COMPETITION, MEANING, AND MONUMENTALIZATION IN GALLIA COMATA

Perhaps the most striking, and archaeologically speaking the most evident, change that occurred in Gallia Comata from the 1st century BCE to the end of the 2nd century CE was the incorporation of massive, monumental, Roman-style architecture. Many of these monuments still stand to this day, providing an obvious, visual argument for the impact that Roman culture had on Gallic society. Overall, the incorporation of Roman architecture and monuments, paid for and dedicated by members of the local elite, seems to indicate a clear cultural shift in Gallic society and the adoption of Roman conceptions of urbanism and the role of the urban aristocracy in providing munera for the populace. This paper will examine the remains of monumental structures in the Gallic civitas-capitals, examining the initial stages of monumentalization. While early structures advertised the connection between the community as a whole with the Imperial power structure, the construction of amphitheaters in particular emerged rapidly throughout the Three Gauls and, as this paper will argue, was tied to the glorification and memorialization of the dedicator and his family. The edification of urban space thus became a new ground for the Gallic aristocracy to play out its internal rivalries, rather than a public expression of acceptance or obedience under Rome, and through the use of amphitheaters, urban edification allowed the Gallic aristocracy to retain their ties to the concept of competitive status and martial prowess.

Correlation between military and domestic architecture: A tribune's house in Aquincum and its place in Roman architecture

The House of the Tribunus Laticlavius, a large building in the legionary fortress of Aquincum, has only been partially excavated, and this was in the 1970s. This short paper makes an attempt to understand its function and find its place in Roman architecture through a reconstruction of its floor plan and comparison with other prominent residential buildings of the period which share similar features. It appears very likely that the house is based on a loose adaptation of a Hellenistic model, tailored to the needs of high-ranking officers of the Roman army.

Hidden Influences: Exploring the Red Castle Restorations During the Italian Colonization of Libya

This article examines alterations made to the Red Castle in Tripoli during Italy’s colonization of Libya between 1911 and 1943. Italian architects completed two projects which both restored the castle and altered its design through the construction of a tunnel that cuts through the historic site and joined sections of the coastal road (Lungomare Conti Volpi). Using a new visual analysis of the structures, this study argues that traditional Roman architecture influenced changes to the castle, which included elements found in preexisting Roman structures. The implications of these interventions within the context of historic preservation and colonialism are also explored.

3D Reconstruction of a Roman Bridge in Canosa di Puglia (Italy)

The Roman bridge near Canosa di Puglia (Southern Italy) currently has a very different morphology from the one planned by its builders in the second century AD as part of the program for the construction of the Via Traiana. Although the piers, the abutments and the foundation platea are still preserved from the Roman age, the changes made over the centuries have altered its aspect, forgetting the traces of its monumental past. Starting from the surviving elements and the few available sources, an investigation has been carried out to reconstruct its original structure, thanks to a multidisciplinary and metrological approach and the combined use of aerophotogrammetry and 3D modeling. The usage of these technologies proved to be an essential tool, since they made it possible to carry out a survey otherwise hampered by the bulk of the artifact and the presence of the Ofanto River flowing below. The outcome of this research has led to a reconstruction hypothesis that returns a majestic monument that deserves an adequate place in the panorama of Roman architecture.