7.2 Historical Reliefs and Public Monuments

Historical reliefs and public monuments played a crucial role in Late Antiquity. These structures, like the Arch of Constantine, showcased imperial power through triumphal arches, narrative reliefs, and repurposed artwork called spolia.

Emperors used these monuments as propaganda tools, depicting military victories and generous acts. Techniques like continuous narrative and hieratic scale in reliefs helped tell stories and highlight important figures, reinforcing the emperor's authority and achievements.

Triumphal Arches and Imperial Propaganda

Arch of Constantine and Spolia

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• The Arch of Constantine, dedicated in 315 CE, is a triumphal arch in Rome that commemorates Constantine's victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 CE
• Incorporates spolia, which is the reuse of earlier building material or decorative elements in new monuments
• The arch features reliefs and sculptures taken from monuments dedicated to Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius, repurposed to celebrate Constantine's reign
• The use of spolia in the Arch of Constantine demonstrates the practice of recycling and reinterpreting earlier imperial imagery to legitimize the current ruler

Triumphal Arches as Imperial Propaganda

• Triumphal arches were erected to commemorate significant military victories and to honor the emperor responsible for the triumph
• Served as a form of imperial propaganda, promoting the power, achievements, and legitimacy of the emperor
• Often featured reliefs depicting scenes of military conquests, processions, and ceremonies
• Examples of other famous triumphal arches include the Arch of Titus (c. 81 CE) and the Arch of Septimius Severus (203 CE) in Rome

Adventus and Largitio Scenes

• Triumphal arches often depicted adventus scenes, which represent the emperor's ceremonial entry into a city
• These scenes emphasize the emperor's role as a victorious leader and the celebration of his arrival
• Largitio scenes, also found on triumphal arches, depict the emperor distributing gifts or money to the people
• Largitio scenes highlight the emperor's generosity and his role as a benefactor to his subjects, reinforcing his popularity and support among the populace

Narrative Relief Techniques

Continuous Narrative in Roman Art

• Narrative relief is a sculptural technique that tells a story or depicts a sequence of events through a series of images
• Continuous narrative is a method of visual storytelling where a single scene contains multiple stages of a story, often with the same figures repeated in different positions
• This technique allows the viewer to follow the progression of a narrative within a single composition
• An example of continuous narrative can be seen on Trajan's Column (c. 113 CE), which depicts the emperor's military campaigns in Dacia

Hieratic Scale in Roman Relief Sculpture

• Hieratic scale is a technique used in ancient art where the size of figures is determined by their social or political importance rather than their distance from the viewer
• In Roman relief sculpture, the emperor and other important figures are often depicted as larger than the surrounding figures, emphasizing their significance
• This technique is used to convey the power dynamics and social hierarchy within the composition
• The use of hieratic scale can be observed in various Roman relief sculptures, such as the Ara Pacis Augustae (Altar of Augustan Peace, 13-9 BCE) and the Column of Marcus Aurelius (c. 193 CE)

Imperial Columns

Column of Arcadius

• The Column of Arcadius, also known as the Arcadian Column, was a triumphal column erected in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul) in honor of the Eastern Roman Emperor Arcadius (r. 395-408 CE)
• The column was built in the early 5th century CE and was likely modeled after Trajan's Column in Rome
• It featured a spiral relief depicting Arcadius' victories and achievements, although the column itself no longer survives
• The Column of Arcadius demonstrates the continuation of the tradition of erecting triumphal columns in the Eastern Roman Empire, even as the Western Roman Empire was in decline

Triumphal Columns as Monuments to Imperial Power

• Imperial columns, such as Trajan's Column and the Column of Marcus Aurelius in Rome, were erected to commemorate the military victories and achievements of Roman emperors
• These columns featured elaborate spiral reliefs that narrated the events of the emperor's campaigns, serving as a form of visual propaganda
• The columns were often topped with a statue of the emperor, further emphasizing their power and authority
• The erection of triumphal columns in prominent locations within cities served to remind the populace of the emperor's successes and reinforce their legitimacy as rulers