Ancient History HSC Notes PDF

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Notes for Ancient History HSC. Cities of Vesuvius, Agrippina & Julio-Claudians....

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Cities of Vesuvius: Conservation & Reconstruction October 79CE: - Pliny’s letter has three different dates, 3 medieval copies - Would have been one of the loudest blasts - Pliny doesn’t mention noise ‘Victims of archaeology’ – modern materials and ancient buildings mix poorly (iron, plaster) -

Weather effects buildings Mosaics ‘unravel’ from tourists, poor conversation and weather Wood covered in carbon to preserve it Ancient and modern chemicals mix differently Perspex in front of frescos – mould, and weather is trapped behind Perspex, bacteria ruins fresco New plaster behind the original layer of plaster helps preserve it Ruins at Amphitheatre from weathers, frost and heat expanded fresco

Temple of Venus House of Vestals – bombed during WW2, floor ruined from bombs – able to excavate under the floor which is not allowed at any other buildings. Parts of fresco cut out – possible looting -

Looting and atmosphere has damaged the room and fresco

Short Pulse Laser – used for conservation, cleaning fresco. Polluted salts ‘pop off’ the fresco, compared to a vacuum cleaner going over the fresco Does the technology teach new information? What does the technology do to create a new image of new information? Nature is tearing apart buildings – wild dog problem – dog urine mixed with rain water causes corrosion – bird problems, pigeons – attempted to solve with falcons - not solved Site Instability -

Land slide Underground stream Sensor pick up earth movements Eruption is possible, volcano is still active – last lava eruption in 1940’s

Victims of Tourists? -

Rubbish on site – physical pollution problem Worn out steps – accidently leaning on buildings and frescos Different tour groups with different guides – doesn’t deal with volume, deals with congestion “Bring back the rock” – more tourists - Pink Floyd, Fireworks (simulates eruption)

Political Instability -

Commercialisation of the area

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150+ bombs dropped on Pompeii – possible 10 unexploded bombs in unexcavated areas German superintendent - two superintendents

Not ordinary towns – resort towns, estimated 12,00-15,000 population Herculaneum Conservation Project – 2001 – 2011 (still operational in 2021) -

Listed as one of the worst conserved sites 10 million euros ‘reorganisation’ Grande Progetto Pompei (GPP) – EU and Italian government, 2012 – Dec 2015 6 parts of the project  Most urgent jobs done first Haven’t solved problem of theft and looting Shafts and tunnels

Non-Authentic Reconstructions Gardens have trees that would have been there in 79AD – authentic reconstruction “An experience beyond imagination” – non authentic reconstructions (non-ancient statues) Imagination – descriptions and reporting on human remains in Pompeii Science VS Romance – should archaeologists tell ‘stories’ about human remains?

Agrippina: Source Analysis Tacitus & Suetonius – main writers about her Intriguing female – sister, wife, mother of Roman Emperors Non formal power Married of at 13 – didn’t have Nero until around 22 years old Murdered by son Nero at age 44 Conflicting sources – disparity between written and archaeological sources Social Position of Roman Women -

Expected to be good daughters, wives & mothers No direct political power – supported males In Julio-Claudian, more freedom, both socially, legally and financially

Which sources are more relevant? -

Portraits, cameos & statues? Written or archaeological? Cassius Doi’s Roman History or Suetonius The Twelve Caesars? What does it tell us? Why is it written or created? Its purpose? Can it be corroborated by other sources? Limitations of the source? Reliability?

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Deliberate distortions – Why? Limited access to evidence or deliberate narrow selection Why would they do this? Can a biased source still be used?

Tacitus: Annals -

Most detailed source Book 12: rise of Agrippina, marriage, adoption of Nero, promotion of Nero, murder of opponents, Nero as Emperor Book 13: her power in Nero reign, murder of Britannicus, plot to kill Agrippina Book 14: Assassination of Agrippina

Suetonius: Lives -

Focus on the more scandalous stories, had access to imperial and senatorial archives Life of Caligula – Incest with 3 sisters (24) Life of Claudius – marriage to Agrippina, adoption of Nero, claims Claudius repented marriage (43) suggests she may have murdered Claudius (44) Life of Nero –

Cassius Dio: Roman History -

Repeats typical story Decline of Agrippina’s control over Nero Shows support from people, senate and the army

Issues to consider in the Written Sources -

Written by elite powerful political males  Motives? Why did Nero have her killed How do they explain her power base?

Questioning Archaeological Sources -

Offer a completely different perspective. Why? How has it been interpreted? Challenge or support other evidence? Compared to written sources as well

After her death many of her statues were destroyed  destruction of her reputation after death Coinage: Under Gaius -

Sestertius, 37-38BC, Rome Front – head of Gaius Underside – His 3 sisters, Agrippina, Drusilla and Julia Representing security, concord (harmony) and fortune

Coinage – with Claudius, 51-54BC -

Front – Claudius with titles Underside – Agrippina wearing a crown of corn ears

Portrayed as equal to her son – on coins Forms of propaganda The ‘Gemma’ Claudia – multiple messages, Jupiter’s Eagle Aphrodisias Reliefs - equal in size to Claudius, symbol of fertility, motherhood & chastity Aphrodisias Reliefs – Crowing her son – no political right to do so  No written explanations of the scenes

Her Power and Influence? -

Wealthy, granted title of Augusta Sister, wife, mother of emperors – no other person had those titles Granted use of the Carpentum - carriage only used for religious purposes Attended senate meetings – behind curtain Accused of killing off political and marriage rivals

Judging Agrippina -

To what extent did her family connections, mishaps, deaths shaper her later behaviours? What were her main achievements? Product of her time? Why was she killed by Nero? Will we ever know the real Agrippina?

Evidence of Life in Pompeii and Herculaneum Building of Eumachia:       

Debate over use of the building Superintended – reconstructing his vision of the area  How archaeologists reconstruct their view of the past Evidence of: Role of the forum Women Local political life Economy Clothing Issues of conservation and reconstruction Tourism

Statue of Eumachia -

‘To Eumachia, daughter of Lucius, public priestess, the fullers (set this up)’ Nature of clothing of elite women – Stola over head in religious fashion Dedication – proves she had some wealth “built at her own expense…”

Temple of ‘Vespasian’ or the ‘genius of Augustus’ (P) Questions on religion- two parts, public religion and private religion Inscription – commemorating the construction of the building thought to be used for the worship of the imperial cult ‘Mamia, daughter of Publius, public priestess, (built this) to the genius on her own land and at (her own) expense’ Mensa Ponderaria (P) Evidence of trade and commerce “Saw to the standardisation of the measures in accordance with a decree of the town councillors” “Son of Numerius…” Important due to reputation of people and the importance of reputation Temple of Isis (P) Foreign God  foreign deities being honoured “With his own money” Six-year-old played for rebuilding – became town councillor – most likely son of a freedmen Popularity of the Cult of Isis College of the Augustales (H) Freedmen promoting themselves Dedication  shows their parents, who financed it (often themselves) House of Julia Felix (P) Private Reference to the Nile – water feature Luxurious dining area – possible waterfall Advertisements at the House of Julia Felix  renting out parts of her estate – “elegant baths for respectable people” House of the Wooden Partition (H) Timber survived Benches outside – more people waiting showed their popularity Villa of Mysteries (P) Fresco in Triclinium (dining room) showing a female initiation into the Dionysus cult Wine press, Dolio (pots to store wine)  Evidence of wine production

Suburban Baths (H) Terrace of M. Nonius Balbus outside the Suburban Baths  Boat sheds underneath Volcanic material left in Situ by Maiuri (superintendent) in the suburban baths  reconstructs his vision of the past Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus (P) Many houses did not have full kitchens, suggests that people would have eaten at the Thermopolium a lot. Lararium – Mercury, Lares, Genius, Lares, Dionysius Theatres (P) Small and large theatre – architectural influence of Greeks – Greek in Design Commercialisation – ‘Restoration’ of the theatre  Set up as an active theatre Mismanaged – UNESCO threatened to stop funding Against archaeological practices Odeon Used for literature – poetry Amphitheatre Mentioned in Odeon and Amphitheatre  Political benefits from building and giving gifts to the town Various advertisements

Julio-Claudians - Power and Authority, History and Histography Rome and the Mediterranean 14 CE City of Rome: Reflected Rome’s place in the world Rebuilt and re-organised Spectacle and Power Roman Empire; Military expansion Rome’s imperial “destiny”

Climate and Prosperity “The Roman optimum: stability from c.100bc to 200ad…” (Civil) War and Peace Post conflict period Intense and prolonged civil war Princeps stand between a return to civil war

 Velleius Paterculus 2.89.1 and 2.124.1 20 years of civil war Fear of civil war  death of Augustus until the year of the four emperors

 Seneca De Clementina 1.4.2 Augustus  RGDA 2 and 34-35 Relationship to the law – only doing things that are lawful and acting within the law “Father to my country” Civil Princeps – Andrew Wallace Hadrill Succession Who Will succeed? How would a successor be identified or presented (within the family and to the people)? How will (actual moment of) succession be managed? What did it mean to be a “successor”?

 Gruen, 2005 The power and privileges of Augusts Deeds and words Memory Newly deified The Res Gestae Divi Augusti Establishing a monopoly over the interpretation of the Augustan past Managing expectations and the freedom to experiment? What does it mean to be Princeps?  Princeps as a guardian  Princeps as a pater and benefactor

 Constant experimentation

Tiberius Biggest problem to confront Copies Augustus  conscience decision Moderation (a successor virtue) – moderation and restrained way of operating Burden of his tasks - sees being princeps as a burden Very experienced and well equipped The absent emperor – this idea becomes normal later on but at the time is was rare and poorly received Gaius Youthful and inexperienced Seeking popularity Family as legitimacy Monster, madman, tyrant? Cruelty and abuse of power “Favour and good fortune attend Gaius Caesar and his sisters”  Suetonius Cal. 15 Claudius Untrained & unprepared Succession transparently linked to forces of coercion (Praetorians) Competent administrator Expanded the empire Claudius’ court Coin about being received into the Praetorian Camp Nero Experimentation: Theatrically Spectacles of power Princeps as …? 

Hellenistic Monarch

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Actor, artist, Apollo (Sol/Phoebus) Philhellene Matricide Fire

 Suetonius, Nero 26 Popular with the people of Rome...