ROME X PERIPHERY

Patterson investigates the impact of environmental facrors and the effects
of death and disease on urban organisation. Pattcrson focuses on the topography
of the city of Rome, especially its periphery. What boundaries
surrounded the city? and what activities did they seek to exclude and
COntrol? The boundaries defined ritual, military and economie spheres of
activity, but these individuai boundaries were surprisingly flexible. As the
cityexpanded its periphery was redefined and reordered. Ineleed the margins
of the city were not purely associated with negative activities, the burial of
the deael and noxious, unhealthy industry. Instead the periphery could be an
acrive space - aggrandised and monumentalised - as is so well illustrated by
an examination of the roads, such as the Via Annia, which led from the city.
When we picture the outskirts of Rome, the roads, walls anel gates, ir is the
tombs of the dead which often spring to mind. Yet these need to be placed
in a wieler environment and alongside temples, arches, gardens, houses,
villas and workshops. The suburb was not just characterised by negative
associations such as death and disease; instead it had the potential to display
honour and prestige, even if some of the more mundane and seedy activities
of the area did, in the final scenario, serve to unelermine any lasting sense of
glory.