EDWARD'S LECTURE NOTES:
More notes at http://tanguay.info/learntracker
C O U R S E 
Roman Architecture
Diana Kleiner, Yale University
https://www.coursera.org/course/romanarchitecture
C O U R S E   L E C T U R E 
The Meier Museum and the Jewel of the Lungotevere
Notes taken on February 28, 2014 by Edward Tanguay
Richard Meier Museum
built to enclose the Ara Pacis [AHR-ah PAHK-is]
the original location of the Ara Pacis was elsewhere in the vicinity, ended up beneath a palace
it was Mussolini who sponsored the project to bring all the pieces together for display
together with other buildings in Mussolini's fascist architectural style
Meier was careful to use at least some travertine in this structure
inscription on building to north of square
flying victory figure carrying a fasces, or bundle of twigs and rods, that the magistrate's lictors used to carry
Mussolini's name was scratched out of the inscription on the building
his name has now been officially refilled (!)
used to be on the ancient Via Flaminia (now the Via del Corso), the street that Augustus used when returning victorious from Spain and Gaul
had in front of it an obelisk which was brought from Egypt that was part of a sundial, the shadow would fall on the Ara Pacis on Augustus' birthday
on obelisk a mention of the victory over Cleopatra and Antony at the Battle of Actium, as well as a mention of his victories in Spain and Gaul
*** for the Romans, victory in battle and victory over death were essentially synonymous
the mausoleum dates to 28-23 BC, earlier than the Ara Pacis
Richard Meier museum is the first modern building that has been put up in the center of Rome since the time of Mussolini
many people felt that it didn't fit the tenor of city or suit the environment
2006: grafitti of the building, "Meglio gli architetti di secoli fa..." (architects of the past were better)
but when you go into the door
impressive plaster casts of Augustus and his family
impressive interior: egg crate ceiling
at night: the Ara Pacis is lit up "like a jewel in a jewel box"