 79 (c. of Traian), 80 (t. of Traian). Tuck, Chapter 8:213-219 (Adopted portraiture and Forum of Traian), 225-228 (column of Traian).

 


 

13 class.

Mon. June 11.

Pantheon visit.

Hadrianic period: imperial benefaction

Content: Depicting Rome as a world city: Hadrian; Hadrianeum; Pantheon; Mausoleum of Hadrian, Temple of Venus and Rome.

Meeting point: the street behind the Pantheon, Via della Palombella 19-30.

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 18-21 (history), 118-123 (temple of Venus and Rome); 197-204 (Campus Martius), 223-226 (Hadrianeum); 226-232 (Pantheon + basilica Neptuni), 410-415 (Mausoleum of Hadrian). AICHER ch. 90 (Pantheon), 97 (mausoleum of Hadrian). Tuck, Chapter 8: 219-221 (Pantheon).

 

14 class.

Tues. June 12

MIDTERM

Meeting point: JCU, Guarini, GK11.

 

15 class.

Wed. June 13

Marcus Aurelius: the emperor and the Empire

Content: Depictions of ideal leadership in the 2nd cent. AD. Column of Antoninus Pius, Temple of Antoninus and Faustina, Column of Marcus Aurelius; Equestrian statue of M. Aurelius.

Meeting point: column of Marcus Aurelius[MB2] , Piazza Colonna (Claridge 2010: fig 77:9).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 18-21 (history); 111-113 (Temple of Antoninus and Faustina ); 197-204 (Campus Martius); 216-217 (Column of A. Pius), 218-221 (Column of M. Aurelius), 266-267 (statue of M. Aurelius). TUCK: 247-249 (Antonine Portraiture), 253-257 (columns of MA and AP).

 

16 class.

Thur. June 14

The Severans: making a new Rome

Content: Depicting dynasty and history; restoring a new Rome. Arch of Septimius Severus, Temple of Vesta, Arch of the Argentarii. Forma Urbis.

Meeting point: statue of M. Aurelius in Piazza Campidoglio 1. (Claridge 2010: fig 109).

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 21-24 (history), 78-79 (Arch of S. Severus), 105-106 (temple of Vesta); 173 (Marble plan); 292-3 (Arch of the Argentarii); 294 (S. Giorgio al Velabro). AICHER ch. 45 (arch of S.S.), 114 (arch of Argentarii). TUCK: 284-287 (arches of Septimius and of Argentarii); 292-295 (Forma Urbis).

 


 

17 class.

Mon. June 18

 

Capitoline Museums (2nd visit)

2nd-4th century AD: The imperial image

Content: Portraiture and imperial leadership: tradition and innovation; Portraiture: Commodus, Septimius Severus, Caracalla, Constantine;

Meeting point: the statue of M. Aurelius in Piazza Campidoglio 1. (Claridge 2010: fig 109)

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 18-29 (history), 461-468 (Capitoline Museums); Kleiner 1992: 273-277 (Portraits of Commodus). TUCK: 251 (Commodus portraiture); 275-269 (Severan portraiture); 336-337 (Constantine portraiture).

 

18 class.

Tue. June 19

 

Baths of Caracalla[MB3] , Museum of the City-walls [MB4] 

The Severans: water, bathing and popular luxury

Content: Baths of Caracalla, Septizodium; Aurelian Walls.

Meeting point: Ticket office of the Baths of Caracalla, Largo Cavalieri di Colombo.

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 21-24 (history), 61(fortifications); 356 (Septizodium); 357-365 (Baths of Caracalla); 369-371 (Appia Gate and museum of the walls). AICHER ch. 5 (Aurelian walls), 130 (baths of Caracalla).

 

19 class.

Wed. June 20

Tetrarchs to Constantine: a Roman Rome

Content: Imperial rule and Roman history; art quoting history; triumph and tradition; a new role for the emperor in Rome? Arch of Constantine; Basilica of Maxentius; the Lateran Basilica.

Meeting point: Arch of Constantine on Via di San Gregorio, .

Assigned reading: Claridge 2010: 25-29 (history), 78-79, 85-87, 115-7 (monuments in the Forum), 308-12 (Arch of Constantine), 373-377 (Lateran Basilica). AICHER: ch. 71 (arch of Constantine), 55 (Basilica of Constantine). TUCK: 341-356 (arch of Constantine)

 

20 class.

Thur. June 21

Visualizing the city / Review class

Content: Review of themes, monuments and artworks discussed in class
Meeting point: JCU, Guarini, GK11

Assigned reading: Course reader: page 9 – identify all monuments discussed in this course. Pose 3-5 questions, based on your revision study, for which you would like clarification and further detail.

 

21 class.

Fri. June 22

Final exam

Meeting point: JCU, Guarini, GK11