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Representing Urbanism in the Time of Trajan
The emperor Trajan was widely known in antiquity for his investments into the infrastructure of the Roman Empire, including building or rebuilding long stretches of its network of roads, and restructuring the urban fabric of Rome itself. To this day, the archaeological sites of the Forum, Markets, and Column of Trajan remain some of the most distinctive physical attestations of the grandeur of ancient Rome; numerous other building activities are recorded in written sources.
This lecture, by Nathaniel B. Jones, associate professor of art history and archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis, will explore Trajan’s impact on Roman urbanism, with a particular focus on representations of building projects and other important urban markers on objects in the exhibition Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan.
Mosaic with Fish (detail), end of the 2nd–beginning of the 3rd century CE; Roman, Imperial period; 23 1/2 x 21 x 1 3/8 inches; The National Roman Museum 2026.100
About the speaker
Nathaniel Jones is director of undergraduate studies and associate professor of art history and archaeology at Washington University in St. Louis. His primary avenue of research focuses on the intersections of artistic production, art theory, and social practice in Greco-Roman antiquity. He teaches courses across the visual and material culture of the ancient Mediterranean world and beyond. In these courses, he aims to cultivate the development of a critical perspective onto the past and of the analytical and rhetorical tools necessary to present ideas clearly.
Ticket information
When available, tickets for this program may be reserved in person at the Museum’s welcome desks or through MetroTix. All tickets reserved through MetroTix incur a service charge; the service charge is waived for tickets reserved at the Museum.
