While researching about the Baths of Caracalla, I came across a video of a lecture given by a Yale Professor, Dr. Kleiner. Her philosophy on how the Baths came into existence explain that they are the product of one Emperor's desire to build something bigger and better than that of his father. The baths are an example of this Emperor's ambitions to portray himself as a powerful and important figure in the Roman Empire.
In order to begin describing the baths, it is important to first describe the man who implemented its existence. Caracalla, who is actually named Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus, was the son of Emperor Lucius Septimus Severus who ruled in Rome from 193AD to 211AD. Septimus Severus was a military man who aimed for military glory, as many Emperor's did, however Septimus was partially responsible for the Roman government's movement into a military monarchy. He also signifies the start of the Severan Dynasty which was important due to the fact that many public and private structures were commissioned at this time. During his reign he conquered many regions and rival powers including, but not limited to, his once proclaimed Caesar (otherwise know as a junior emperor) Decimus Clodius Albinus. He then named his eldest son Caracalla his Caesar and heir to be his successor.
Septimus had two sons, Caracalla and Geta, who were known to be quarrelsome and rival each other. It was said that Caracalla was jealous of his brother's popularity with the Roman citizens and because of his envy had him murdered. Not only did he kill off his brother, but he executed his brother's friends and supporters and ordered to have his brother eradicated from history and art. He had Geta's face scrubbed out from important paintings including the one of his family portrait, but left the evidence as a way of showing and proving his power. Caracalla was thought of as a bloodthirsty and cruel Emperor who wanted to achieve military glory like his father. However, his intentions were to achieve more than his father ever did, in fact, there had even been speculation that at one point he even tried to literally stab his father in the back. There is no tangible evidence to prove this to be true, but the assumption is that this rumor would not have been out of character for him.
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| The Severan Tondo, 2nd Century, Staatliche Museum, Berlin |
Caracalla's cruelty was also demonstrated during his marriage to Fulvia Plautilla. He was married at the young age of 14 and resented this marriage greatly. He also despised her father Fulvius Plautianus who was a commander in the imperial guard. It is said that he played a part in having Plautianus killed for charges based on rumored conspiracy against the imperial dynasty. He then exiled his wife to an island where she was later killed.
Caracalla is almost always depicted in art with the look of sternness and cruelty. He was said to be insanely brutal with a sharp intelligence. Despite his harsh personal characteristics, he sought to build a bathing establishment greater than Rome had ever seen at the time. The Baths of Caracalla ended up being his greatest accomplishment during his time as Emperor.
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Caracalla, marble, Roman, 212–217 ce; in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.
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Bibliography
Bigger Is Better: The Baths of Caracalla and Other Second- and Third-Century Buildings in Rome.
Professor Kleiner. Bigger Is Better: The Baths of Caracalla and Other Second- and Third
Century Buildings in Rome. Yale Courses, 14 Sept. 2009. Web. 1 Aug. 2014.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Septimius Severus (Roman Emperor)." Encyclopedia
Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Feb. 2014. Web. 31 July 2014.
Kolb, Frank P. "Caracalla (Roman Emperor)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia
Britannica, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 31 July 2014.
