Domitian Art

941 Words4 Pages
Artwork throughout history gives incredible insight into the life and times of the people a specific artwork belongs to. This is true with the Palace of Domitian on the Palatine Hill, otherwise known as the Flavian Palace. THESIS. By analyzing the details in this piece of artwork, one can gain a greater understanding of its meaning. Through examining the period in which the art was created, certain periodical influences can be seen in the art piece. A closer look at the artist will also contribute to the analysis of this piece. Investigating…Finally, this piece of artwork has evolved in several ways throughout the course of history. After an era of war and terror, Rome experienced a time of peace under the rule of Emperor Vespasian at around…show more content…
This chaotic architecture corresponded to the violent and chaotic times of the people and can be seen in the palace of Domus Aurea, during the rule of Nero (see figure). However, as Domitian executed new authoritarian rule into his empire, he also imposed these new ideals into the architectural structure of his building by making them more structurally organized. He wished to permeate Roman society into Near Eastern beliefs that included the notion that rulers were god-like in nature and had been divinely appointed by the gods(CITE). This would replace the traditional and practical tradition of Roman culture. In order to more completely infuse this new ideal of imperial power and majesty in to Roman society, Domitian heavily changed the artwork and architecture of this period to better showcase his new supreme power and dominance.(CITE). Thus, the construction of Domus Augustana would contrast Nero’s complicated palace with a more controlled, religious-based structure that would be constructed by his architect, Rabirius.…show more content…
This can be seen throughout the structure of the Palace of Domitian. An unadorned staircase lead to the lower level of the palace where the emperor would reside. Circulated around a central fountain, the primarily used rooms were evenly spaced and curved in a way that led straight to the emperor’s private swellings on the northwest end of the building. Inside the emperor’s chamber are two fountain rooms, one the left and the other to the right (CITE). Encased in the outer walls of this suit are servant corridors that allowed quick access for the servants to complete any task given them by the emperor. These servant halls are numerous and located throughout the palace, exemplifying the authoritarianism of Emperor Domitian

More about Domitian Art

Open Document