Year 13 Classical Studies Resource Analysis Activity Sheet 12

Transcription

1 Year 13 Classical Studies Resource Analysis Activity Sheet 12 Arch of Constantine in Rome #2 Questions (Write answers on a separate piece of paper) (a) (i) What name is given to this structure? (ii) What specific event does it commemorate? (b) When was it dedicated? (c) (i) Who dedicated the structure? (ii) How do we know this? (d) Who are the figures above the columns? Give ONE way in which they can be identified. (e) What order of architecture are the four visible columns? (f) (i) Describe in detail the scenes depicted on the two roundels on the Arch. schoolhistory.co.nz Page 1 5/12/2010

2 Left roundel: Right roundel: (ii) Explain how the two roundels are related. (g) Some of the relief sculptures on this structure are not contemporaneous with the structure itself, but date from the reigns of the emperors Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. (i) Locate on the structure reliefs that date from the reigns of TWO of the three emperors listed above. (ii) (iii) Describe in detail each of these reliefs. Analyse the specific propaganda effect that was intended by the inclusion of each. Relief (1) Emperor: Location on arch: Description: Analysis of specific propaganda effect: Relief (2) Emperor: Location on arch: Description: Analysis of specific propaganda effect: (h) There are two distinct styles of sculpture present in the Arch. (i) Discuss TWO specific stylistic differences between the rectangular frieze (which represents the Emperor addressing the people in an oratio) and the roundels. You must give examples from both the rectangular frieze and the roundels for each point. schoolhistory.co.nz Page 2 5/12/2010

3 (ii) Evaluate the effect of such extreme stylistic variation on a single structure. Teacher s Notes: NZQA Examiners comments The Arch of Constantine was featured in the 2005 exams and the Examiners comments appear below. NB. More recent exams have had questions that are more generic but these questions assist in the general understanding of the subject. Question Evidence Achievement Achievemen t with Merit (a) (i) Arch of Constantine (ii) The victory of Constantine over Maxentius. Both answers are required. Achieveme nt with Excellence (b) (d) 315 AD (allow some flexibility with dates). Dacian (prisoners) They can be identified EITHER from the felt hats OR the trousers OR bushy beards and hair. (Be generous.) Both answers are required. schoolhistory.co.nz Page 3 5/12/2010

4 (e) Corinthian No other answers are possible. (f) (i) Left roundel: (Three) men ride on horseback on a boar hunt. A large tree on the left frames the scene. The front horse is rearing up. etc. Right roundel: (Three) men make a sacrifice of a boar to the god Apollo. There is a statue atop a garlanded altar. etc. (These are SAMPLE points. Other points are possible.) (ii) Relationship: Thanksgiving for a successful hunt by the sacrifice (presumably the boar) to Apollo, god of hunting (or similar). Not just both from Hadrian s time ; must indicate how the two roundels are related to each other. (g) Example (1) Emperor: Trajan Location: The Great Trajanic frieze found under the main arch and on the short sides of the attic. Description: The friezes Any THREE points at least one from each roundel for part (i) or part (ii). Any TWO points. BOTH (i) AND (ii). Detailed description requires at least TWO points for each roundel. Any FOUR points. At Merit level, the description may be general, but TWO examples of reliefs, correctly located, described in detail, schoolhistory.co.nz Page 4 5/12/2010

5 recall the success of Trajan, arguably the greatest military emperor of all the Roman emperors, over the Dacians. One of the scenes (decursio) shows the emperor riding into battle while the enemy fall beneath his feet. (Other descriptions possible). (At least one specific point of detail is needed). Analysis of propaganda effect: This is a clear attempt to align Constantine s military success with Trajan s. This is made particularly obvious by the recarving of Trajan s head to make it resemble that of Constantine. Example (2) Emperor: Hadrian Location: The eight panels on the attic between the Dacian prisoners. Description: The roundels depict the emperor in various hunting scenes the hunting party setting out, a bear hunt, a boar hunt and a lion hunt. Each of the hunt scenes is followed by a sacrifice scene to an appropriate for Excellence must have at least ONE specific point of detail. propaganda effect analysed. The intended effect is crucial for the award of Excellence, and must be specific to the emperor. General comments such as to link Constantine with great emperors of the past are not enough. Minor omissions (eg specific location on the arch) should not preclude Excellence. schoolhistory.co.nz Page 5 5/12/2010

6 god. (At least one specific point of detail is needed). Analysis of propaganda effect: Hadrian was another of the great emperors renowned for governing the empire during peacetime. There is a clear attempt to align Constantine with Hadrian, the pious philosopher emperor. This is particularly significant given Constantine s leanings towards Christianity. Example (3) Emperor: Marcus Aurelius Location: The eight panels between the Dacian prisoners on the attic. Description: They commemorate Marcus Aurelius victorious campaigns against the Germans and Sarmatians. They show the emperor accepting barbarian captives that are brought to him, and therefore also demonstrate the traditional imperial virtue of clementia. Other panels show the emperor dispensing money to the troops, making schoolhistory.co.nz Page 6 5/12/2010

7 a sacrifice after victory, etc. (At least one specific point of detail is needed.) Analysis of propaganda effect: While there are panels that depict military success, the focus is on the character of the emperor his authority, courage, piety and clementia. There is a clear attempt to suggest that Constantine shares these characteristics. Although no longer visible, it seems likely that Constantine s head replaced Marcus Aurelius. (h) (i) The placement and size of figures in the rectangular relief are more strictly hierarchical, with Constantine centralised, the seated figures of Marcus Aurelius and Hadrian raised up, the senators on a platform above the common folk. In the roundels, the humans are on similar levels and are of similar size. Figures are largely modelled in Any ONE point discussed from (i) or (ii). Discussion may be lacking in detail and exemplificatio n may be partial. Any TWO points discussed from (i) or (ii) in detail OR THREE points with gaps in detail and / or exemplificati on. BOTH parts of the question must be answered. In (i), TWO points must be discussed in detail. In (ii), candidates must make at least ONE point of evaluation schoolhistory.co.nz Page 7 5/12/2010

8 summary form, with little attention to detail or variation. While there is some variation (for example, groups turn and talk to each other), the effect is one of a large crowd without individuals. On the roundels, even the figure of the boar has been detailed so that all manner of facial details, such as teeth and snout, are visible. The relief is, for the most part, flat. Little attempt has been made to show a depth of field. The heads of the smaller figures are set at a higher level, rather than in the spaces between the other heads. On the roundels there is a significant difference in the depth of the relief sculpture. For example, the boar is in very high relief compared with the grasses in the background, which are in very low relief. (Other answers are in detail or more than one point in less detail. schoolhistory.co.nz Page 8 5/12/2010

9 possible.) (ii) There is no one correct answer to this part of the question. Candidates are to be awarded Excellence on the basis of the quality of their argument. Below are a couple of points which typify an Excellence response. Juxtaposition is artistically awkward and / or unattractive. However, it serves to locate Constantine as a linchpin in the history of Roman emperors. One who embodies (or wished to embody) the virtues of the great emperors of the past, while at the same time continuing to define the role as one of absolute power or dominance over his people by the paring back of detail. The style of the Constantine reliefs owes more to the traditions of low or popular art than to that of high or imperial art. The contrast is schoolhistory.co.nz Page 9 5/12/2010

10 provocative and serves to identify Constantine as a figure who has risen from the ranks of ordinary Romans and has, in an Augustan mould, taken his role as primus inter pares. (Other answers are possible.) schoolhistory.co.nz Page 10 5/12/2010