D.C.-Area Archaeology Event: Ancient Libraries in Rome

Biblical Archaeology Society ^ | Tuesday, March 1, 2016 | Staff

[SunkenCiv]

On Sunday, March 6, 2016, Dr. Pier Luigi Tucci, Assistant Professor of Roman Art and Architecture at Johns Hopkins University, will deliver the lecture "Ancient Libraries in Rome: Reconstruction of the Bibliotheca of the Templum Pacis" in the Washington, D.C. area. The event is hosted by the Biblical Archaeology Society of Northern Virginia (BASONOVA) and Biblical Archaeology Forum (BAF). The Templum Pacis (Temple of Peace) was built by the Flavian emperor Vespasian in 75 C.E. near the Roman Forum. It commemorated both the end of the Jewish war and the civil strife that had followed the death of Nero in 68 C.E. The complex was remodeled under Emperor Domitian and eventually restored by Emperor Septimius Severus after the fire of 192 C.E. Within this architectural complex stood the Temple Library, which had sections on medicine, philosophy and history, and served as a center of culture in ancient Rome. Josephus described the Temple of Peace as "adorned with paintings and statues by the greatest of the old masters … There too Vespasian laid up the golden vessels from the Temple of the Jews … " Pliny remarked, "Should we not mention among our truly noble buildings … the Temple of Peace, the most beautiful the world has ever seen?" Later, the historian Herodian described the Temple of Peace as "the largest and most beautiful of all the buildings in the city since it was adorned with offerings of gold and silver … " Fresh archaeological evidence and literary sources shed new light on this monument and, in particular, on the "Library of Peace."

[MUDDOG]

Nothing better than hidden treasure!

IIRC there was a similar legend about the loot Alexander the Great got from Persia.

BTW I like the Byzantine empire so much, I may start calling them the Eastern Roman empire. I don’t like the term “byzantine.” IIRC it’s relatively recent usage.

I especially like the 10h century, when they were pushing back the Moslems on all fronts. My old Encyclopedia Britannica noted that their excellent noncommissioned officer corps was the terror of the army.

[SunkenCiv]

I wholeheartedly agree — calling the eastern Roman Empire Byzantine, when the capital wasn’t in Byzantium, makes no sense and never has made any sense. Byzantium ceased to exist, was renamed Constantinople, and the core of the capital was newly built on vacant areas, then the entire new city was walled. It would make as much sense to call it the Lygosian Empire, Semistratian Empire, or Chalcedonian Empire.

[SunkenCiv]

caution, language/paralyzing laughter:

Basil the Bulgar-Slayer
http://www.badassoftheweek.com/basil.html

[MUDDOG]

Love it!

[SunkenCiv]

That comment on the Fatimids led me to consider the possibility that I’m uncomfortably close to having to buy adult diapers. ;’)

[MUDDOG]

That was a good one.

I also liked the one that the picture of Greek fire was found on a trapper keeper in the ruins of Constantinople.