Building in words the process of construction in Latin literature / Bettina Reitz-Joosse.
| Author/creator | Reitz-Joosse, Bettina |
| Other author | Oxford University Press. |
| Format | Electronic |
| Publication Info | New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2021] |
| Description | xii, 271 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 25 cm. |
| Supplemental Content | Full text available from Oxford Scholarship Online |
| Subjects |
| Series | Classical culture and society series Classical culture and society. ^A602305 |
| Contents | Introduction -- 1. Making memories : representing construction in Rome -- 2. Debating the draining of the Fucine Lake -- 3. Writing cities, founding texts : the city as poetological metaphor -- 4. Engineering poetry : the aesthetics of construction in Statius' Silvae -- 5. Walls of song : the myth of Amphion -- 6. Conclusion. Construction in reverse -- Epilogue. Constructing romanità : the obelisk at the Foro Mussolini -- Bibliography. |
| Abstract | "Building in Words explores the relation between text and architecture in the Roman world from a new angle. Ancient Roman viewers were not only confronted with finished monuments, but also frequently with buildings under construction. They experienced noisy building work, disruptive transportation of materials, and sometimes spectacular engineering feats. This book analyses how Roman writers responded to the process of building and construction in their works. For Roman authors, telling stories of architectural creation served to give meaning to finished monuments. Representing a building's construction might encourage admiration of its artistry, cost, or labour. On the other hand, it could also highlight morally problematic aspects of construction, especially in connection with large-scale engineering projects. In offering descriptions of the process of creating architecture, writers also reflect on the creation of their own works. The metaphor of construction for literary composition is polyvalent: writers use it to comment on the aesthetics or ambition of their literary work, to articulate the power and durability, but also the fragility of literature. This monograph places literary texts of the early Roman empire in dialogue with epigraphic and archaeological material. Through its focus on the process of building, it furthers our understanding of the aesthetics of both architecture and literature in ancient Rome"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 233-254) and index. |
| Access restriction | Available only to authorized users. |
| Technical details | Mode of access: World Wide Web |
| Genre/form | Electronic books. |
| LCCN | 2021029467 |
| ISBN | 9780197610688 (hardback) |
| ISBN | (epub) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Resources | Access Content Online | ✔ Available |