Emperors and Architecture: A Study of Flavian Rome

by Robin Darwall-Smith

409 pages, Paperback

Published December 31, 1996

Reviews

[nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this for an essay I'm writing, and I have just read it all in one night (because I left the essay to the last minute, of course), and honestly enjoyed it.

As a fan of architecture and Domitian, this was genuinely a fun read. Peng ass book.

Also, I'm only logging it on Goodreads because I actually read the entire thing cover to cover for this essay.

[Tim Baldini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find it hard to believe the previous reviewer read the same book as I. This is quite a remarkable book that fills a large academic gap concerning the Flavian dynasty and its buildings. Numismatic, literary, and archaeological sources are brought to bear throughout the book to bring Flavian Rome's architecture back to life and sort fact from legend. There is a good deal of analysis and scholarly interpretation on many of the entries listed in the book with lots of minutiae. Not a light summer read by any stretch, but a joy for any fan of the time period.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was clearly a ton of effort put into the research of this book. It contains, essentially, a list of architecture that has been attributed to the Flavian emperors. The extant remains are described, relevant coins and ancient literature is discussed.

Quite dull, but rather useful starting place for work on Flavian architecture in the city of Rome. Great for footnote hunting & bibliography, not so great on theory or analysis.