The Urban Image of Augustan Rome

by Diane Favro

The Urban Image of Augustan Rome examines the idea and experience of the ancient city at a critical moment, when Rome became an Imperial capital. Lacking dignity, unity, and a clear image during the Republic, the urban image of Rome became focused under the control of Augustus, who transformed the city physically and conceptually. This book explores for the first time the motives for urban intervention, methods for implementation and the socio-political context of the Augustan period, as well as broader design issues such as formal urban strategies and definitions of urban imagery.

Genres: History

372 pages, Paperback

First published June 28, 1996

Reviews

[Rhiannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favro is a dynamic writer who manages to make a subject that can be tedious and dry, architecture, into something vivid and engaging. This book precedes her work on digital reconstruction of the Roman city and one can definitely see portents of the coming attraction. She provides a work that satisfies both scholars and lay minds alike; she uses sufficient evidence to prove her point yet she attempts to explain the political and religious events and motivations behind the building projects to those who may not be familiar with Roman architecture or the reign of Augustus. All in all a fantastic read that will teach extensively about the Roman urban image and the construction of the city as we see it today. This book has been invaluable to me due to its diagrams and explanations of the city itself, especially in the sections that delineate how Augustus and his predecessors were influenced by the art and architecture of ancient Greece.