The Roman architecture that can be seen in both the Forum of Trajan and the Colosseum conveys the romans control over nature as well as showcasing the power and authority of the Roman leaders. Each building demonstrates the romans control over nature because the buildings construction required drastic changes to the landscape as well as a massive quantity of raw materials, retrieved from nature and brought to Rome at great expense. Moreover, they both display the might of the Roman rulers through their opulence, incredible size and accompanying imagery.
Each building is evidence of the vast power the romans wielded over nature. Each building is massive and made of precious materials; copper, white, red and green marble and a variety of precious woods. All of this shows the romans ability to take natural resources from one part of the world to the other, thereby achieving a degree of control over nature. Furthermore, the Colosseum was built atop a lake that was filled in for its sake while the Forum of Trajan stood on the site of a previous hill that was removed on Trajan’s orders. Both buildings history includes massive changes to the landscape preceding their construction. This, above all else displays the Romans power over their environment.
The Romans elite were also quite fond of extravagant self promotion. They painted themselves and the empire at large as being powerful, glorious and almost sacred. To them duty to the empire was as much a religious tenant as worshiping their gods. The colosseums immense size reflects the power of the roman elite, the Flavian family in particular, because of the excessive amounts of work that went into its construction. The original decorations would have also done the same, bronze shields representing rimes military and combat prowess. The Forum of Trajan also draws upon its impressive size to show the power of its patron, Emperor Trajan. It is also full imagery and art that displayed conquered people of Rome while showing Trajan, the emperor, in heroic and eternally powerful poses. Numerous statues of conquered Dacians line the forum, heads and eyes downcast, at once noble and defeated. They are portrayed as worthy opponents, making the strength of the romans more impressive. In addition, the statues of Trajan that can be seen on the top of the entrance to his forum, in the center of the courtyard and atop his column also reflect his power through the artists heroic depiction of him. Lastly, the column of Trajan itself is a narrative exclusively dedicated to showing Rome’s military might along with its skill at building infrastructure.
Roman architecture was extremely advanced by any standards of its era. Both the colosseum and the Forum of Trajan are evidence for the power Rome had over nature because of the circumstances of its construction; the fact that significant changes were made to the landscape prior to their construction. They also both reflect the power and authority of the roman rulers in their extreme size, valuable materials and featured artworks.
Each building is evidence of the vast power the romans wielded over nature. Each building is massive and made of precious materials; copper, white, red and green marble and a variety of precious woods. All of this shows the romans ability to take natural resources from one part of the world to the other, thereby achieving a degree of control over nature. Furthermore, the Colosseum was built atop a lake that was filled in for its sake while the Forum of Trajan stood on the site of a previous hill that was removed on Trajan’s orders. Both buildings history includes massive changes to the landscape preceding their construction. This, above all else displays the Romans power over their environment.
The Romans elite were also quite fond of extravagant self promotion. They painted themselves and the empire at large as being powerful, glorious and almost sacred. To them duty to the empire was as much a religious tenant as worshiping their gods. The colosseums immense size reflects the power of the roman elite, the Flavian family in particular, because of the excessive amounts of work that went into its construction. The original decorations would have also done the same, bronze shields representing rimes military and combat prowess. The Forum of Trajan also draws upon its impressive size to show the power of its patron, Emperor Trajan. It is also full imagery and art that displayed conquered people of Rome while showing Trajan, the emperor, in heroic and eternally powerful poses. Numerous statues of conquered Dacians line the forum, heads and eyes downcast, at once noble and defeated. They are portrayed as worthy opponents, making the strength of the romans more impressive. In addition, the statues of Trajan that can be seen on the top of the entrance to his forum, in the center of the courtyard and atop his column also reflect his power through the artists heroic depiction of him. Lastly, the column of Trajan itself is a narrative exclusively dedicated to showing Rome’s military might along with its skill at building infrastructure.
Roman architecture was extremely advanced by any standards of its era. Both the colosseum and the Forum of Trajan are evidence for the power Rome had over nature because of the circumstances of its construction; the fact that significant changes were made to the landscape prior to their construction. They also both reflect the power and authority of the roman rulers in their extreme size, valuable materials and featured artworks.