Roman Imperialism and Civic Patronage Form, Meaning, and Ideology in Monumental Fountain Complexes

In this book, Brenda Longfellow examines one of the features of Roman Imperial cities, the monumental civic fountain. Built in cities throughout the Roman Empire during the first through third centuries AD, these fountains were imposing in size, frequently adorned with grand sculptures, and often placed in highly trafficked areas. Over twenty-five of these urban complexes can be associated with emperors. Dr Longfellow situates each of these examples within its urban environment and investigates the edifice as a product of an individual patron and a particular historical and geographical context. She also considers the role of civic patronage in fostering a dialogue between imperial and provincial elites with the local urban environment. Tracing the development of the genre across the empire, she illuminates the motives and ideologies of imperial and local benefactors in Rome and the provinces and explores the complex interplay of imperial power, patronage, and the local urban environment.

Introduction; 1. Precedents for Roman monumental civic fountains; 2. Innovative designs: the Flavian fountains in Rome; 3. Rome in the provinces: monumental civic fountains dedicated to Domitian and Trajan; 4. Emperors abroad: Hadrian and Roman nymphaea in Greece; 5. Variation and innovation: Hadrian and local elites in Asia Minor; 6. Severan emperors and the return of imperial nymphaea to Rome; 7. Imperial patronage and urban display of Roman monumental fountains and nymphaea.

Brenda Longfellow is Assistant Professor of Ancient Art at the University of Iowa, where she was awarded the James N. Murray Faculty Award for teaching, research, and service. She has received fellowships from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation and the Loeb Classical Library Foundation. Her work has been published in The Art Bulletin.

In this book, Brenda Longfellow examines one of the features of Roman Imperial cities, the monumental civic fountain. Built in cities throughout the Roman Empire during the first through third centuries AD, these fountains were imposing in size, frequently adorned with grand sculptures, and often placed in highly trafficked areas. Over twenty-five of these urban complexes can be associated with emperors. Dr Longfellow situates each of these examples within its urban environment and investigates the edifice as a product of an individual patron and a particular historical and geographical context. She also considers the role of civic patronage in fostering a dialogue between imperial and provincial elites with the local urban environment. Tracing the development of the genre across the empire, she illuminates the motives and ideologies of imperial and local benefactors in Rome and the provinces and explores the complex interplay of imperial power, patronage, and the local urban environment.