The Puteoli Marble Block

The grayish white marble was imported from greece and was used at various times in two different impe rial monuments erected in the wealthy harbor city of puteoli on the bay of naples 3 although it has been known for over 90 years the puteoli stone has re ceived little scholarly attention in its own right 4 in.

The puteoli marble block.

The monument was erected by the town of puteoli modern pozzuoli near naples in thanks to the emperor probably for a new road. Dominating the new roman world gallery is an internationally famous military relief once part of a commemorative arch for the emperor trajan erected in 102 ce at ancient puteoli near naples. Puteoli is located within the phlegraean fields a caldera measuring 8 miles 13 km in diameter most of which is submerged. It includes 24 volcanic craters and other volcanic terrain features.

Known today as pozzuoli puteoli was a harbor city located on the north side of the gulf of naples about five miles 8 km west of naples. The puteoli marble block is an example of material reused and repurposed. The face that would have been visible on the arch is a relief panel depicting members of trajan s praetorian guard. Puteoli was the great emporium for the alexandrian grain ships and other ships from all over the roman world.

The puteoli marble block relief from the trajanic arch. The roman naval base at nearby misenum housed the largest naval fleet in the ancient world. A recurring feature of imperial history is that where an unpopular emperor was violently removed from power whether assassinated or usurped by a military coup his images were also violently deposed. The monument was dedicated to him by the town of pozzuoli located near naples italy and it may have been set up to thank the emperor for his help with new road construction.

Initially the block was carved with a framed inscription and was part of a larger monument to the roman emperor domitian. It also was the main hub for goods exported from campania including blown glass mosaics wrought iron and marble. Use custom templates to tell the right story for your business. The puteoli marble block.

Puteoli marble block statue base to emperor domitian ad 81 96 penn museum the potency of these imperial images is further testified to their fate following the death of an emperor. The puteoli marble block remained in situ during the years between domitian s condemnation and emperor trajan s reign in ad 98 117 and in this way his memory was shamed and attacked. The marble block was reused in an arch that commemorated trajan as the emperor who had continued the via domitiana.