Belmont Mansion vs. Roman Temple
There are many similarities between a roman temple and Adelicia’s Belmont mansion. Adelicia’s mansion was a clear sign of her wealth, just as a roman temple was also a reflection of the success and power of the ruler that ordered it’s construction. In terms of Architecture, the mansion is similar to roman temples in how it is frontal, with an obvious entrance and stairs leading up to the door. The stairs indicate that the building is raised, which is also characteristic of a roman temple. The mansion greatly resembles the temple found in the Forum of Augustus, with the fountain placed just in front of it replacing the Chariot of Augustus. The romans liked to break the rules when it came to architecture, and this can be seen with the mansion in how all of the pillars are of different sizes and dimensions. Many temples housed statues that channelled the presence of gods or goddesses, and in a similar way Adelicia was also a goddess of her time, with all of her wealth and power, and the mansion was her home. In addition, the ancient temples used the cover of beauty to mask the dark happenings of the time, like the ongoing Civil Wars. Similarly, Adelicia’s mansion was in it’s prime during the American Civil War, and the Battle of Nashville was fought almost right outside it’s lawn. However, now when we view the mansion, we are distracted by the beauty of the building and do not consider the violence and slavery that took place all around it.
