Archaeologists have long known that ancient Greek and Roman buildings and statuary were brightly colored, painted with various stark hues, quite unlike the pure white marble monoliths artists and architects of later generations would use to replicate the style.
Recent research by a team lead by Professor Steven Fine of Yeshiva University has reconstructed the Arch of Titus, the Roman memorial commemorating the sack of Jerusalem and the Destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD, using the full range of colors of its original form.
Bearing a relief of Romans bearing booty, including the Temple Menorah, back from conquered Judea, the arch originally was colored in bright white, blue, green, yellow and others colors, the new research shows.
"There is a western trope of black and white being signs of purity,” Fine said in an interview with the Israeli daily Haaretz. "That's why we live in a 'white' city. That's why New Yorkers wear black and white (and brown) to work. Most people hate the Roman statues in color. They think it looks like a piñata."
"It has become clear only in the last 20 or 30 years that the ancient world was a colorful place,” Fine continued, adding that he had an unusual interpretation of the monument’s purpose.
"It wasn't about conquering the Jews. They were part of the empire. It was a fake The Judean war, which started under Nero, was Vespasian's claim to authority because he won. But it was just a put-down of a local rebellion in a pesky province, not a foreign war. They played it up to glorify Vespasian and solidify his dynasty and glory,” he said.
