Ancient Rome

Children's Literature - Kristin Harris

Rome was first settled about 2,800 years ago. It grew into a small kingdom that became a republic in 500 B.C when the citizens decided they wanted to select their own leaders. The Roman Republic continued to grow and, eventually, Julius Caesar seized power. Subsequently, the Roman Empire dominated Europe, North Africa and the Middle East until it was crushed by Germanic invaders in 476 A.D. The art and culture of Rome spread far and wide during this period, influencing many cultures. Roman sculpture found its inspiration in Greek sculpture, but placed a greater emphasis on realism. In addition to freestanding sculpture, the Roman sculptors liked to work in relief. Trajans Column is one of the greatest examples of this kind of bas-relief sculpture, telling the story of the Roman victory over the Dacians by Emperor Trajan. Roman sculptures have been found all over the Mediterranean region and help us understand life in ancient times. The Romans also excelled at wall paintings, mosaics, metal work, and pottery. Art projects to help readers understand the procedures for making Roman objects include making a relief sculpture of a Gorgon head out of salt dough, a mosaic out of painted clay and a Roman vase from air-drying clay. Pasta may also be painted and strung to create replicas of Roman jewelry. The illustrations are informative, but not inspiring.