Giacomo Boni (archaeologist)
Encyclopedia
Giacomo Boni was an Italian
archaeologist specializing in Roman architecture
.
Born in Venice
, Boni studied architecture
at the Academy of Fine Arts in his native city and later dedicated himself to extensive and important excavations in the Forum Romanum in Rome
. His early work as an architect in Venice involved him in the restoration of the Doge's Palace there. During this time he demonstrated his technical skill. He later studied architecture in the Accademia di Belle Arti.
In Venice in the 1880s, Boni met Horatio Brown
, who became his colleague in a shared passion for antiquities.
In 1888 he went to Rome; there in 1898 Ministro della Pubblica Istruzione G. Baccelli named him director of excavations in the Forum Romanum. Boni directed the excavations in the Forum from 1898 until his death in 1925. He was interested in the stratigraphy
of the Forum, an important advance in the science of Roman archaeology
.
His excavations led to many important discoveries, including the Iron Age
necropolis
near the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
, the Lapis Niger
, the Regia
, Galleria Cesaree, Horrea Agrippiana and other monuments. In 1907 Boni also worked on the slope of the Palatine Hill
where he discovered the Mundus
(tholos-cistern), a complex of tunnels leading to the Casa dei Grifi, the so-called Aula Isiaca, the so-called Baths of Tiberius and the base of a hut under the peristilio of the Domus Flavia.
The excavations were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
, in which he participated as a soldier. He resumed his archaeological work in 1916. He was subsequently elected senator in 1923, at which time he embraced fascism
.
Boni died in Rome: he is buried in the Orti Farnesiani on the Palatine Hill.
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
archaeologist specializing in Roman architecture
Roman architecture
Ancient Roman architecture adopted certain aspects of Ancient Greek architecture, creating a new architectural style. The Romans were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics...
.
Born in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Boni studied architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at the Academy of Fine Arts in his native city and later dedicated himself to extensive and important excavations in the Forum Romanum in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His early work as an architect in Venice involved him in the restoration of the Doge's Palace there. During this time he demonstrated his technical skill. He later studied architecture in the Accademia di Belle Arti.
In Venice in the 1880s, Boni met Horatio Brown
Horatio Brown
Horatio Robert Forbes Brown was a Scottish historian who specialized in the history of Venice and Italy.Born in Nice, he grew up in Midlothian, Scotland, was educated in England at Clifton and Oxford, and spent most of his life in Venice, publishing several books about the city...
, who became his colleague in a shared passion for antiquities.
In 1888 he went to Rome; there in 1898 Ministro della Pubblica Istruzione G. Baccelli named him director of excavations in the Forum Romanum. Boni directed the excavations in the Forum from 1898 until his death in 1925. He was interested in the stratigraphy
Stratigraphy
Stratigraphy, a branch of geology, studies rock layers and layering . It is primarily used in the study of sedimentary and layered volcanic rocks....
of the Forum, an important advance in the science of Roman archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
.
His excavations led to many important discoveries, including the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
necropolis
Necropolis
A necropolis is a large cemetery or burial ground, usually including structural tombs. The word comes from the Greek νεκρόπολις - nekropolis, literally meaning "city of the dead"...
near the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
The Temple of Antoninus and Faustina is an ancient Roman temple in Rome, adapted to the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda. It stands in the Forum Romanum, on the Via Sacra, opposite the Regia.-The temple:...
, the Lapis Niger
Lapis Niger
The Lapis Niger is an ancient shrine in the Roman Forum. Together with the associated Vulcanal it constitutes the only surviving remnants of the old Comitium, an early assembly area that preceded the Forum and is thought to derive from an archaic cult site of the 7th or 8th century BC.The black...
, the Regia
Regia
The Regia was a structure in Ancient Rome, located in the Roman Forum. It was originally the residence of the kings of Rome or at least their main headquarters, and later the office of the Pontifex Maximus, the high priest of Roman religion. It occupied a triangular patch of terrain between the...
, Galleria Cesaree, Horrea Agrippiana and other monuments. In 1907 Boni also worked on the slope of the Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
where he discovered the Mundus
Mundus
Mundus was an East Roman general during the reign of Justinian I.- Origin and early life :Mundus was of the son of Giesmus, a king of the Gepids, and nephew to another Gepid king, Trapstila. The exact date of his birth is unknown. His father was killed in battle against the Ostrogoths of Theoderic...
(tholos-cistern), a complex of tunnels leading to the Casa dei Grifi, the so-called Aula Isiaca, the so-called Baths of Tiberius and the base of a hut under the peristilio of the Domus Flavia.
The excavations were interrupted by the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in which he participated as a soldier. He resumed his archaeological work in 1916. He was subsequently elected senator in 1923, at which time he embraced fascism
Fascism
Fascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
.
Boni died in Rome: he is buried in the Orti Farnesiani on the Palatine Hill.
Further reading
- Whitehouse, David. "Boni, Giacomo", Encyclopedia of the History of Classical Archaeology. Nancy Thomson de Grummond, ed. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1996, vol. 1, pp. 171-72.
- Roma â I Fori Imperiali (1995-2008). Giacomo Boni and the Antiquarium Forense: Rediscovering an Ancient Museum (2004-2007). - a set on Flickr at www.flickr.com Martin G. Gonde, Rome - Roman Forum: Giacomo Boni and the Antiquarium Forense: Rediscovering an Ancient Museum (2004-2007).