Tag: Rome

Artful Artifacts of the Archäologische Zone – Jüdisches Museum

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Cologne, Germany

When I think “Germany,” the first thing that pops into my head typically isn’t “Roman Ruin.”  I was both shocked and impressed by the scale and preservation of the Praetorium, the Governor’s Palace in Cologne Germany.  The Praetorum was the official residence of the Imperial Governor of Cologne, which was the capital city of Lower Germania.  According to the website (all of the signs were in German [I know enough French to sound terrible], so I have noooo idea what they said), the ruins date back to the birth of Christ and construction ended around the eighth century due to an earthquake.  I could actually see the cracks in the walls of the ruins, indicating a general problem with earthquakes overtime.  Various levels were excavated, and so, I could see the changes in architecture. 

Artifacts hanging in the general location in which they were observed during the excavation.

My favorite part of the exhibit was the artifact display, in which artifacts were hanging according to stratum (check out the picture, it’s nifty).  The overall excavation of the Praetorium came about with renovations—and subsequent excavations—of the Town Hall Square in Cologne.  It would be incredible be a part of these digs!  The finds are numerous and diverse, from ceramics, glass, to marble burial stelae.  I found the stelae to be particularly haunting, as they depict the faces/lives of those buried.  Details may have worn away, but the level of care put into the images is evident.   

Fragments of burial stelae.

For more information:

https://www.museenkoeln.de/archaeologische-zone/default.asp?s=4380

Women in Archaeology Podcast: Archaeology and the Alt-Right

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You can listen to the podcast on the WIA Blog (Click here) or download the episode on iTunes:

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I’m very proud to be a part of this podcast and one of the hosts on this episode:

Issues of Alt-Right and White Nationalist Groups Co-Opting History

White supremacists and the alt-right often use of history and archaeology as a mechanism to ‘legitimize’ their claims. Join us as we discuss this trend from the misrepresentation of Norse history to the misbelief of a racially pure Greek and Roman world. These groups have twisted the past to their agenda in dangerous ways.  What can we do to combat this trend?

 

A Star Attraction: The Dionysus Mosaic

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Millions of tiny fragments of glass, stone, and ceramic comprise the incredibly intricate and colorful mosaic known as the ‘Dionysus Mosaic.’  The mosaic was once part of a villa on the site of the now Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany.  Most sources say that it was created around 220 or 230 A.D.  The mosaic is a major attraction to the museum, and I must say that I can see why.  There are a number of figures, animals, and designs to investigate.  This lovely mosaic is so well-known in this area that when President Clinton visited Germany during his presidency, his hosts had a dinner party on it.  Stew on that, conservators.

For more information:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romano-Germanic_Museum

 

A Layered Cake: Cologne Cathedral

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The city of Cologne, Germany has a long and interesting history.  When I visited the city, everywhere I looked there was some reminder of ancient and Medieval cultures.  Much of Cologne was destroyed during WWII, but an impressive amount remains.  And, nothing is quite so impressive in Cologne as the Kolner Dom/Cathedral.  Beyond being an excellent example of Gothic architecture, as well as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is a beautiful building.  Construction began in 1248 to house the reliquary of the Three Kings (a giant golden box supposedly containing the bones of the Biblical Magi) but the cathedral remained incomplete until the 19th century.  Consequently, the Dom has a multilayered history from the ground-up.  The interior of the Dom is everything you could possibly want from a cathedral: beautiful stained glass windows, mosaics, murals, ornate altars, etc.  After exploring every inch of the nave, you can actually hike up one of the towers and lookout on the city (I can’t imagine doing that climb more than once).

Around and underneath the Dom are Roman ruins of various sizes, from a random wall or arch to larger architectural remains.  Just meander over to the parking garage near the Dom and you’ll find a lovely bit of Roman ruins.  Within the Cathedral Treasury, which houses an amazing assortment of ecclesiastical robes and jewels, you can also view the grave goods of two Frankish burials of a woman and a boy.  Ah, a structure to fulfill every need of a history/archaeology nerd.

To learn more:

http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/292

Textbook Review of ‘The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome’ by Chris Scarre

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If you need the entire history of the Roman Empire reduced into a nutshell, with fantastic maps and photographs of archaeological ruins and busts, then this is the book for you!  The history of Roman civilization is a huge topic to tackle, especially in the span of a semester.  As a Classics minor, I had a difficult time remembering the major dates, people, and places figuring from 800 BC to 540 AD, from the origins in Rome, to fall of the Western Empire.  The Atlas provides a visual depiction of the rise and fall of Rome.  I personally like being able to see a broad depiction in order to better understand the major themes of a civilization.  Scarre provides detailed maps of important places of expansion, as well as information on trade, literacy, and cultural life in different periods.  The timelines are excellent; the timeline is broken down into The Roman State, Building and Construction, Literature and Philosophy, and Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean.  This book, however, cannot stand alone since it is a broad overview.  It is a great companion to classical texts and textbooks on the Roman Empire.  It is also perfect for a quick overview before an exam.  For those simply interested the rise and fall of Rome, the Atlas provides a great overview with fantastic images.