The polis and the civitas

Cities in ancient Greece and Rome

Carlos Cámara Menoyo | Urban Studies 1

## Ancient Greece

(500 BC - 330 AD)

Note:

We are referring to Classical and Helenistic Greece.

## Social and political structure

Athens vs Sparta

| Athens  |  Sparta
						--|---------|---------
						About |   |
						Population  |   |
						Region  | Attica  | Laconia
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |
							|   |

Source: [Diffen](https://www.diffen.com/difference/Athens_vs_Sparta)

----

## Geography

![](img/greece-rome/greece/greece-map-terrain.png#right)

* Islands archipelago
						* Mountainous landscape

Note:

These conditions many features of the Poleis:

* Independent city-states
							* Importance of ships and trading

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Map_of_Archaic_Greece_English.jpg#right)

* Foundation of modern western culture

---

## The *Polis*

Independent city-states *(poleis)* with some common features:

* Originated in a hill: Protection for their inhabitants
						* Usually fortified by a series of walls (notable exception: Sparta)
						* Two parts, but not segregated (unitarian space):
							- Higher city (Elevated part) or *Acropolis*
							- Lower city or *astu*

Note:

Independent city-states: *poleis* are different and evolved over
							time, but the following features are common to majority:

---

## *Polis*' organization

The poleis organization mimics Greek's social & political organization

----

### Prytaneum

* Seat and residence of the first dignitaries of the city *(Prytaneis)*
							- Usually anexed to the Common house.
						* Religious and political center of the community
						* Nucleus of all government (executive power)
						* Contains a fire which has to be continously lit
							- Settlers of new polis brought this fire to the new *Prytaneum*

<div class="bg-caption">Prytaneion of Panticapaeum, II b.c. (Kerch, Ukraine)</div>

----

### Bouleuteron

* Also known as Council house, assembly house and senate house
						* Housed the council of citizens  (βουλή, /*boulē*)
							- Assembly of Citizens' representatives
							- Decisions of public affairs (legislative power)

<div class="bg-caption">Bouleuterion at Priene. Credits: Zigomar (CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

### Agora

* Multi-purpose:
							- **Citizens' assembly**: citizens gather to hear their leaders' decisions or to deliberate
							- **commercial**: market and trade
							- residential **gathering place**
						- In democratic cities, Prytaneum and bouleuteron are located next to the agora.

---

## Population

- Limited growth: maximum 10,000 citizens (excluding slaves and foreigners)
							- Enough to have an army
							- Small enough to guarantee their governance
						- When reached bigger size, a new city-state was founded
							- Settlers -> flame from the pireum

<div class="bg-caption">Olympic flame lighting ceremony for Rio Olympic games. This tradition owes its origins in the Prytaneum fire of Olympia.</div>

Note:

Another salient feature of the poleis is how they dealt with population.

---

## Athens

Note:

Ask students if they recognize some of the parts we've seen.

* Acropolis
							* Agora

----

## The Acropolis

<div class="bg-caption">The Acropolis at present times. Maybe the most iconic image from Athens.</div>

Note:

Acropolis: if we think about Athens today, it is likely to be the first image it comes to our minds.
							What was the acropolis used for?
							On top of the hill.

----

<div class="bg-caption">The Acropolis at Athens (Painting from Leo von Klenze, 1852)</div>

Note:

This is how the Acropolis could have been.

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p78-acropolis-mudo.png#right)

Acropolis' salient constructions:

4. [Parthenon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon) (11)
						2. Temples (Athenea Nike 3, 16)
						5. [Propylaia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propylaia) (4)
						6. [Erechtheion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erechtheion)
						7. Statues
						8. Stoa (32)
						9. Theater (26)

Note:

Evidence that the hill was inhabited as far back as the fourth millennium BC, it was Pericles (c. 495 – 429 BC) in the fifth century BC who coordinated the construction of the site's most important present remains

During ancient times it was known also more properly as Cecropia, after the legendary serpent-man, Cecrops, the first Athenian king.

Completely rebuilt by Phideas and Pericles

----

<div class="bg-caption">The Parthenon</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Propylaea_and_Temple_of_Athena_Nike_at_the_Acropolis_Pierer.jpg)

<div class="bg-caption">Propylaea</div>

Note:

Monumental gate.

----

<div class="bg-caption">Erechtheion's Caryatides</div>

----

But...

**The political and commercial center is not the acropolis, but the agora.**

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/athenian-agora.jpeg)

Note:

* **Acropolis**: on top of the hill
							* **Stoas** (22):covered walkway or portico, commonly for public use (merchants could sell their goods, artists could display their artwork, and religious gatherings could take place.)
							* **Odeon** (24): buildings built for music: singing exercises, musical shows, poetry competitions, and the like
							* Bouleuteron (7)
							* Neighbourhoods with **dwellings** (not represented), around the agora

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p94-agora-300bc.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Agora's map. 300 BC. Source: Benévolo, 1982. p. 94</div>

Note:

But: Agora is in fact a succession of several additions during the centuries.

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p95-agora.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Agora's map. End of Helenistic age. Source: Benévolo, 1982. p. 95</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p97-agora-roman.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Agora's map. Roman age. Source: Benévolo, 1982. p. 97</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p99-athens-map.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Athen's map in the [age of Pericles](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Pericles) (461 to 429 BC). Source: Benévolo, 1982. p. 97</div>

Note:

* Several **walls** -> respond to invasions
								- Pericles
								- Themistocles
							- Houses around the agora -> no information about them.
							- Not straight streets

----

<div class="bg-caption">Athens' commercial and militar harbour, the Pyraeus, connected by great walls</div>

----

## Athens

* Year 479 BC destroyed by the Persian invasion:
							- New walls
							- Reconstruction of the Agora
						- Does not follow a master plan -> succession of independent but interconnected works
						- Old buildings are often incorporated to newest ones
						- Irregular street, except Dromos
							- Dromos: street connecting Academy and Dipilon
						- Simplicity of housing -> life mainly happens in open-air public spaces

<div class="bg-caption">Part of the "Wall of Themistocles", Kerameikos, ancient city wall of Athens, Greece.</div>

---

## Delos

<div class="bg-caption">Terrace of the Lions in Delos, Greece (Bernard Gagnon, CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

<div class="bg-caption">Dwellings' neighbourhood from 300BC and 200BC excavated in Delos' port (Benévolo, p. 100).</div>

Note:

Delos importance lies on the fact that there have been found many Dwellings

* Give an idea about how housing may be in Athens
							* Dwellings grouped in *insulaes*
							* No straight streets

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p101-part2.png)

</div>

<div class="bg-caption">Insulae at Delos | Detail of two houses.</div>

Note:

* Dwellings grouped in insulaes
							* Houses organized around a central patio
							* Same structure and materials. Size differs.

---

## Miletus

<div class="bg-caption">Insulae at Delos | Detail of two houses.</div>

----

<div class="bg-caption">View of the ruins of the bouleuterion (council debating chamber) in the ruined ancient city of Miletus, Turkey. Source: [d0gwalker (Flickr)](https://www.flickr.com/photos/21000745@N02/3764614779)</div>

----

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p112-miletus-plan.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Miletus plan, organized in the 5th century BC by Hippodamus of miletus.</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Hippodamos_of_Miletus.jpg#right)

> [[Hippodamus of Miletus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippodamus_of_Miletus) conceived] **a city with a population of ten thousand** [free men], divided into **three classes**; for he made one class of **artisans**, one of **farmers**, and the third the class that fought for the state in war and was the **armed** class. He **divided the land into three parts**, one sacred, one public and one private: sacred land to supply the customary offerings to the gods, common land to provide the warrior class with food, and private land to be owned by the farmers.

Aristotle, Politics (2). 1267b

----

## Hippodamus (498 – 408 BC)

* Architect, urban planner, physician, mathematician, meteorologist and philosopher,
						* Considered to be "the father of European urban planning", (Glaeser, E, 2011) the namesake of the "Hippodamian Plan" (grid plan) of city layout
							- Planned and replanned many Greek cities in accordance with this form
								- Miletus
								- Olynthus
								- Pyraeus
								- Rhodaes

---

## Olynthus

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p114-olynthus-map.png)

<div class="bg-caption">Olynthus General plan. Source: Benévolo, 1982, p. 114</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/greece/Benevolo-p115-olynthus-insulae-b.png#right)

* Regular grid (35mx90m)
						* Two type of Streets
							- Main streets 5-10 m
							- Secondary streets 3-5m

<div class="bg-caption">Olynthus' Insulaes (35mx90m). Source: Benévolo, 1982, p. 114</div>

Note:

Evolution:

* Regular grid (35mx90m)
							* Two type of Streets
								- Main streets 5-10 m
								- Secondary streets 3-5m

---

## Poleis (wrap up)

* Unitarian space, no isolated or independent areas

* Residential typologies

* Same typology, size differs
							* Freely distributed through the city (no specialized neighbourhood)

----

- Space can be classified according to its nature:
							- Private areas: Dwellings
							- Sacred areas: temples
							- Public areas: politics, commerce, leisure (theatre), sports
						- State directly decides public areas, but can intervene in sacred and private too.

<div class="bg-caption">Ruins of the palaestra at Olympia (Wknight94 CC-SA-BY), a building devoted to the training of wrestlers and other athletes. </div>

----

- Poleis are an artificial construct inserted in a natural landscape
							- Great concern about natural landscape
						- Limited growth: instead of a continuous growth
							- At some point a new polis (neopolis) is added close to the original one (paleopolis) and replicates its structure.

<div class="bg-caption">Ancient Greek theatre (Assos)</div>

----

* Importance of navigation
							- Trading
							- Colonization
						* Connected to a harbour, but not next to it
							- Protection from pirates' pillage and invasions

<div class="bg-caption">Reconstruction of Greek Trireme</div>

---

# Ancient Rome

(753 BC – 476 AD)

Note:

Roman civilization from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD, encompassing the Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire until the fall of the western empire

----

## Etruscan origins

Etruscan civilization in Italy, centuries 7<sup>th</sup>BC to 6<sup>th</sup>BC.
						* Aristocratic city-states.
							- Profoundly transformed by Romans (Arezzo, Cortona, Perugia, Tarquinia Veio)
						* Rules for the creation of cities:
							* *Inauguratio*: Consultation to gods before the creation of a new city.
							* *Limitatio*: Walled perimeter.
							* *Consecratio*: Sacrifice in the newly founded city.
						- But:
							* Street layouts based on terrain do not follow Roman rules.

<div class="bg-caption">
							A former Etruscan walled town, Civita di Bagnoregio (Jonathan Fors, CC-BY-SA)
						</div>

----

## Civilization

* Process of colonization and transforming people into citizens.
							- Domestication of the world and their people.
							- Citizens: share Common language, laws and ideal of empire.
						- Strong basis on the transformation of territory.

Note:

- The transformation of the territory played a key role in the colonization of new territories, and hence, the expansion of the empire.

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Roman_Empire_Trajan_117AD.png)

<div class="bg-caption">The Roman Empire (red) and its clients (pink) in 117 AD during the reign of emperor Trajan.</div>

----

Note:

Let's make a pause here. This is a fragment of a film called Life of Bryan, by Monty Python.

Jews complaining because they don't want to be colonized. -> Romans as oppressors.

----

### 1. Founding a new city

![Groma](img/greece-rome/rome/Benevolo-p224-groma.png#right)

* Located in elevated grounds or clean areas
							- Army manouvers
							- Defendable
						- Founded around the _Forum_
							- Center of the city
							- Origin of the _Centuriatio_ (grid),
								- _Decumanus Maximus_ (main longitudinal road)
								- _Cardo Maximus_ (main perpendicular road)

<div class="bg-caption">The Forum of Jerash, in Jordan (Berthold Werner, CC-BY) | Roman Surveyor using a _groma_ to create the centuriatio.</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/747px-Kastell_Theilenhofen_Iciniacum_English.png#right)

Several types of fortified cities:

* _Castra_: Camp
						* _Castella_: Small fortifications
						* _Burgi and turres_: fortifications
						* _Oppida_: Fortified cities

Features:

* _Fossatum_: moat/trench filled with water.
						* _Vallum_: wall made of wood or stone.

<div class="bg-caption">Roman legionary (X Fretensis) castra at Masada, Israel, viewed from the fortress walls; constructed 72-73 AD. (David Shankbone, CC-BY-SA)</a>

----

### 2. Arrange arable lands

<ul>
							<li>
								Lands are divided into arable estates.
							</li>
							<ul>
								<li>
									Each arable area is assigned to one or several owners.
								</li>
								<li>
									Arable lands used for **food provision** + as **payment for veteran soldiers**.
								</li>
							</ul>
							<li>
								Arable estates followed a <i>centuriatio</i> (grid) pattern.
							</li>
							<ul>
								<li>
									<i>Decumani</i>: paral·lel to terrain's longest dimension or main road.
								</li>
								<li>
									<i>Cardines</i>: perpendicular to decumani and shorter
								</li>
							</ul>
						</ul>
						</div>

<div class="bg-caption">Arable estates following a centuriatio grid.</div>

Note:

Decumani and cardi do not follow cardinal orientations, but adapt to topography.

----

## 3. Build infrastructures

<div class="bg-caption">The arches of an elevated section of the Roman provincial Aqueduct of Segovia (Bernard Gagnon, CC-BY-SA).</div>

Notes:

Construidos por el Estado o Administración Local en cada ciudad.

Constant **slope**: 0,2-10 por mil.

Depósitos de decantación en llegada y a lo largo del recorrido.

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Via_Munita.png#right)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/PompeiiStreet.jpg)

</div>
						<div class="bg-caption">The Roman empire in the time of Hadrian (ruled 117–138), showing the network of main Roman roads. | Road in Pompeii | Section of a road. </div>

Note:

Vías: anchura 5-6 m (paso de peatones y carros simultáneos)

Puentes: anchura 7-8 m. Luz hasta 35 m.

Servicio postal regular:
						Cursus reservado a funcionarios públicos (Correo a caballo).
						Particulares pueden organizar en las vías su propio servicio postal.

---

## The Roman *civitas*

<div class="bg-caption">Trajan's Arch within the ruins of Timgad.</div>

----

## The Forum

* First element of a civitas.
						* Every city has a forum.
						* Center is the origin of the Cardo Maximus and Decumanus Maximus
						* Used primarily as
							- Marketplace and shops
							- Gathering place (stoas)

<div class="bg-caption">Forum of Pompeii, seen from above the Basilica (ElfQrin, CC-BY-SA).</div>

----

## Temples

* One of the most important building in Roman culture.
						* Religious purposes

<div class="bg-caption">Maison Carrée in Nîmes, one of the best-preserved Roman temples.</div>

----

## Public baths

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Cyark_Weissenburg_Reconstruction.jpg#right)

* Most cities had at least one
						* Uses: bathing, socializing and reading
						* Two types:
							- _Thermae_: large imperial bath complexes
							- _Balneae_: smaller-scale facilities, public or private
						- Several zones:
							- Apodyterium
							- Frigidarium
							- Tepidarium
							- Caldarium

<div class="bg-caption">The Roman Baths (Thermae) of Bath Spa, England (Steve Cadman CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

## Amphitheatre

* Large, circular or oval open-air venues with raised seating
						* Leisure and events
							- gladiator combats
							- venationes (animal slayings)
							- executions

<div class="bg-caption">Interior of the Amphitheatre of El Jem, Tunisia (Diego Delso, CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

## Other leisure buildings

* Racing events:
							- _Circuses_
							- _Hippodroms_
						* Athletics:
							- _Stadia_

<div class="bg-caption">Roman hippodrome in the ancient city of Aphrodisias, Turkey</div>

----

## *Domus*

* Residential building (Rich families)
						* 1 or 2 stories, one family
						* Closed to the exterior, open on the inside.
							- Rooms around the peristile and atrium.
							- Impluvium
						* Area: 800-1,000 sqm
						* Census: 1,790 domus in Rome (3rd Century AC)

<div class="bg-caption">Roman domus at the archaelogical site in Vaison-la-Romaine, France. Photo by Ohto Kokko (CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Domus_romana_Vector002.svg#right)

----

## *Insulae*

* Residential building (Modest + poor families)
						* Collective houses
						* Homogeneous rooms opened to the streets by windows and balconies
							- No glass, just curtains or wooden shutters
						* Multi-stories:
							- Augustus: 21m Max height (6-7 stories)
							- Trajan: 18m Max height (5-6 stories)
						- Ground floor:
							- Shops or richer families
							- Water supply
						* Area: 300-400 sqm
						* Census: 44,300 in Rome (3rd Century AC)

<div class="bg-caption">An insula dating from the early 2nd century A.D. in the Roman port town of Ostia Antica. Photo by [Dennis Jarvis](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Insula_in_Ostia.jpg) (CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/insulae_dibujo_01.jpg#right)

- Built by private monopolies -> speculation
						- Planning regulations
						- Made of 45cm walls (brick) + wooden beams

---

## Rome

<div class="bg-caption">
							[SPQR](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPQR) is an initialism of a phrase in Latin: <i>Senātus Populusque Rōmānus</i> ("The Roman Senate and People", or more freely as "The Senate and People of Rome")
						</div>

Note:

The first city in Ancient Rome empire and the most important one, too.

----

## Some facts about Rome

* Founded around 753 BC\*
						* Started as an [Etruscan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etruscan_civilization) village
							- Created by people from different ethnicities, religions and origins, that gather in the same place -> unnoticed for everyone.
						* Became into the *civitas* of the world, the capital of an empire.
							* Population between 700,000 and 1,0000 inhabitants until 3rd century AC. -> Biggest city in the world.
						* Glorious dates: 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> Centuries

Note:

Year is controversial, as there are many authors who state different dates.

Several myths about foundation:  Trojan prince Aeneas or Romulus and Remus and the she-wolf.

----

* Until 2nd Century AC Rome was an open city (i.e. no fortified walls)
							- Limits continously changing
						- Continously reshaped and rebuilt
						- Not planned at the begining, became extremely regulated (e.g. [Twelve tables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tables))

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/rome-regions.jpg)

<div class="bg-caption">**Hills**: 1. Palatino 2. Capitolio 3. Celio 4. Esquilino 5. Viminal 6. Quirinal 7. Aventino **Defensive perimeter**: A. Palatino B. Muralla republicana 352 a.C C. Muralla de Adriano 280 d.C **Buildings**: D. Coliseo E. Panteón F. Termas de Diocleciano G. Termas de Caracalla H. Mausoleo de Adriano J. San Pedro</div>

Note:

4 regions:

1. Suburbana: Celio
						2. Esquilina: Esquilino, Oppio y Cispio
						3. Collina: Viminal y Quirinal
						4. Palatina: Palatino
						5. Quedan fuera: Campidoglio (Acrópolis) y Aventino (colina de los “plebeyos”)

----

## The continuous (re)construction of Rome

<div class="bg-caption">Set of the TV series “Rome” showing the Roman Forum.</div>

----

### 378 BC

* First Gallic invasion
						* Total destruction
							- Only Campidoglio perdures
						* Reconstruction:
							- Same irregular layout is preserved
							- Includes Campidoglio and Aventino
							- Forum reconstruction and extension

<div class="bg-caption">"Brennus and His Share of the Spoils", also known as: "Spoils of the Battle"</div>

Note:

- Invasión Gala => Destrucción total salvo Campidoglio => Reconstrucción:
						- No alteran el trazado irregular
						- Incluye Campidoglio y Aventino + Altiplanicie al lado del Quirinal
						- Circo Máximo: Valle entre Palatino y Aventino
						- Reconstrucción y ampliación del Foro

----

### Roman Empire

* Emphasis in monumental public works
							- Planned demolitions and extensions

----

#### Julius Cesar (49 BC - 45 BC)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Retrato_de_Julio_César.jpg#right)

- Forum extension
							- construction [basilica Julia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilica_Julia)
							- demolition: Campidoglio's neigbhourhoods
						- Construction of new [Forum of Caesar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Caesar)

----

#### Augustus (27 BC - 14 AD)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Statue-Augustus.jpg#right)

* Campo Marzio urbanization
						* Construction of:
							- [Theatre of Marcellus ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theatre_of_Marcellus)
							- [Baths of Agrippa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Agrippa)
							- [Pantheon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantheon,_Rome)
							- [Forum of Augustus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forum_of_Augustus)
						- Favours private construction:
							- Construction of several insulae for poor neighbourhoods

Note:

PAntheon: "[temple] of all the gods") is a former Roman temple, now a church

----

#### Nero

(13 October 54 – 9 June 68)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/768px-Nero_1.jpg#right)

* Global Re-planification after great fire (64)
						* [Domus Aurea](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domus_Aurea) construction at Palatino
						- Rational reconstruction of destroyed neighbourhoods
						- Streets
							- Broader
							- Construction of porches
						- Limitation of building heights
						- New squares
						- Creation of Water police for public use

----

#### Vespasian

(1 July 69 – 24 June 79)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Vespasianus01_pushkin_edit.png#right)

Much money was spent on public works and the restoration and beautification of Rome

* Domus Aurea demolition
						* Construction:
							- Anfiteatro
							- Colosseo
							- New Forum
							- Temple of Peace

<div class="bg-caption">Construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre, better known as the Colosseum, was begun by Vespasian and finished by his son Titus (Diliff, CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

#### Domitian

(14 September 81 – 18 September 96)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/726px-Domiziano_da_collezione_albani_fine_del_I_sec_dc_02.jpg#right)

* Palatine extension
						* Reorganization of Campo Marzio
						* Construction of [Stadium Domitian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_of_Domitian) (future Piazza Navona)

<div class="bg-caption">Stadium Domitian</div>

Note:

[Stadium Domitian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadium_of_Domitian) -> future Piazza Navona

----

#### Trajan

(27 January 98 – 8 August 117)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/220px-Traianus_Glyptothek_Munich_336.jpg#right)

* Reconstruction of Quirinale and Campidoglio
							- New civic center
						- [Baths of Trajan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Trajan)
						- [House of the Vestals](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_the_Vestals)

<div class="bg-caption">A modern reconstruction of the Baths of Trajan complex.</div>

----

#### Hadrian

(10 August 117 – 10 July 138)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/600px-Busts_of_Hadrianus_in_Venice_cropped.jpg#right)

* Pantheon's restoration
						* [Temple of Venus Genetrix](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Venus_Genetrix)
						* [Mausoleum of Hadrian]() (Castel Sant'Angelo)

<div class="bg-caption">Mausoleum of Hadrian, usually known as Castel Sant'Angelo</div>

----

#### Septimus Severus

(14 April 193 – 4 February 211)

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Septimius_Severus_busto-Musei_Capitolini.jpg#right)

* [Baths of Caracalla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Caracalla)
						* [Circus Maximus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Maximus)
						* [Baths of Diocletian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Diocletian)
						* [Baths of Constantine](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baths_of_Constantine_(Rome))

<div class="bg-caption">Wide view of Circus Maximus, Rome (Peter Clarke CC-BY-SA)</div>

----

#### Constantine the Great

(25 July 306 AD – 29 October 312 AD )

![](img/greece-rome/rome/220px-MMA_bust_02.jpg#right)

* Constantinople new capital of the Roman Empire
							- former Byzantium (Istanbul)
						* Last emperor who builds important public works
						* Laws for the conservation of existing monuments
						* Christian churches start to be built at the outskirts.

<div class="bg-caption">Constantinople</div>

----

## Infrastructures

----

### Streets

* 85km of streets
						* Deficitarian:
							- Tortuous, narrow streets (according to laws of [Twelve tables](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Tables), > 2,9m wide)
						- Types of streets:
							- *itinera*: only for pedestrian (too narrow)
							- *viae*: wide enough for two carriages (one per side)
								- Two main viaes crossing at the forum:
									- Via Sacra
									- Via Nova
								- 20+ on the periphery
						-

<div class="bg-caption">
							[Via Sacra](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Via_Sacra) passing through the Forum, with the Basilica Julia on the right.
						</div>

----

### Aqueducts

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Aquae_planrome.png#right)

* Up to 13 aqueducts from surrounding mountains
						* Water for public uses only (thermas, fountains)
							- Only exceeding water can be sold to private owners

----

## Sewers

![](img/greece-rome/rome/rome-cloaca-maxima.svg#right)

* Important for sanitation
						* Public toilets
						* Cloaca maxima:
							- Channel: width=1.5m

<div class="bg-caption">Ruin of a second-century public toilet in Roman Ostia. Credit: Fr Lawrence Lew, OP, CC BY-NC-ND  | Map of central Rome during the time of the Roman Empire, showing [Cloaca Maxima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca_Maxima) in red</div>

Note:

More info: [What toilets and sewers tell us about ancient Roman sanitation](https://phys.org/news/2015-11-toilets-sewers-ancient-roman-sanitation.html)

---

## Pompeii

----

Note:

* Differences with Rome:
								- Surrounded by walls
								- Rectangular grid

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/Benevolo-p191.jpg)

----

![](img/greece-rome/rome/pompeii-map-toilets.jpeg)

<div class="bg-caption">Map of Pompeii showing public and private toilets. Credit: Gemma C M Jansen </div>

Note:

Public toilets.

---

## Caesaragusta

<div class="bg-caption">Roman theater of Caesaragusta. (Pedro J Pacheco CC-BY-SA) </div>

----

<div class="fragment fade-in">
							![](img/greece-rome/rome/Caesaraugusta-map.png)
						</div>

<div class="bg-caption">Zaragoza Ortophoto | Caesaraugusta's map (Dario Marcos Guinea CC-BY-SA)</div>

---

## Roman cities (recap)

* Clear distinction in residential typologies:
							- Domus (rich families)
							- Insulae (modest families)
						- Importance of infrastructures
							- Roads
							- Special buildings (circus...)
							- Sewers ([Cloaca maxima](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloaca_Maxima) in Rome)

----

## Civilization and territory transformation

* Construction of infrastructures
							- roads,
							- bridges,
							- aqueducts
							- ...
						- Founding new cities
						- Division of arable lands into arable estates

Note:

Colonization with a strong basis on the transformation of territory

Arable estates: fincas cultivables: casas con terrenos cultivables.

----

> Tanto desde el punto de vista político como desde el urbanístico, **Roma sigue siendo un ejemplo a evitar**:
						>
						>su historia presenta toda una serie de clásicas señales de advertencia para prever y hacer saber cuándo la vida sigue un rumbo equivocado.
						>
						> Dondequiera que se **disparen los alquileres de las viviendas y se deterioren las condiciones de habitabilidad**, dondequiera que la **explotación unilateral de territorios distantes elimine las presiones por alcanzar un equilibrio y una armonía en lo que se tiene al alcance de la mano**...

----

> ...siempre que ocurren estos fenómenos, resurgen casi automáticamente los **precedentes de la construcción romana**, tal y como sucede en la actualidad:
						> el **circo**, el **alto edificio de viviendas**,la **masificación de concursos y exposiciones**, los **partidos de fútbol**, los concursos internacionales de belleza, la **ubicuidad del strip-tease potenciado por la publicidad**, la **excitación constante de los sentidos por medio del sexo**, el **alcohol y la violencia**, todo ello corresponde al __más puro estilo romano__

Lewis Mumford.

---

# Conclusions

* Cities explain a lot of the social and political structure in which they were formed.
							- They are the result of social and political structures
							- They are a tool to understand those social and political structures.
							- Material dimension of a society (Manuel Castells)
						- Current societies and cities are heirs of Greek and Roman cultures and cities.

----

## *Polis* vs. *Civitas*

- Despite the apparent similarities between Greek and Roman cultures (close in time and space) and cities, they have significant differences
							- In their urban fabric
							- In their profound logics

----

* Greek *Polis*: references to the place where a lineage resides.
							- Emphasis is put into the notion of *gens* (people, lineage) with common origin and traditions.
							- Strong feeling of belonging to a place -> Isolation from one polis to another (independent)
							- Polis are static (sometimes, federated)
						- Importance of the public
							- There is no external law, but the result of citizens' decisions (assemblies)
							- Almost no private properties

----

- Roman *civitas*: derived from *civis* the group of people that conform the city, the world (civilization).
							- Civitas is the result of grouping heterogeneus people from different origins, religions... who share space, language and laws (and, ultimately, an ideal of an Empire).
							- Urbs are the materialization of the laws that rule the empire.
							- Urbs are mobile (always growing)
						- Importance of private:
							- Private properties (houses, lands)
							- Expropriation

Bibliographical references

Library of Alexandry (Snøhetta 1989-2001)

Books

Benevolo, L. (1982). Diseño de la ciudad: El arte y la ciudad antigua. (F. Serra i Cantarell, Trans.) (3ª ed, Vol. 2). Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. (Original work published 1975)

Cacciari, M. (2010). La ciudad. (M. Puente, Trans.). Barcelona: Gustavo Gili. (Original work published 2004)

Mumford, L. (1989). The city in history: its origins, its transformations, and its prospects. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

The polis and the civitas

Cities in ancient Greece and Rome

Bibliographical references

Books

Films

Questions?