Roman Culture And Art (Matthews)

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Syncretism

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Blending of religions based on ealier times (Cult of Isis, mythre, cybele..)

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First Literary Period (Age of Cicero)
250-31 BC

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Cicero: Translated Greek philosophy into Latin, created Latin philosophical vocab.
- Collecton of Letters
- Speeches served as model for public oratory and written argument

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Golden age of literature 31 BC-14AD

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- Vergil
put art in service of state, praised the rule of Augustus and the Roman People. Celebrated rural life, oneness with nature. Wrote Aeneid. Model for western poets when literature was revived.
- Horace
Also patriotic. Source of knowledge of many classical myths. Theme of transformation. Also used as example for renaissance and medieval poets.
- Ovid

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Silver period 14 AD - 200 AD

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Juvenal
Satire. Last great Roman Poet. Expressed outraged opinions in sixteen satires. Master of Satire.
- Tacitus
Historicus, Anals and Histories.
Critical of Rome. Proud senator could not hide distate for the state of Rome's loss of political freedom.

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Stoicism

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Adopted ethical Greek thought but rejected philosophy as dangerous. Fearing their young men would be drawn away from the military into reflection. Roman thought stresses rules of behavior, little regard of metaphysics. Stoic values became important (stressed farmer-soldier ideal)
Seneca: Letters of Morality
Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Epictatus

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Neo Platonism

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Plotinus 205-270 AD.
Blending of Greek schools of philosophy into one. Correct problem at heart of plato's system. (Irreconcilable plit between world of ideas and matter) bridge gap with Mythical insight. Union grasped in ecstatic vision.
Turbulent era of Barrack emperors. Retreat into mysticism.

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Paintings, mosaic murals

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Wall paintings most popular style. Adopted fresco painting Also Mosaics

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Law

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Idea of fairness and justice. As well as the Stoic idea of natural law. (became basis of American declaration of independence) Law evolved from 450 BC: Twelve Tables > basic rights of civilian life (property, religion etc) Class difference effected the way the law was formed. Property law = civil law issued by a praetor. The body of decisions handed down by the praetors would eventually be Roman Civil law. Later Republic this was enhanced by legal experts Jurisprudents. 2nd and 3rd AD the law was codified and extended to all citizens of the Empire.

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Visual Arts

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Architecture and sculpture dominated Rome's visual arts but they were in the service of practical needs. Though not forwent beauty.
First influenced by the Etruscans. But after Greek encounter they rebuilt after Greek lines. Hellenic style became supreme, second century BC. 3rd century AD, new style had developed. A Greco-Roman style carried over into medieval civilization.

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Architecture

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round arch (which already had a long history) It used voussiors and a keystone locking it into place. They created barrel vaults and cross vaults and the dome (or crown jewel of Roman architecture.) Discovered correct mathematical ratio between height arch and width base (1;2) Perfected their version of rectangular temple and invented the round temple.
Ordinary objects transformed into works of art. Parthenon Dome, Waterworks, Amphitheatres, triumphant arches.

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Sculpture

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influenced by artists, patrons and class interests
Patricians: Greek style.
Lower class: Italo-Roman

Realistic sculpture with sense of unease represented second phase in Roman sculpture. Under Augustus sculpture was idealist.
Successors took on a more propagandistic form. Symbolic of emperial power.

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pantomime

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dramatic productions with musical instruments and dance was the spectacle favoured by Roman masses. Pantomime became symbol of music's decadence in the Empire. More serious music maintained by wealthy classes in private entertainment.

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The Idea of Rome

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The image of a healthy civilization of law, order and justice among multi ethnic peoples under one rule. A well regulated society. Hellenistic adaptation but Hellenic civilisation lacked its' cohesiveness, longevity and vision. This Idea of Rome would remain a beacon in the darkness that descended over Europe.