The Column of Marcus Aurelius: The Genesis and Meaning of a Roman Imperial Monument (Studies in the History of Greece and Rome)

One of the most important monuments of Imperial Rome and at the same time one of the most poorly understood, the Column of Marcus Aurelius has long stood in the shadow of the Column of Trajan. In The Column of Marcus Aurelius , Martin Beckmann makes a thorough study of the form, content, and meaning of this infrequently studied monument. Beckmann employs a new approach to the column, one that focuses on the process of its creation and construction, to uncover the cultural significance of the column to the Romans of the late second century A.D. Using clues from ancient sources and from the monument itself, this book traces the creative process step by step from the first decision to build the monument through the processes of planning and construction to the final carving of the column's relief decoration. The conclusions challenge many of the widely held assumptions about the value of the column's 700-foot-long frieze as a historical source. By reconstructing the creative process of the column's sculpture, Beckmann opens up numerous new paths of analysis not only to the Column of Marcus Aurelius but also to Roman imperial art and architecture in general.

One of the most important monuments of Imperial Rome and at the same time one of the most poorly understood, the Column of Marcus Aurelius has long stood in the shadow of the Column of Trajan. In The Column of Marcus Aurelius, Martin Beckmann makes a thorough study of the form, content, and meaning of this infrequently studied monument. Beckmann employs a new approach to the column, one that focuses on the process of its creation and construction, to uncover the cultural significance of the column to the Romans of the late second century A.D. Using clues from ancient sources and from the monument itself, this book traces the creative process step by step from the first decision to build the monument through the processes of planning and construction to the final carving of the column's relief decoration. The conclusions challenge many of the widely held assumptions about the value of the column's 700-foot-long frieze as a historical source. By reconstructing the creative process of the column's sculpture, Beckmann opens up numerous new paths of analysis not only to the Column of Marcus Aurelius but to Roman imperial art and architecture in general.

Cover 1 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 14 1. The Date & Purpose of the Column 32 2. The Dust of Northern Warfare: Choice of Location 50 3. Form & Function 68 4. Planning & Construction 81 5. The Frieze: Concept & Draft 97 6. Carving the Frieze 123 7. The Frieze as History 141 8. The Frieze as Art 169 9. Viewing the Column 200 EPILOGUE: The Columns of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, & Arcadius 220 Notes 228 Bibliography 246 Index 256 A 256 B 256 C 256 D 258 E 258 F 258 G 259 H 259 I 259 L 259 M 259 N 259 O 259 P 260 Q 260 R 260 S 260 T 261 U 261 V 261 W 261 X 261 The date and purpose of the column The dust of northern warfare : choice of location Form & function Planning & construction The frieze : concept & draft Carving the frieze The frieze as history The frieze as art Viewing the column Epilogue : the columns of Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, and Arcadius.