A Monument to Dynasty and Death

A Monument to Dynasty and Death
Author :
Publisher : JHU Press
Total Pages : 179
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9781421432564
ISBN-13 : 1421432560
Rating : 4/5 (64 Downloads)

Book Synopsis A Monument to Dynasty and Death by : Nathan T. Elkins

Download or read book A Monument to Dynasty and Death written by Nathan T. Elkins and published by JHU Press. This book was released on 2019-09-03 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Go behind the scenes to discover why the Colosseum was the king of amphitheaters in the Roman world—a paragon of Roman engineering prowess. Early one morning in 80 CE, the Colosseum roared to life with the deafening cheers of tens of thousands of spectators as the emperor, Titus, inaugurated the new amphitheater with one hundred days of bloody spectacles. These games were much anticipated, for the new amphitheater had been under construction for a decade. Home to spectacles involving exotic beasts, elaborate executions of criminals, gladiatorial combats, and even—when flooded—small-scale naval battles, the building itself was also a marvel. Rising to a height of approximately 15 stories and occupying an area of 6 acres—more than four times the size of a modern football field—the Colosseum was the largest of all amphitheaters in the Roman Empire. In A Monument to Dynasty and Death, Nathan T. Elkins tells the story of the Colosseum's construction under Vespasian, its dedication under Titus, and further enhancements added under Domitian. The Colosseum, Elkins argues, was far more than a lavish entertainment venue: it was an ideologically charged monument to the new dynasty, its aspirations, and its achievements. A Monument to Dynasty and Death takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Colosseum from the subterranean tunnels, where elevators and cages transported gladiators and animals to the blood-soaked arena floor, to the imperial viewing box, to the amphitheater's decoration and amenities, such as fountains and an awning to shade spectators. Trained as an archaeologist, an art historian, and a historian of ancient Rome, Elkins deploys an interdisciplinary approach that draws on contemporary historical texts, inscriptions, archaeology, and visual evidence to convey the layered ideological messages communicated by the Colosseum. This engaging book is an excellent resource for classes on Roman art, architecture, history, civilization, and sport and spectacle.


A Monument to Dynasty and Death Related Books

A Monument to Dynasty and Death
Language: en
Pages: 179
Authors: Nathan T. Elkins
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2019-09-03 - Publisher: JHU Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Go behind the scenes to discover why the Colosseum was the king of amphitheaters in the Roman world—a paragon of Roman engineering prowess. Early one morning
Death in Ancient Rome
Language: en
Pages: 286
Authors: Valerie Hope
Categories: Education
Type: BOOK - Published: 2007-11-13 - Publisher: Routledge

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Presenting a wide range of relevant, translated texts on death, burial and commemoration in the Roman world,this book is organized thematically and supported by
The Image of Political Power in the Reign of Nerva, AD 96-98
Language: en
Pages: 225
Authors: Nathan T. Elkins
Categories: Art
Type: BOOK - Published: 2017-07-03 - Publisher: Oxford University Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

At age 65, Nerva assumed the role of emperor of Rome; just sixteen months later, his reign ended with his death. Nerva's short reign robbed his regime of the op
The Circus Maximus and the Colosseum
Language: en
Pages: 98
Authors: Charles River Charles River Editors
Categories:
Type: BOOK - Published: 2018-02-05 - Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

*Includes pictures *Includes ancient accounts *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading The ambitious and fearless emperors that built t
Death and the Emperor
Language: en
Pages: 292
Authors: Penelope J. E. Davies
Categories: Social Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2004-03-01 - Publisher: University of Texas Press

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"Davies sets out to ask, How did the Romans bury Caesar? And with what monuments did they sing his praises? . . . The architectural elaboration of these structu