CITY ARCHITECTURE IN THE CLASSICAL AND LATE ANTIQUE NEAR EAST

Abstract

This volume chronicles buildings constructed in eight cities of Rome’s Levantine provinces. Those with an interest in, but little familiarity with, these contexts will benefit most from this abundantly illustrated volume. Anyone enticed by ‘Alexander’ or ‘the Successors of Muhammad’ will be underwhelmed, as Hellenistic and Islamic material receives cursory treatment. Likewise, those interested in the non-Roman cultures of the Near East or in urban planning will find coverage of such topics wanting. The preface notes a three-pronged approach: the first is an emphasis on city pairs, like an urbanistic Plutarch’s Parallel Lives; the second (broad time span) and third (longue durée) (pp. xvi–xvii) overlap. Chapter 1, ‘Introduction’, highlights three foci: the relationship of Graeco-Roman and indigenous cultures; rulers’ impacts on urban forms; and late antique urban change. The literature review does little to set an agenda. A geographic overview follows, and a brief chapter outline recapitulates much from the preface. Chapter 2, ‘Urban Planning and Structures in the Near East’, opens with an apologia on W.’s overwhelming focus on Roman monuments, then catalogues building types. Scholarly preoccupation with the monuments of the classical city, their orderly arrangement and the activities or institutions they represent goes back to F.J. Haverfield’s Ancient TownPlanning (1913) and A. von Gerkan’s Griechische Städteanlagen (1924). W.’s engagement with urban theory is minimal: discussion of armatures somehow avoids mentioning ‘armature’ or W.L. MacDonald’s Urban Appraisal (1986); pre-Hellenistic and Islamic modes of planning receive little attention despite their importance for understanding processes of urban development in the time span covered. Chapters 3–6 – ‘The Tetrapolis (Antioch and Apamea)’, ‘The Decapolis (Gerasa and Scythopolis)’, ‘Judea and Palestine (Jerusalem and Caesarea)’ and ‘The Desert Fringe (Petra and Palmyra)’ – are the meat of the volume. Historical outlines preface period-by-period alternations through each pairing; brief concluding remarks offer minimal analysis. Outright engagement with material adduced is rare (pp. 131, 133, 148–52). Concise assessments of urbanistic trends appear all too infrequently: ‘While the Roman roads [of Scythopolis] were generally straight and angles were disguised with tetrapylons, arches, or other monuments, the late antique builders were willing to employ curved roads that followed terrain, rather than cutting through the town’s topography, as at Gerasa’ (pp. 123–4). These are counterbalanced by meaningless circular statements: ‘[Apamea’s] theater is unique in the Near East, not only for its size but also for its plan, which is also unique and different from other Roman-period theaters of the Near East’ (p. 73). Chapter 7, ‘Conclusion’, weaves together the eight urban histories, but its seven pages are too little too late. Trends observed are neither insightful nor unique to these historical contexts: political, commercial and religious centres prosper; imperial favour brings construction; conflict and cataclysm cause damage, prompting redevelopment; religious changes manifest architecturally; outmoded buildings are abandoned, repurposed or despoliated; street plans change, albeit gradually etc. The keenest observation is of a shift from private benefactions to constructions initiated by political or religious officials (p. 232). W.’s closing ‘important conclusion’ is that ‘historical events were extremely important for the development of these cities’ (p. 232). Surely, this is self-evident. THE CLASSICAL REVIEW 549