Art and Literature feature boxes explore contemporary Roman descriptions of the art from each period and the reception of works and styles.
A View from the Provinces feature boxes spotlight art from outside Rome, providing the reader with an awareness of art across the expanse of the Roman world.
Scholarly Perspective feature boxes examine a scholarly debate, perspective, or approach to the art, giving readers a case study in how we know what we know and supporting a critical understanding of the art of ancient Rome.
Tools & Techniques sidebars provide readers with insight into the artistic techniques and materials used to create the art.
More on Myth sidebars highlight specific myths central to the art, giving the reader the necessary background to recognize and interpret mythological figures and stories depicted in art and architecture.
Ancients on Art sidebars include quotations that enable readers to engage with ancient testimony about the material.
Form & Function sidebars examine social contexts, the functionality of art and buildings, and their relationship with the everyday lives of Romans.
Historical Context sidebars provide the reader with a solid foundational knowledge of specific events that influenced art of the period.
Suggestions for Further Reading appear at the end of each chapter and include a selection of recent, accessible scholarship to help readers embark on further study.
A Guide to Further Reading is included at the end of the book and contains additional recommended books and articles.
753 BCE |
Founding of Rome by Romulus |
753–509 BCE |
Regal Period of Rome, rule by kings |
670–650 BCE |
Regolini‐Galassi tomb, Cerveteri |
600–550 BCE |
Tomb of the Shields and Chairs, Cerveteri |
535–509 BCE |
Rome’s last king, Tarquin the Proud, rules the city |
530 BCE |
Tomb of the Augurs, Tomb of Hunting and Fishing, Tarquinia |
525 BCE |
Terracotta sarcophagus from Cerveteri |
510 BCE |
Apollo of Portonaccio sanctuary, Veii |
509 BCE |
Founding of the Republic; first public games, the ludi Romani , held in Rome; inauguration of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus |
480 BCE |
Tomb of the Diver, Paestum |
474 BCE |
Battle of Cumae, Greeks defeat Etruscans |
470 BCE |
Tomb of the Leopards, Tarquinia |
396 BCE |
Romans besiege and defeat Veii, one of the twelve major Etruscan cities |
390 BCE |
Gallic sack of Rome |
386 BCE |
“Servian wall” built around Rome |
364 BCE |
First theatrical performance in Rome |
338 BCE |
Ostia, Rome’s first colony, established |
300 BCE |
Bronze bust of a man “Brutus” |
273 BCE |
Colonies at Paestum and Cosa founded |
264 BCE |
The first gladiatorial games in Rome at the funeral of Junius Brutus Pera |
264–241 BCE |
First Punic War |
218–202 BCE |
Second Punic War |
212 BCE |
Sack of Syracuse |
211 BCE |
Triumph of Marcus Claudius Marcellus |
168 BCE |
Battle of Pydna, victory of Aemilius Paullus over Perseus of Macedon |
146 BCE |
Destruction of Carthage and Corinth |
91–88 BCE |
Social War |
89 BCE |
Siege of Pompeii by Sulla |
80 BCE |
Founding of Roman colony of Pompeii by Sulla; House of the Faun renovated; amphitheater and basilica begun at Pompeii |
73–71 BCE |
Revolt of Spartacus |
62 BCE |
Pons Fabricius built |
61 BCE |
Pompey’s Triple Triumph |
55 BCE |
Pompey’s Theater, first permanent theater in Rome, built |
46 BCE |
Forum of Caesar dedicated |
44 BCE |
Assassination of Julius Caesar |
40 BCE |
Decoration of Mysteries Suite in the Villa of the Mysteries |
31 BCE |
Battle of Actium, Octavian/Augustus defeats Antony and Cleopatra |
28 BCE |
Mausoleum of Augustus begun; Temple of Apollo dedicated |
27 BCE |
Octavian takes the name Imperator Caesar Augustus; Livy’s monumental History of Rome begins appearing |
20 BCE |
Original of the Prima Porta Augustus statue; recovery of the military standards from Parthia |
19 BCE |
Death of Roman poet, Vergil, publication of his Aeneid |
15 BCE |
Vitruvius writes his book on architecture; earliest examples of Third Style wall painting; construction of Caesarea Maritima |
14 BCE |
Basilica Aemilia reliefs |
13 BCE |
Ara Pacis Augustae vowed |
12 BCE |
Augustus becomes Pontifex Maximus; Via Labicana portrait |
9 BCE |
Ara Pacis Augustae inaugurated |
2 BCE |
Forum Augustum inaugurated |
14 CE |
Death of Augustus; succession of Tiberius |
14–37 CE |
Tiberius as emperor |
20–26 CE |
Tiberius resides at Sperlonga; sculpture groups created |
37–41 CE |
Caligula as emperor |
37 CE |
Portrait of Caligula |
41–54 CE |
Claudius as emperor |
43 CE |
Invasion of Britain |
c. 51 CE |
Grand Camée; Ravenna relief |
52 CE |
Porta Maggiore gate constructed |
54–68 CE |
Nero as emperor |
59 CE |
Amphitheater riot at Pompeii |
62 CE |
Earthquake along the Bay of Naples that extensively damaged Pompeii; Domus Transitoria of Nero |
after 62 CE |
Temple of Isis and House of Octavius Quartio rebuilt at Pompeii |
64 CE |
Great fire in Rome; Domus Aurea of Nero begun |
69–79 CE |
Vespasian as emperor |
71 CE |
Flavian Triumph for Jewish War |
75 CE |
Temple of Peace dedicated |
79–81 CE |
Titus as emperor; portrait of Titus as magistrate |
79 CE |
Sacellum of the Augustales, Herculaneum; Eruption of Mt. Vesuvius and destruction of Pompeii, Herculaneum, Oplontis |
80 CE |
Inauguration of the Colosseum; fire and plague hit Rome |
81–96 CE |
Domitian as emperor |
81 CE |
Arch of Titus dedicated |
92 CE |
Domus Flaviana, Flavian Palace, built |
93 CE |
Cancelleria reliefs |
ca. 94 CE |
Tomb of the Haterii |
96–98 CE |
Nerva as emperor |
98–117 CE |
Trajan as emperor |
103 CE |
Trajan’s new harbor of Portus at Ostia begun |
106 CE |
Conclusion of the Dacian War; conquest of Petra and Nabatean kingdom |
109 CE |
Adamclisi victory monument built |
112 CE |
Forum of Trajan inaugurated |
113 CE |
Column of Trajan dedicated |
114 CE |
Parthian war begun; Arch of Trajan, Beneventum |
117–138 CE |
Hadrian as emperor |
118 CE |
Villa of Hadrian begun |
120 CE |
Hadrian’s Wall begun |
126 CE |
Pantheon completed |
130 CE |
Hadrianic roundels |
138–161 CE |
Antoninus Pius as emperor |
140 CE |
Baths of the Seven Sages, Ostia |
147 CE |
Faustina the Younger portrait bust |
160 CE |
Hercules sarcophagus |
161–180 CE |
Marcus Aurelius as emperor |
161–169 CE |
Lucius Verus co‐emperor with Marcus Aurelius |
161–166 CE |
Parthian War |
161 CE |
Column of Antoninus Pius |
165 CE |
Plague sweeps Rome; Alcestis sarcophagus |
176 CE |
Arch of Marcus Aurelius begun |
180–192 CE |
Commodus as emperor; Portonaccio sarcophagus |
192 CE |
Column of Marcus Aurelius completed; Commodus bust; Commodus appears in the Colosseum as Hercules |
193 CE |
Civil War and Year of the Six Emperors |
193–211 CE |
Septimius Severus as emperor |
193 CE |
Julia Domna portrait from Gabii |
197 CE |
Invasion of the Parthian Empire |
200 CE |
Painted portrait of Severan family |
203 CE |
Severan family’s triumphal entrance into Lepcis Magna; Arch of Septimius Severus dedicated in Rome; Forma Urbis Romae begun; Julia Domna portrait from Ostia |
204 CE |
Celebration of the 950th anniversary of Rome; Arch of the Argentarii erected |
211–217 CE |
Caracalla as emperor |
216 CE |
Baths of Caracalla dedicated; Farnese Bull and Farnese Hercules sculptures |
218–222 CE |
Elagabalus as emperor |
222–235 CE |
Alexander Severus as emperor |
c. 225 CE |
Achilles and Penthesilia sarcophagus |
238 CE |
Acilia sarcophagus |
244–249 CE |
Philip the Arab as emperor; portrait bust of Philip the Arab; Synagogue at Dura Europus |
249–251 CE |
Decius as emperor; portrait of Decius |
250 CE |
Mattei Lion Hunt sarcophagus |
253–260 CE |
Valerian as emperor |
260 CE |
Relief of Emperor Valerian kneeling before Shapur I |
260–270 CE |
Good Shepherd sarcophagus |
270–275 CE |
Aurelian wall built around Rome |
284–305 CE |
Tetrarchy founded with Diocletian and Maximian as joint rulers |
298–303 CE |
Arch of Galerius, Thessaloniki |
c. 300 CE |
Tetrarchs porphyry statue group; Villa of Piazza Armerina built |
303 CE |
Tetrarchs visit Rome; Decennalia monument dedicated |
306 CE |
Baths of Diocletian dedicated; Constantine declared emperor at York |
310 CE |
Basilica at Trier built |
312 CE |
Battle of the Milvian Bridge; Arch of Constantine begun; Basilica Nova completed |
313 CE |
Edict of Milan issued legalizing Christian worship |
315 CE |
Colossal portrait of Constantine from the Basilica Nova |
324 CE |
Final defeat of Licinius and unification of empire under the rule of Constantine |
330 CE |
Porphyry sarcophagus of Constantina; Lullingstone mosaic; founding of Constantinople |
336–337 CE |
Bronze portrait of Constantine |
340 CE |
Low Ham Villa and mosaic |
359 CE |
Sarcophagus of Junius Bassus |
476 CE |
Abdication of Romulus Augustulus, last emperor of the Western Empire |
955–983 CE |
Otto II, Holy Roman Emperor |
1453 CE |
Fall of Constantinople to Ottoman Empire |
1806 CE |
Arc de Triomphe commissioned in Paris |
1865 CE |
Apotheosis of Washington fresco |