This book discusses various aspects of city gates in the Western Roman Empire: Italy, Spain, Gaul, Germany and Britain. In these countries many Roman city gates are to be found, sometimes still in a good condition, like the Porta Nigra in Trier and the Porta Appia in Rome.
Similarly to medieval or early-modern city gates, Roman city gates did not all have the same design but show an evolution over time and depending on the circumstances: sometimes they appear as simple, narrow passages (which were easy to defend), sometimes as impressively monumental complexes (which were comfortable for increased traffic and were comparable in their function to triumphal arches: both served as symbols of urbanitas, expressing Roman power).
But city gates had more functions than being a part of the city defense system and the road infrastructure. In many cases, they played a role in the supply of drinking water and the removal of waste water. Furthermore they were connected to social and magico-religious aspects of city life.
This book brings together all available material concerning those city gates in the Roman West that are preserved in a good enough condition to be described and discussed. It focusses on the forms and functions of the gates. In addition, it comprises textual sources (both literary and epigraphic material) containing information on the uses of city gates.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
I. Predecessors
1. City gates in the Middle East, Greece and Gaul
II. Forms
2. The first city gates: Wide enough for traffic
3. From single-portalled to three-portalled gates
4. The Empire: Imposing city gate complexes
5. Late Antiquity: Back to city defence
6. Five city gates in more detail
7. Summary
III. Functions
8. City defence
9. Traffic
10. Water management
11. Status and decoration
12. Watching and toll
13. Meeting points and economy
14. Religion and magic
15. Summary
Summary and conclusion
Appendix 1. Dating city gates
Appendix 2. Plans of city gate types
Appendix 3. Dimensions of significant city gates
Bibliography
Indexes
Author(s): Cornelis van Tilburg
Publisher: Sidestone Press
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 276
City: Leiden
Acknowledgements
Preface
Introduction
Aim of this publication
This book in relation to previous research
Structure of the book
Part I
Predecessors
1. City gates in the Middle East, Greece and Gaul
Introduction
The first city gates
Greek city gates
Gallic city gates
Part II.
Forms
2. The first city gates: Wide enough for traffic
Introduction
Etruscan city gates
The city gates of Pompeii
The first city gates of Rome
3. From single-portalled to three-portalled gates
Introduction
Double-portalled gates: symmetrical and asymmetrical city gates
The rise of the three-portalled city gate
4. The Empire: Imposing city gate complexes
Introduction
City gates with a semicircular forecourt: Fréjus
City gates with one floor
City gates with two floors
City gates in Germany and Britain
Gates in army camps
5. Late Antiquity: Back to city defence
Introduction
Cities are reinforced: London and Trier
City gates in the Aurelian Wall
Depopulation and struggle
6. Five city gates in more detail
Introduction
Porta all’Arco, Volterra (a)
Porta di Ercolano, Pompeii (b)
Porta Paphia, Cologne (c)
Porta Nigra, Trier (d)
Porta Appia, Rome (e)
7. Summary of part I and II
Part III.
Functions
8. City defence
Introduction
How many city gates?
How many city gates in Rome?
Strong and weak city gates
A gate under attack
9. Traffic
Introduction
Positioning of city gates
Traffic flow
Rush hour traffic and extramural buildings
10. Water management
Introduction
City gates and drinking water supply
City gates and wastewater discharge
11. Status and decoration
Introduction
Approaching a city gate
Decoration
Etruscan city gates
Late republic and imperial period
Late Antiquity
12. Watching and toll
Introduction
City gate facilities
Opening- and closing times and gatekeepers
Toll
13. Meeting points and economy
Introduction
City gates as a meeting point
City gates and economy
Welcome and farewell
14. Religion and magic
Introduction
City gates, names and deities
Janus
Rites of passage
The pomerium
Pomerium, gates and arches
15. Summary
Summary and conclusion
Appendices
Appendix 1. Dating city gates
Porta di Ercolano, Pompeii
City gates with two floors: Verona, Turin and Trier
Appendix 2. Plans of city gate types
Appendix 3. Dimensions of significant city gates
Bibliography
Abbreviations and classical sources
Epigraphical sources
Modern literature
Figure credits
Index locorum
Index of city gates
Index of other geographical names
General index
