Shakespeare's Restless World 18. London Becomes Rome
May 9, 2012
A tour of how early 1600s London styled itself as a new Rome with triumphal coronation pageantry. Temporary arches and classical costumes turned the city into a stage of Latinate spectacle. Designs, Latin mottos and international tableaux reveal the reach of classical learning among playgoers.
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London Saw Itself As Roman
- London around 1600 conceived itself as the living heir of ancient Rome, blending Roman identity into its landmarks and rituals.
- The Tower of London and royal ceremonies were popularly imagined as direct continuations of Roman conquest and triumphs.
Seven Triumphal Arches For James I
- On 15 March 1604 James I processed from the Tower in seven temporary triumphal arches made of wood and plaster.
- The arches rose up to 90 feet high and staged plays, music and tableaux at stops along the route.
Londinium: London Portrayed As Rome
- The first arch fused Roman form with a model of London labelled 'Londinium', equating London with Rome visually and rhetorically.
- Classical symbols and Latin mottos made the city appear as the equal of Rome to spectators.