STYLES MORGUE
ANCIENT ROME
Republic: 509 - 27 BCE
Empire: 27 BCE - 393 AD
Western Empire: 393 - 476 AD
GOVERNMENT IN THE REPUBLIC
Beginning as just a small cluster of "huts", Rome gradually became a city-state (like the Greek polis) that was ruled by kings. In 509 BCE, the Republic officially formed. A group of people called Patricians (upper-class), who were born into this power, decided the religious and day to day laws of the masses. Like usually, with power comes financial struggle and greed, and the plebians (poorer citizens) formed their own office.
The Conflict of the Orders, occuring in 287 BCE, marked when the plebians acheived political equality with the patricians. This formed a new noble ruling class where more classes of people were represented.
BRUTAL STRENGTH
The Romans are known mostly for their military and conquests. WIth the constant conquests of surrounding lands and the internal struggles of power, caused a long period of bloody civil wars, political crises, and civil disturbances. This eventually lead to the assassination of their ruler, Julius Caesar on March 15, 44 BCE.
GAIUS JULIUS CAESAR
A great leader of the military, General Caesar is best known for his many conquests. He lead the army in an invasion of Britain by building a bridge across the Rhine River. After the Gallic Wars ended, the Senate ordered Caesar to step down from his post in the military, but Caesar refused. Instead, he illegally entered Roman territory, causing war and his victory put him in position to eventually rule the Roman Republic.
While in office, he formed the Julian Calendar, centralised the bureaucracy and modified laws that gave him additional power. This power hungry crusade got him killed in what is known as the Ides of March when a group of rebellious senators led by Brutus attacked and killed Caesar.
After a period of civil war and the deterioration of the Republic government, Caesar's adopted Heir Octavian (Augustus) defeated his opponents and took over forming the Roman Empire.
What we know of Caesar comes mostly from the writings of Cicero and Sallust (first hand historians). Biographies about Caesar also came from Suetonius and Plutarch.
During his life, there is speculation that Caesar suffered from either epilepsy or intense migranes. Suetonius describes Caesar as "tall of stature with a fair complexion, shapely limbs, a somewhat full face, and keen black eyes."
BORROWED ART
As a culture at the time where civil unrest was the norm, a separate form of art was hard to come by. Most of the art from this period is copied from Greek sculpture from the Hellenistic Period. What art they did modify used subjects that were strong, grotesque, and/or emotional.
Fun fact: The trepan, or drill, that ancient sculptors used to create their art was also used as a surgical instrument to bore holes into the skull. This procedure
(called trepanning) was thought to cure headaches, treat brain disorders, let out evil spirits, and treat insanity.
ROMAN EMPIRE
The Roman Empire was the most prosperous period for ancient Rome. The governement was stable, borders secure, and the empire was continuing to grow from trade and artistic innovation. The leader, or Caesar, at the time created entertainment for his people to enjoy and honor how magnificent he was. Whether that was gladiator games, chariot races, or theatre, there was now a form of entertainment for entertainment sake. Unlike in the greek period where theatre was thought to be a healing or to honor the Gods, the Romans put on theatre for the Caesar or for the sheer enjoyment value.
Fun fact: The Roman people also played board games like chess, checkers and tick-tac-toe.
THEATRE
Some notable writers from this period and their works include:
Livius Andronicus - Dramas Gnaeus Naevius - Dramas Lucius Annaeus Seneca - Tragedies
Andromeda Only parts of poems survive Oedipus
Achilles Offended a noble family twice and Octavia
Equus Troianus exiled where he committed suicide Phaedra
Translation of Odessey in Latin
Titus Maccius Plautus - Comedies Publius Terenius Afer (Terence) - Comedies
The Menaechmi The Brothers
Braggart Warrior The Mother in Law
The Pot of Gold The Self-Tormentor
ROMAN COSTUME
Just like with most artistic style, as well as literature, the Romans stole styles from other cultures. Their dress looks a lot like the Greek culture, however, the Romans changed the name to Latin and kicked up the design a notch. Whether that was adding more and more fabric to the Himation and draping it slightly different to form the toga, or women wearing layers and layers of tunics and stollas (chitons). For images on costumes and definitions: see the Costume Terminology Page.
Fun fact: Women dyed their hair with goat fat and beechwood ashes. The most popular colors were blonde and red.
Fun fact: Instead of bathing with soap, the Romans used oil. They would use a strigil to scrape off the excess.
TECHNOLOGICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY
The Romans created advance systems of architecture that we still use today. Some major contributions include:
Arches
Aqueduct
Plumbing
Water Filtration
Healthcare
Christianity
Concrete
Newspapers
Public Assistance Programs (welfare)
Bound Books
Paved Roads
Julian Calendar
Shopping Malls (Trajan's Forum)
Fun fact: Lead was used as a perservative and a sweetening agent. Clearly, a lot of people got sick.
BEGINNING OF ROME
According to myth, twin boys Romulus and Remus were abandoned and raised by a she-wolf on the banks of the Tiber. When they grew up, they founded a city together but fought over who would rule it. Romulus killed Remus and named the city after himself: Rome.
VESTAL VIRGINS
There is a flame of light that if it ever goes out will destroy the city of Rome. This flame is tended to by virgins. These virgins were chosen before they turned 10 years old and brought to live at the Forum, where they were tasked with keeping the flame alive.
GRAFFITI
Graffiti began all the way back in ancient times. Romans would scratch their names into public buildings. You can still see some ancient Roman graffiti on buildings in Rome today as well as Egyptian temples.
ROMANS LIKED THE D
Romans really liked sex and sex symbols. Verility was very important in Roman culture. The only way the Empire would survive is if they kept having kids. The phallas became a recurring theme in art. It was considered a good luck charm. People wore them around their neck on chains or hung them in doorways to ward off evil spirits.
Fun fact: Valeria Messalina, Emporer Claudius' Third Wife was a nymphomaniac. According to ancient historians, she once competed with a prostitute to see who could have the most sexual partners in one night.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Alcock, Joan P. Life in Ancient Rome. Stroud, Gloucestershire: History Press, 2010. Print.
Blits, Jan H. The Heart of Rome: Ancient Rome's Political Culture. Lanham: Lexington Books, 2014. Print.
MacLachlan, Bonnie. Women in Ancient Rome: A Sourcebook. London: Bloomsbury, 2013. Print.
Martin, Thomas R. Ancient Rome: From Romulus to Justinian. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2012. Print.
Mellor, Ronald. The Historians of Ancient Rome: An Anthology of the Major Writings. London: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Potter, D S. Ancient Rome: A New History. , 2014. Print.