Robert Coates-Stephens (British School at Rome) Byzantine Building Patronage in Rome After
1
Report on the 2010 “City of Rome” Course
The BSR’s 15th annual City of Rome postgraduate course ran from 1 April to 27 May 2010 and was attended by sixteen students from the universities of Exeter, Kings College London, Manchester, Nottingham, Reading, Royal Holloway, St. Andrews and Warwick. The director was BSR Cary Fellow Robert Coates-Stephens, who was assisted by Letizia Ceccarelli of the University of Cambridge. Optional Latin and palaeography tuition was offered by BSR Rome Fellow Richard Pollard. The smooth running of the course was thanks above all to administrator Elly Murkett, the logistical assistance of Chris Siwicki and the hostel management of Geraldine Wellington.
The course provides the most thorough treatment of the ancient city possible, from its origins to the end of the empire. One half is devoted to site visits, supplemented by a minimum of 12 hours of lectures and seminars by distinguished guest speakers (this year these amounted to 14 hours - see attached programme). The other half is reserved for individual study supervised by the course director and his assistant. Students present their research projects to the class in seminar form and submit a 5-6000-word paper prior to leaving Rome. There is nothing comparable in terms of thoroughness, detail or duration offered elsewhere in Rome.
Site visits form the key element of the teaching. A topographical approach is adopted, allowing a picture of the city in its entirety to be built up step by step, with an emphasis on the continuity of urban activity. In setting out the programme the BSR benefits from its unique contacts with Rome’s archaeological authorities and academic institutions, facilitated at official level by Maria Pia Malvezzi. This year our group was lucky enough to gain access to sites which are not only closed to the general public, but which have not even been made known to the British academic world. Frequently we were guided by the individual experts who had overseen the sites’ excavation, restoration or documentation: Stephan Zink elucidated the important but rarely seen remains of the Temple of Apollo Palatinus; Paola Baldassari engineered a special opening of the freshly excavated late antique domus beneath Palazzo Valentini which included a preview of state-of-the-art virtual reconstruction; Lucia Saguì was our guide at the new excavations at the summit of the Sacra Via, which have encountered what is probably the house of Augustus’ birth; Klaus-Stefan Freyberger detailed the German project at the Basilica Aemilia; and Giovanni Ricci gave us unprecedented access to the astonishing excavations for Metro C, where Hadrian’s Athenaeum is emerging only a stone’s throw from Trajan’s Column. Two flagship BSR projects were included: Simon Keay conducted the tour of the excavations of Portus, and Sarah Court arranged a special visit to Herculaneum, highlighting the work being carried out at rarely seen sites by the Herculaneum Conservation Project. For the students, the visits formed “possibly the most exciting and enjoyable part of my degree programme.” Another commented: “The site visits were invaluable for understanding the topography of the city, and the relationship between sites. The relationship between the Capitoline, Palatine and Campus Martius is obvious from a map, but the physicality of the spaces involved makes you see it in a new way.”
The course is in constant evolution, and the itineraries vary considerably from year to year, always reflecting the individual research interests of the students. As one later observed, “the ability of the course to be tailored for a specific student’s interests or research needs is a particular highlight”. The closure of certain sites and monuments due to restoration (or, in the case of the Domus Aurea, collapse) and bureaucratic subtleties was compensated by positive changes in the management of Forum and Palatine. Whereas this year saw the Comitium, the Mamertine prison, the Mausoleum of Augustus and S. Maria Antiqua mothballed, several sites reopened after many years’ somnolence: the terraces of the Domus Severiana, the Vigna Barberini (with the recently discovered remains of Nero’s coenatio rotunda) and the Curia, which housed a temporary exhibition on the Basilica Aemilia. Special sites under the aegis of the Comune are now less easy of access than in the past, due both to maintenance works and a new rota introduced for the custodians. But thanks to Maria Pia Malvezzi’s charm and ingenuity, we achieved access to some of the same sites through the kindness of the private owners of neighbouring properties. This year also saw the course’s first visit to the important early Republican houses beneath S. Pietro in Vincoli, and the little-known remains of the Porticus of Pompey beneath the Teatro Argentina. Museum visits featured largely, with this year’s highlight proving to be the Vatican (perhaps as much due to the luxury of jumping the enormous queue as of gaining access to the often-closed Room of the Aldobrandini Wedding). By immersing themselves in this wealth of material culture, the historians in the group thrived: “As someone with a primarily literary background, I became aware of the different ways in which texts, artefacts and archaeological sources can be used to build up a view of the ancient world.”
The lecture and seminar series combined the expertise of BSR staff and awardees with that of Italian specialists and visiting scholars from the foreign academies. In this way, we were able to present a chronological framework for art, archaeology and architecture from Etruscan/archaic (Gabriele Cifani) through Republican/Augustan (Amy Russell), Neronian/Flavian (Eric Varner), Antonine (Elizabeth Fentress), Severan (Clare Rowan), early Christian (Olof Brandt) and Byzantine/early medieval (Robert Coates-Stephens). Diachronic themes underpinned the papers of Christopher Smith (historiography of early Rome), Filippo Coarelli (topography of the Esquiline) and Fabio Barry (construction and materials). The course director offered an introduction to sources and bibliography, and given the interest this year in oriental and mystery cult, the Norwegian scholar Jonas Bjornebye gave a special seminar on Mithras and the city of Rome.
In addition to attending lectures and site visits, the students carry out their own research, having submitted a proposal in January. This is often refined and adapted after tutorials in the first weeks in Rome, when practical considerations of access to monuments and bibliography can be tackled more directly. Students present their projects to the class in a short (c.20 minute) seminar midway through the course, and - following substantial discussion - follow this up with a 5-6000 word essay. These seminars enable problems to be resolved before work begins on the essays, and help to engage all members of the group in each other’s work, as well as provide an opportunity to express their ideas in coherent form in a sympathetic environment. As one commented: “topics were varied [from the introduction of cults into Rome, to the placement of Flavian buildings] and it was interesting to hear about other people’s areas of expertise at the student presentations.”
In preparing their essays the students enjoyed extended access to the BSR library, where Valerie Scott and her staff made every effort to help. Especially appreciated was the recently introduced 24-hour opening for residents. Between them, the course director and teaching assistant were available daily for tutorials, with Letizia Ceccarelli proving untiring in her translations of Italian bibliography. The essays were double marked by the BSR and the host institution, with each student receiving detailed comments from the course director. By the course’s end a fine series had been produced on such topics as triumviral building projects, the introduction of Isis to Rome, and the Aurelianic Walls. Even the slowest student to get started on a research project ended up producing one of the best essays, on Caracalla and the Farnese Hercules.
Some students remarked on the intensive nature of the course. This was generally considered a positive aspect, although it was wisely pointed out by several group members that this might be better appreciated by some of the host universities. The most enthusiastic still found time to attend extra-curricular lectures (and parties) at the BSR and other academies, as well as to enjoy the city’s varied cultural events, from tennis tournaments to rock concerts. One well-connected group member arranged an optional visit to the British Ambassador’s residence at the Villa Wolkonsky, where tea was taken prior to the exploration of a network of Julio-Claudian columbaria. The BSR’s cultural atmosphere met with special approval: “There is a wonderful network of academics here, and this was the greatest support.” Visiting scholars such as Clayton Fant and Amanda Claridge could be interrogated at breakfast, and the opportunity to engage directly with distinguished guest speakers in the congenial atmosphere of a Wednesday dinner was much appreciated. Even when the young scholars were forced to struggle in Italian (Coarelli), they found the experience instructive and stimulating. Their comments reflected this: “I particularly enjoyed the dinners in the evening, where it was easy to chat to people from the course, long term scholars, artists and visitors”. In short, “the communal dining provided a very stimulating environment.”
The work produced by the students over the past few years has been of exceptional quality, and many have already gone on to publish research papers written during the course. Alumni are teaching and working at places as far afield as the Universities of Santiago de Chile, São Paolo, Sydney, Leiden, Reading and Oxford, and the British Museum, the Museum of London, the Venerable English College in Rome and the BSR itself. Since half of this year’s intake will be undertaking doctoral study we may hope that this trend continues. As in previous years, we are grateful for the support of the Roman Society which has allowed us to offer this rare opportunity to promising young scholars and future generations of academics. I leave the final word on this year’s course to the students themselves: “The course… made me aware of my own preconceptions and assumptions. It has made me appreciate the beauty and variety of Roman art further.” And: “Academically, I have never learnt so much in such a short space of time… this has been the best time of my life! The institution has been very supportive and I will let others be aware of that.”
Robert Coates-Stephens
THE CITY OF ROME POSTGRADUATE COURSE
1 April – 27 May 2010
Programme as at 1 April
WEEK 1
THURSDAY 1 April
Students arrive – orientation meetings (course outline, administration etc):
16.15 Tea, followed by:
16.30 Library Tour, with Valerie Scott (BSR librarian), building tour
18.00 Introductory talk (Robert Coates-Stephens)
19.15 Drinks in director’s apartment
20.00 Dinner (as every day except Saturdays)
FRIDAY 2 April : FORUM BOARIUM
LEAVE 8.30 am
Forum Boarium: Temples of Hercules & Portunus
10.30 Area Sacra of S. Omobono [PERMIT]
Arch of the Argentarii & ‘Arch of Janus’
12.00 S. Maria in Cosmedin, crypt (Great Altar of Hercules?) [PERMIT]
Tiber Island
18.30 Seminar by Robert Coates-Stephens: “Sources for Roman topography”
SATURDAY 3 April : FORUM ROMANUM (Day 1)
LEAVE 8.20am
9.30 Introduction, Central area [PERMIT]
Comitium & Lapis Niger (overview)
Temple of Castor
Basilica Julia
Clivus Capitolinus
Caesarian Rostra
Monument of Bibulus
NB – the Curia and Mamertine prison will be visited as soon as they reopen after Easter
SUNDAY 4 April : EASTER DAY
MONDAY 5 April (Easter Monday) : MUSEUM VISIT
LEAVE 9.00am
Museo Nazionale Romano, Epigraphic Department
Palazzo Massimo: veristic portraiture and Augustan landscapes, with Amy Russell (BSR)
TUESDAY 6 April : CAPITOLINE
LEAVE 8.30am
Piazza del Campidoglio
Capitoline Museums:
10.00 Temple of Veiovis [PERMIT]
Tabularium
Substructures of Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus
Exhibition: “L’età della conquista”
Arx and ‘Auguraculum’
Araceli insula
18.00 Lecture by Christopher Smith (Director, BSR). “The historiography of early Rome”
WEDNESDAY 7 April : PALATINE (Day 1)
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 House of the Griffins [PERMIT]
Precinct of Victory & Magna Mater
House of Livia [PERMIT]
House of Augustus [PERMIT]
Aula Isiaca [PERMIT]
Palatine Antiquarium
Domus Tiberiana & Orti Farnesiani
WEEK 2
THURSDAY 8 April
FREE STUDY
16.30 tutorial meeting, with Letizia Ceccarelli and Richard Pollard (BSR)
FRIDAY 9 April : FORUM ROMANUM (Day 2)
LEAVE 8.30am
Vicus Tuscus & ‘Temple of Augustus’
10.00 Horrea Agrippiana [PERMIT]
Atrium Vestae [PERMIT]
Upper Via Sacra & ‘Regia’
Temple of Divus Julius & Arches of Augustus
Basilica Aemilia
Temples of Concord & Vespasian
Arch of Septimius Severus
SATURDAY 10 April : MUSEUM VISIT
LEAVE 9.00am
Villa Giulia (Etruscan and Latial antiquities), with Letizia Ceccarelli (University of Cambridge)
MONDAY 12 April : CAMPUS MARTIUS (Day 1)
LEAVE 8.30am
10.00 Forum Holitorium: temples beneath S. Nicola in Carcere [PERMIT]
Theatre of Marcellus
Temple of Apollo Sosianus
Temple of Bellona and fragments in Palazzo Lovatelli
Porticus of Octavia
12.30 Theatre of Pompey: remains of porticus beneath Teatro Argentina [PERMIT]
TUESDAY 13 April : CAMPUS MARTIUS (Day 2)
LEAVE 8.30am
Republican temples of Largo Argentina
10.30 Palazzo della Cancelleria: Tomb of Hirtius & Domitianic casts [PERMIT]
Crypta Balbi Museum & visit to the excavations [PERMIT]
Baths of Agrippa
Pantheon
Temple of Hadrian
Isaeum Campense
Column of Marcus Aurelius
WEDNESDAY 14 April
FREE STUDY
18.00 Lecture by Gabriele Cifani (University of Rome Tor Vergata): “Roman archaic architecture and its social significance”
WEEK 3
THURSDAY 15 April : IMPERIAL FORA (Day 1)
LEAVE 8.30am
Imperial Fora: introduction
9.30 Markets & Forum of Trajan
Museum of the Imperial Fora
11.30 Forum of Caesar [PERMIT]
Forum of Augustus [PERMIT]
Forum of Nerva [PERMIT]
Templum Pacis [PERMIT]
FRIDAY 16 April : PALATINE (Day 2)
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 Temple of Apollo Palatinus – guided tour with Stephan Zink (Pennsylvania) [PERMIT]
Domus Flavia & ‘Neronian cryptoporticus’
Vigna Barberini
Arch of Titus
18.30 seminar by Fabio Barry (University of St. Andrews) on materials and materiality in Roman architecture
SUNDAY 18 April : CAMPUS MARTIUS (Day 3)
9.30 ‘Augustan sundial’ [PERMIT]
Ara Pacis & Museum (overview of Mausoleum of Augustus)
MONDAY 19 April
FREE STUDY
TUESDAY 20 April : IMPERIAL FORA (Day 2)
LEAVE 8.30am
10.00 Column of Trajan [PERMIT]
11.30 Metro C excavations at S. Maria del Loreto (Athenaeum?) – guided tour with Giovanni Ricci
WEDNESDAY 21 April : VATICAN MUSEUMS
LEAVE 9.00am
10.00 Room of the Aldobrandini Wedding, Odyssey Frescoes of via Graziosa [PERMIT]
Museo Gregoriano Profano [PERMIT]
Musei Pio-Clementino & Chiaramonti, Braccio Nuovo
18.00 Lecture by Amy Russell (British School at Rome / Berkeley): “The road not taken. Experiments in late Republican public space”
WEEK 4
THURSDAY 22 April : VIA APPIA (Day 1)
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 Porta Appia & Museum of the Aurelianic Walls
10.30 Columbaria of Vigna Codini [PERMIT]
‘Arch of Drusus’
Baths of Caracalla
Porta Capena
FRIDAY 23 April : VIA LATINA
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 Parco della Via Latina (Tombs of the Pancratii & Valerii) [PERMIT]
Park of the Aqueducts, Via Latina
SATURDAY 24 April : OSTIA
**possibility of swap with Portus, Friday 30/4**
LEAVE 8.30am
Ostia Antica, including:
sarcophagi and marble imports, with Benjamin Russell (Oxford)
12.30 Casa di Diana [PERMIT]
MONDAY 26 April
FREE STUDY
TUESDAY 27 April : ESQUILINE (Day 1)
(later start)
12.00 Palazzo Valentini excavations – guided tour with Paola Baldassarri (Sovraintendenza archeologica di Lazio) [PERMIT]
Clivus Suburanus
14.30 Compital altar, via S. Martino ai Monti [PERMIT]
Arch of Gallienus (Porta Esquilina)
15.00 Auditorium of Maecenas [PERMIT]
‘Trophies of Marius’ (Nymphaeum of Alexander Severus)
‘Temple of Minerva Medica’
WEDNESDAY 28 April : TESTACCIO
LEAVE 8.30am
10.00 Monte Testaccio [PERMIT]
‘Porticus Aemilia’ (Navalia?) [PERMIT]
Tiber wharves
12.30 Pyramid of Cestius and funerary chamber [PERMIT]
Porta Ostiensis and Museum of Via Ostiensis
18.00 lecture by Eric Varner (Emory University): “Grotesque aesthetics: transgression and transcendence in Neronian Rome”
WEEK 5
THURSDAY 29 April : PALATINE, Day 3
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 Domus Augustana, lower court and stadium [PERMIT]
Domus Severiana
11.30 Interior of Temple of Antoninus and Faustina (S. Lorenzo in Miranda) [PERMIT]
12.00 Via Sacra excavations – guided tour with Lucia Saguì (University of Rome La Sapienza)
FRIDAY 30 April : PORTUS
**possibility of swap with Portus, Friday 30/4**
LEAVE 8.45am (coach)
Portus – visit to the excavations, with Simon Keay (British School at Rome / Southampton) [PERMIT]
14.00 Isola Sacra necropolis [PERMIT]
MONDAY 3 MAY
FREE STUDY
TUESDAY 4 May : FORUM ROMANUM (Day 3)
LEAVE 8.30am
9.30 S. Maria Antiqua [PERMIT]
Temple of Venus and Rome [PERMIT]
Basilica of Maxentius
‘Temple of Romulus’ & SS. Cosma & Damiano
Temple of Saturn
Porticus of the Di Consentes
Arch of Constantine
18.30 seminar by Olof Brandt (Pontificio Istituto di Archeologia Cristiana), on early Christian architecture in Rome (exact date tbc)
WEDNESDAY 5 MAY : CAELIAN & COLOSSEUM
LEAVE 8.30am
Neronian nymphaeum
S. Stefano Rotondo
Arch of Dolabella, Servian Wall & Arcus Neroniani
10.30 Temple of Claudius substructures [PERMIT]
11.00 Insula & domus beneath SS. Giovanni & Paolo [PERMIT]
Ludus Magnus
Colosseum
18.00 lecture by Elizabeth Fentress (AIAC): “Treading the grapes at Villa Magna. An imperial villa between sacred and profane”
WEEK 6
THURSDAY 6 May : VIA APPIA (Day 2)
LEAVE 8.30am
Villa of the Quintilii
Via Appia, 6th – 3rd miles
Tomb of Caecilia Metella
Circus of Maxentius
Catacombs of Praetextatus [PERMIT], tbc
FRIDAY 7 May
FREE STUDY
MONDAY 10 May
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS, Day 1
TUESDAY 11 May
STUDENT PRESENTATIONS, Day 2
WEDNESDAY 12 May : OPPIAN
LEAVE 8.30am
Servian Wall at Termini
S. Pietro in Vincoli
Domus Aurea (overview)