The Latin term praetorium (also prætorium and pretorium) originally identified the tent of a general within a Roman castrum (encampment), and derived from the title praetor, which identified a Roman magistrate.[1] Originally, Praetor ("leader") was the title of the ranking civil servant in the Roman Republic, but later identified a rank of office below the rank of consul.
The war-council meetings held in the tent of a general gave administrative and juridical meanings to the term praetorium, a usage continued into the Byzantine Empire, where the term praitōrion identified the residence of the governor of a city. The term also designated the headquarters of the Roman emperor,[1] as well as the camp of the Praetorian Guard stationed in Rome.[1]
Due to the number of uses for the word praetorium, it is difficult to describe; a praetorium could be a large building, a permanent tent, or in some cases even be mobile.
ExteriorEdit
Since the praetorium originated as the officer's quarters it could be a tent, but was often a large structure. The important design aspect of the praetorium is not symmetry, but rather proportion of one element to another.[2] The praetorium was constructed around two open courts, which correspond to the atrium and peristyle of the Roman house. Most praetoriums had areas surrounding them delegated for exercise and drills conducted by the troops. The area ahead of the camp would be occupied by the tents housing the commander's soldiers.[3][4][5] They were made with brick, covered in plaster, with many arches and columns.
Segments of a sportulae inscribed in a stone tablet
InteriorEdit
Within the praetoriumRoman officers would be able to conduct official business within special designed and designated areas.[6] A praetorium would normally display information regarding the sportulae (schedule of fees and taxes) of its region carved directly into the walls of its main public areas. This would often be located near the office of the financial procurator.[7]
Biblical referenceEdit
In the New Testament, praetorium refers to the palace of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect of Judea, which is believed to have been in one of the residential palaces built by Herod the Great for himself in Jerusalem, which at that time was also the residence of his son, king Herod II.[8] According to the New Testament, this is where Jesus Christ was tried and condemned to death.[9] Praetorium is variously translated as "common hall", "governor's house", "judgment hall", "Pilate's house", or "palace" (see Gospel of John 18:28, Mark 15:16). Additionally, Paul was held in Herod's Praetorium.[10]
Outer view of the supposed praetorium at Musmiye, Syria, demolished in 1890
ReferencesEdit
Notes
^ abcSmith, William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 2 ed., s.v. "Praetorium". London: John Murray, 1872.
^Evans, Edith . "Military Architects and Building Design in Roman Britain". Britannia 25 (1994): 159–161.
^Shipley, F. W. "The Saalburg Collection". The Classical Weekly Vol. 2. No. 13 (1909): 100–102.
^Frere, S. S., M. W. C. Hassall, and R. S. O. Tomlin. "Roman Britain in 1988". Britannia Vol. 20 (1989): 257–345.
^Walthew, C. V. "Modular Planning in First-Century A.D. Romano-British Auxiliary Forts". Britannia Vol. 36 (2005): 301.
^Magness, Jodi. "Masada 1995: Discoveries at Camp F". The Biblical Archaeologist Vol. 59. No. 3 (1996): 181.
^De Segni, L., J. Patrich, and K. Holum. "A Schedule of Fees (Sportulae) for Official Services from Caesarea Maritima, Israel". Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik 145 (2003): 273–300.
^Murphy-O'Connor, Jerome. The Holy Land: An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700, Oxford University Press (5th edition): New York (2008), p. 23. ISBN978-0-19-923666-4.
^Burrows, Millar. "The Fortress Antonia and the Praetorium". The Biblical Archaeologist 1. No. 3 (1938): 17–19.
praetorium, also, roman, name, trebnje, slovenia, site, east, yorkshire, county, england, latin, term, praetorium, also, prætorium, pretorium, originally, identified, tent, general, within, roman, castrum, encampment, derived, from, title, praetor, which, iden. Praetorium was also the Roman name for Trebnje in Slovenia and for a site in East Yorkshire county England The Latin term praetorium also praetorium and pretorium originally identified the tent of a general within a Roman castrum encampment and derived from the title praetor which identified a Roman magistrate 1 Originally Praetor leader was the title of the ranking civil servant in the Roman Republic but later identified a rank of office below the rank of consul The war council meetings held in the tent of a general gave administrative and juridical meanings to the term praetorium a usage continued into the Byzantine Empire where the term praitōrion identified the residence of the governor of a city The term also designated the headquarters of the Roman emperor 1 as well as the camp of the Praetorian Guard stationed in Rome 1 Contents 1 Description 1 1 Exterior 1 2 Interior 2 Biblical reference 3 Gallery 4 References 5 External linksDescription EditDue to the number of uses for the word praetorium it is difficult to describe a praetorium could be a large building a permanent tent or in some cases even be mobile Exterior Edit Since the praetorium originated as the officer s quarters it could be a tent but was often a large structure The important design aspect of the praetorium is not symmetry but rather proportion of one element to another 2 The praetorium was constructed around two open courts which correspond to the atrium and peristyle of the Roman house Most praetoriums had areas surrounding them delegated for exercise and drills conducted by the troops The area ahead of the camp would be occupied by the tents housing the commander s soldiers 3 4 5 They were made with brick covered in plaster with many arches and columns nbsp Segments of a sportulae inscribed in a stone tabletInterior Edit Within the praetorium Roman officers would be able to conduct official business within special designed and designated areas 6 A praetorium would normally display information regarding the sportulae schedule of fees and taxes of its region carved directly into the walls of its main public areas This would often be located near the office of the financial procurator 7 Biblical reference EditIn the New Testament praetorium refers to the palace of Pontius Pilate the Roman prefect of Judea which is believed to have been in one of the residential palaces built by Herod the Great for himself in Jerusalem which at that time was also the residence of his son king Herod II 8 According to the New Testament this is where Jesus Christ was tried and condemned to death 9 Praetorium is variously translated as common hall governor s house judgment hall Pilate s house or palace see Gospel of John 18 28 Mark 15 16 Additionally Paul was held in Herod s Praetorium 10 Gallery Edit nbsp Model of the praetorium in Roman Cologne nbsp Outer view of the supposed praetorium at Musmiye Syria demolished in 1890References EditNotes a b c Smith William Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities 2 ed s v Praetorium London John Murray 1872 Evans Edith Military Architects and Building Design in Roman Britain Britannia 25 1994 159 161 Shipley F W The Saalburg Collection The Classical Weekly Vol 2 No 13 1909 100 102 Frere S S M W C Hassall and R S O Tomlin Roman Britain in 1988 Britannia Vol 20 1989 257 345 Walthew C V Modular Planning in First Century A D Romano British Auxiliary Forts Britannia Vol 36 2005 301 Magness Jodi Masada 1995 Discoveries at Camp F The Biblical Archaeologist Vol 59 No 3 1996 181 De Segni L J Patrich and K Holum A Schedule of Fees Sportulae for Official Services from Caesarea Maritima Israel Zeitschrift fur Papyrologie und Epigraphik 145 2003 273 300 Murphy O Connor Jerome The Holy Land An Oxford Archaeological Guide from Earliest Times to 1700 Oxford University Press 5th edition New York 2008 p 23 ISBN 978 0 19 923666 4 Burrows Millar The Fortress Antonia and the Praetorium The Biblical Archaeologist 1 No 3 1938 17 19 Acts 23 35 New American Standard Bible External links EditPraetorium at Housesteads along Hadrian s Wall International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Praetorium Agrippinae Valkenburg Bible Study The Praetorium Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Praetorium amp oldid 1117170250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
