Damnatio memoriae aeterna est? Reconstructing Lost Memories of the Flavian Dynasty in Early Imperial Rome

Abstract

In 68 CE, the Roman Senate condemned Nero's memory (damnatio memoriae) and theJulio-Claudian dynasty came to an end. When the Flavians rose to power the following year, theywere faced with the immense undertaking of legitimizing their reign. Instead of undermining thecredibility of the Julio-Claudians as a whole, they capitalized on Nero's damnatio and began tosystematically counter his building projects. The Flavians' building program surpassed Nero'sthrough the combined emphasis on spatial relationships, multisensory experiences, andarchitectural design that reinforced traditional Roman hierarchies.