Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae: Messages of Power and their Popular Reception at the Baths of Caracalla

by Maryl B. Gensheimer

Overview

Across the Roman Empire, ubiquitous archaeological, art historical, and literary evidence attests to the significance of bathing for Romans' routines and relationships. Public baths were popularly viewed as necessities of daily life and important social venues. Given the importance of bathing to the Roman style of living, by endowing eight magnificent baths (the so-called imperial thermae) in the city of Rome between 25 BCE - 315 CE, imperial patrons greatly enhanced their popular and political stature.

Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae presents a detailed analysis of the extensive decoration of the best preserved of these bathing complexes, the Baths of Caracalla (inaugurated 216 CE). Maryl B. Gensheimer takes an interdisciplinary approach to existing archaeological data, textual and visual sources, and anthropological theories in order to generate a new understanding of the visual experience of the Baths of Caracalla and show how the decoration played a critical role in advancing imperial agendas.

This reassessment of one of the most ambitious and sophisticated examples of large-scale architectural patronage in Classical antiquity examines the specific mechanisms through which an imperial patron could use architectural decoration to emphasize his own unique sociopolitical position relative to the thousands of people who enjoyed his benefaction. The case studies addressed herein—ranging from architectural to freestanding sculpture and mosaic—demonstrate that sponsoring monumental baths was hardly an act of altruism. Rather, even while they provided recreation for elite and sub-altern Romans alike, such buildings were concerned primarily with dynastic legitimacy and imperial largess. Decorative programs articulated these themes by consistently drawing analogies between the subjects of the decoration and the emperor who had paid for it. The unified decorative program—and the messages of imperial power therein—adroitly honored the emperor and consolidated his reputation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190614782
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	09/04/2018
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	448
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.30(d)

About the Author

Maryl B. Gensheimer is Assistant Professor of Roman Art and Archaeology at the University of Maryland.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: An Introduction to Baths in Rome and Methodologies of this Study
Chapter 2: The Decoration of the Baths of Caracalla
Chapter 3: Iconographical Programs and Their Importance to the Baths of Caracalla
Chapter 4: The Visual Experience and Reception of the Baths of Caracalla
Chapter 5: The Power of Place. Where and Why Caracalla's Baths Were Built

Conclusion
Appendix I
Appendix II
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"Decoration and Display in Rome's Imperial Thermae is redefining how we look at the Baths of Caracalla, in particular, but also at imperial thermae, generally.... With this publication, the author makes a significant contribution to the fields of classical studies, art history, archaeology, architectural history, and urban studies.... This is an outstanding book." — Susann Lusnia, Tulane University, Bryn Mawr Classical Review

"This excellent study of the baths' decoration will be of much interest to classicists and art historians alike. Summing Up: Highly recommended." — CHOICE

"This is a book with something for everyone...Some readers will no doubt privilege the appendices, which include an inventory of the seventy-five free-standing statues from the Baths of Caracalla (271-388). Others will use the book as a digestible - and meticulously footnoted - introduction to the complex as a whole, including a useful summary of all evidence for visual adornment" — Michael Squire, Kings College London, Greece & Rome

From the Publisher