Hardback
September 3, 2019
9781421432540
English
184
68883
49
9.00 Inches (US)
6.00 Inches (US)
0.71 Inches (US)
.8 Pounds (US)
$52.00 USD, £43.00 GBP
v2.1 Reference
Paperback / softback
September 3, 2019
9781421432557
English
184
68883
49
9.00 Inches (US)
6.00 Inches (US)
0.46 Inches (US)
.55 Pounds (US)
$25.00 USD, £21.00 GBP
v2.1 Reference
Electronic book text
September 3, 2019
9781421432564
9781421432540
English
184
68883
49
9.00 Inches (US)
6.00 Inches (US)
$25.00 USD, £21.00 GBP
v2.1 Reference

A Monument to Dynasty and Death

The Story of Rome's Colosseum and the Emperors Who Built It

Go behind the scenes to discover why the Colosseum was the king of amphitheaters in the Roman world—a paragon of Roman engineering prowess.

Early one morning in 80 CE, the Colosseum roared to life with the deafening cheers of tens of thousands of spectators as the emperor, Titus, inaugurated the new amphitheater with one hundred days of bloody spectacles. These games were much anticipated, for the new amphitheater had been under construction for a decade. Home to spectacles involving exotic beasts, elaborate executions of criminals, gladiatorial combats, and even—when flooded—small-scale naval battles, the building itself was also a marvel. Rising to a height of approximately 15 stories and occupying an area of 6 acres—more than four times the size of a modern football field—the Colosseum was the largest of all amphitheaters in the Roman Empire.

In A Monument to Dynasty and Death, Nathan T. Elkins tells the story of the Colosseum's construction under Vespasian, its dedication under Titus, and further enhancements added under Domitian. The Colosseum, Elkins argues, was far more than a lavish entertainment venue: it was an ideologically charged monument to the new dynasty, its aspirations, and its achievements.

A Monument to Dynasty and Death takes readers on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Colosseum from the subterranean tunnels, where elevators and cages transported gladiators and animals to the blood-soaked arena floor, to the imperial viewing box, to the amphitheater's decoration and amenities, such as fountains and an awning to shade spectators. Trained as an archaeologist, an art historian, and a historian of ancient Rome, Elkins deploys an interdisciplinary approach that draws on contemporary historical texts, inscriptions, archaeology, and visual evidence to convey the layered ideological messages communicated by the Colosseum. This engaging book is an excellent resource for classes on Roman art, architecture, history, civilization, and sport and spectacle.

About the Author

Nathan T. Elkins is an associate professor of art history and the director of Undergraduate Research and Scholarly Achievement at Baylor University. He is the author of Monuments in Miniature: Architecture on Roman Coinage and The Image of Political Power in the Reign of Nerva, AD 96–98.

Reviews

"Elkins' focus on the political and ideological importance of the Flavian amphitheater and the events it housed offers a valuable addition to the growing body of general audience resources on Rome's Colosseum."

- Elisha Ann Dumser, University of Akron - Bryn Mawr Classical Review

Endorsements

"Engagingly written and masterfully researched, this book presents our most up-to-date understanding of the Colosseum as both a structure and symbol, one that continues to have meaning today."

- Sinclair Bell, Northern Illinois University, coeditor of A Companion to the Etruscans

"This lively, eloquent book will attract, engage, and educate a broad readership. The level and quality of the writing is excellent: clear, concise, and engaging. Elkins—a talented historian of Roman art and architecture—definitely and deftly grounds his readers in the material."

- Donald G. Kyle, University of Texas at Arlington, author of Sport and Spectacle in the Ancient World
Johns Hopkins University Press
Witness to Ancient History
From 13 To 17

 

9781421432540 : a-monument-to-dynasty-and-death-elkins
Hardback
184 Pages
$52.00 USD
9781421432557 : a-monument-to-dynasty-and-death-elkins
Paperback / softback
184 Pages
$25.00 USD
9781421432564 : a-monument-to-dynasty-and-death-elkins
Electronic book text
184 Pages
$25.00 USD

Other Titles from Witness to Ancient History

The Great Fire of Rome

Joseph J. Walsh
Oct 2019 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$62.00 USD - Hardback
$25.00 USD - Paperback / softback
$25.00 USD - Electronic book text

The Year of Julius and Caesar

Stefan G. Chrissanthos
May 2019 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$77.00 USD - Hardback
$25.00 USD - Paperback / softback
$25.00 USD - Electronic book text

Athens Burning

Robert Garland
Jan 2017 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$52.00 USD - Hardback
$25.00 USD - Paperback / softback
$25.00 USD - Electronic book text

Other Titles in HISTORY / Ancient / Rome

The Ordered Day

James Ker
Mar 2023 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$59.95 USD - Hardback
$59.95 USD - Electronic book text

Papal Bull

Margaret Meserve
Aug 2021 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$62.00 USD - Hardback
$62.00 USD - Electronic book text

Broken Cities

Martin Devecka
Sep 2020 - Johns Hopkins University Press
$97.00 USD - Hardback
$37.00 USD - Paperback / softback
$37.00 USD - Electronic book text