LiveJournal vs. Paper due tmr
The Tower of the Winds is situated on the eastern side the Roman Agora in Athens. This later agora was built only slightly to the east of the original and much better known Athenian Agora. Its date of completion is still hotly contested among scholars, but is generally believed to have been built between 100-37 BC. [17] Some scholars have proposed that it considerably older, placing it as early as c. 200 BC and as late as the Augustan Period. This is problematic since (for latter) earlier literary sources make clear references to the completed Tower. These sources give the widely acknowledged terminus post quem of 37 BC. [18] This timeframe is one the reasons that the Tower has largely eluded being firmly classified as Hellenistic or Roman; it was constructed during a period of transition. The Hellenistic Age was drawing to a close as Roman power was ascending. Therefore, it remains unclear whether Greek art created in Athens at this time should be interpreted as Hellenistic or Roman. Theories have been put forward suggesting that the Tower of the Winds was planned and/or financed by Julius Caesar himself. [19] This would mean that the Tower itself might have been a form of propaganda, possibly used to win the favour of the local Athenian population who were not fond of Roman rule. Perhaps Caesar used it to reassure Athens that they had not been replaced as the cultural and educational centre of the Western World. In any case, if Caesar in fact planned the Tower, it would only be appropriate to call it a Roman building.
In his article, Hermann J. Kienast argues a rather different view. He argues that the architecture of the building is, as a whole, very unique and has nothing similar to which it can be confidently compared. The octagonal shape alone is almost unheard of in Greece. [20]
[1] Robinson 1943: p. 293
[2] Noble, J.V. & D.J. De Solla Prince. 1968. “The Water Clock in the Tower of the Winds” AJA 72: p. 345
[3] Robinson 1943: p. 293
[4] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 353
[5] Robinson 1943: p. 295
[6] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 349
[7] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 350
[8] Noble and De Solla Prince 1968: p. 353-354
[9] Stuart, J. & N. Revett. 1762. The Antiquities of Athens I London p. 21
[10] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 21
[11] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 21-22
[12] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[13] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[14] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[15] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 23
[16] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 23
[17] Robinson, H.S. 1943. “The Tower of the Winds and the Roman Market Place” AJA 47: p. 298
[18] Robinson 1943: p. 299
[19] Robinson 1943: p. 302
[20] Hoff, M.C. & S.I. Rotroff. 1997. The Romanization of Athens. Oxbow Books: Oxford. P. 59
Sexy yes, I know. Thats all I have time for right now.
In his article, Hermann J. Kienast argues a rather different view. He argues that the architecture of the building is, as a whole, very unique and has nothing similar to which it can be confidently compared. The octagonal shape alone is almost unheard of in Greece. [20]
[1] Robinson 1943: p. 293
[2] Noble, J.V. & D.J. De Solla Prince. 1968. “The Water Clock in the Tower of the Winds” AJA 72: p. 345
[3] Robinson 1943: p. 293
[4] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 353
[5] Robinson 1943: p. 295
[6] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 349
[7] Noble & De Solla Prince 1968: p. 350
[8] Noble and De Solla Prince 1968: p. 353-354
[9] Stuart, J. & N. Revett. 1762. The Antiquities of Athens I London p. 21
[10] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 21
[11] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 21-22
[12] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[13] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[14] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 22
[15] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 23
[16] Stuart & Revett 1762: p. 23
[17] Robinson, H.S. 1943. “The Tower of the Winds and the Roman Market Place” AJA 47: p. 298
[18] Robinson 1943: p. 299
[19] Robinson 1943: p. 302
[20] Hoff, M.C. & S.I. Rotroff. 1997. The Romanization of Athens. Oxbow Books: Oxford. P. 59
Sexy yes, I know. Thats all I have time for right now.