Transcript Constantines Arch Quiz

(1) (i) What name is given to this
structure?
(ii) What specific event does it
commemorate?
[ACH ]
(i) Arch of Constantine
(ii) The victory of Constantine over
Maxentius. (Both answers are required.)
(2) When was it
dedicated? [ACH ]
315 AD
3) (i) Who dedicated
the structure?
(ii) How do we know
this? [ACH ]
(i) The Senate and People of Rome
(accept SPQR). Not just “people of
Rome”.
(ii) We know because of the
dedication (on the attic / inscription
on the top part).
Both answers are required.
4) Who are the figures
above the columns?
Give ONE way in which
they can be identified.
[ACH ]
Sacking of 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.
.
5) What order of
architecture are the
four visible columns?
[MER]
Corinthian
No other answers are possible.
6) (i)
Describe in detail the scenes
depicted on the two roundels in this
Reproduction.
Left roundel: Right roundel:
(ii) Explain how the two roundels are
related. [MER ]
(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.
BOTH (i) AND (ii). Detailed description requires at least TWO points for each roundel.
7) 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) Describe in detail each of these reliefs.
(iii) 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: [MER ]
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 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 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 a sacrifice after victory, etc.
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
8) There are two distinct styles of sculpture present in
Reproduction F(ii).
(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.
(ii) Evaluate the effect of such extreme stylistic variation
on a single structure. [EXC ]
(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.
(ii) Figures are largely modelled in 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. This contrasts with the group scenes in the ara pacis, or Titus’ arch. 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 general aesthetic effect is greater.
(iii) 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.
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 in detail or more than one point in less detail.