Rome: Art and Architecture under Constantine

Model of ancient Rome

Timeline:

April 21, 753 BC: legendary foundation of Rome

753-509 BC: Monarchy (Etruscan kings)

509-27 BC: Republic(up to Julius Caesar)

27 BC-96 CE: Early Empire(Augustus and Flavian dynasty)

96-192 CE: High Empire(Trajan, Hadrian & Antonine dynasty)

193-337 CE: Late Empire(Severan dynasty and soldier emperors up to Constantine I)

Tetrarchy under Diocletian, 284 to 305,And the rise of Constantine

Statue of the four Tetrarchs, 4th century.Originally in Constantinople, now in Venice.Material: Porphyry. Size: ca. 4’

Reconstruction showing how the statues would have originally been set up.

Statue of the four Tetrarchs, 4th century.Originally in Constantinople, now in Venice.Material: Porphyry. Size: ca. 4’

Rome, Arch of Constantine, 312-315erected after Constantine defeated Maxentius at the Battle at the Milvian Bridge over the Tibur river in Rome

Frieze from the arch of Constantine: Constantine distributing largesse

Diagram of the Arch of Constantine. The colors indicate the dating of the decorative elements.

Rome, Arch of Constantine, detail

Forum Romanum, with Basilica of Maxentius / Constantine

Rome, Basilica Nova (New Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine), 306-312

Model of Constantine’s Basilica Nova and fragments from a monumental statue of Constantine set up in the apse of the Basilica Nova, Rome ca. 312

Head of a monumental statue of Constantine, ca. 315 CE

Portrait of Trajan Decius, ca. 250 CE

Statue of the four Tetrarchs, 4th century.Originally in Constantinople, now in Venice.Material: Porphyry. Size: ca. 4’

Head of a monumental statue of Constantine, ca. 315 CE

Aula Palatina, Trier (Germany) early 4th cent.

Coins of Emperor Constantine, 4th cent.

Ca. 315Constantine shown with personification of Mithras / Sol Invictus (the invincible sun)

Ca. 325Constantine shown with cross-and-orb staff

4th century coin showing the Chi Rho symbol (X P) and Greek letters Alpha and Omega

Timeline

GreeceGeometric through Archaic periods 900-480 BCClassical period 480-400 BCLate Classical and Hellenistic periods 400-30 BC

Etruscan 8th-2nd cent. BC

RomeMonarchy and Republic 753-27 BCEarly and High Empire 27 BC-200 CELate Empire 200 CE-337 CE