Meta Description: Join Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle as they explore Neoclassical architecture in Washington D.C., the influence of the Latin language on American monuments, and why George Washington was sculpted shirtless.
Introduction: Lounge Wear in the Vomitorium
Welcome back to the “vomitorium,” listeners! In Episode 62 of the Ad Navseam Podcast, hosts Dr. David Noe and Dr. Jeff Winkle are feeling relaxed—perhaps too relaxed. While Dr. Winkle is sporting his “comfy lounge pants” and a Clyde’s Drive-In t-shirt, Dr. Noe remains formal, having missed the chance to change into his own version of lounge wear: a “looser necktie” or a “coat with fewer pockets”.
Despite the casual attire, the topic is anything but informal. This episode dives deep into Neoclassicism, the movement that shaped the Western world between 1750 and 1850. Specifically, the hosts explore how the Latin language and Greco-Roman civilization influenced the architecture of the United States’ capital, Washington D.C.
Before diving into the marble and stone, the hosts share a shout-out to a listener named Nico from Innsbruck, Austria. Nico’s passion for Classical Philology highlights a global struggle: the Latin language and Greek are often removed from school syllabi, yet enthusiasts continue to keep the flame alive.
What is Neoclassicism?
To understand Washington D.C., one must understand the aesthetic movement that built it. Neoclassicism was largely a reaction against the art forms of the late Baroque or Rococo periods.
- Baroque/Rococo: Characterized as “over-detailed,” “asymmetrical,” “wild,” and “florid”.
- Neoclassicism: A return to “simple geometric forms” and a pushback against wildness.
As Dr. Winkle notes, history often fluctuates between these two poles—the Apollonian (civilization, order) and the Dionysian (wild nature). Neoclassicism was an attempt to return to the Apollonian order of the Latin language speakers and their Greek predecessors.
However, this revival was paradoxical. Thomas Brumbaugh, writing in 1960, noted that these artists looked to “broken fragments of dead Greece and Rome” to express their own age. It was a “self-conscious devotion to an ancient civilization” that often served as an excuse for a “romantic and sometimes effusive extension of themselves”.
Essentially, the Neoclassicists viewed the ancient world through rose-colored glasses. They idealized the white marble ruins, forgetting (or ignoring) that ancient temples were originally painted in garish “pinks and blues and greens and gold leaf”.
The Washington Monument: An Egyptian Skewer?
The tour of D.C. begins with the Washington Monument. At first glance, an Egyptian-style obelisk seems out of place in a city dedicated to a “Greek revival.” Why an obelisk?
Dr. Noe explains the Roman connection. After the conquest of Cleopatra, the Emperor Augustus wanted to beautify Rome, turning it from a city of brick to a city of marble. He brought back massive granite obelisks from Egypt to decorate the city. Today, there are 13 obelisks in Rome—eight from Egypt and five Roman copies.
By building an obelisk, the American architects were not just referencing Egypt; they were referencing Rome’s appropriation of Egypt.
Fun Fact about the Latin Language (via Greek):
The word “obelisk” comes from the Greek word obeliskos, which is a diminutive of obelos. It literally means a “barbecue skewer” or a “spit.” When the Greeks saw these massive Egyptian monuments, they dismissed them with a pejorative nickname: “We got those at home. That’s just a little barbecue skewer”.
The Washington Monument stands 555 feet tall, intentionally slightly higher than the Great Pyramid of Giza, to show that the new republic had outdone the ancients.
The Jefferson Memorial: A Pantheon on the Potomac
Next is the Jefferson Memorial, built between 1939 and 1943. This structure is a direct nod to the Pantheon in Rome, a building Thomas Jefferson admired greatly.
- The Design: It features 54 Ionic columns and an open-air circular chamber.
- The Inspiration: Jefferson was a “dome guy.” He incorporated a dome into his own home, Monticello, and the University of Virginia.
- The Difference: unlike the Pantheon, the Jefferson Memorial is an open portico, not an enclosed building, and it lacks the famous oculus (eye) in the roof.
Dr. Winkle notes that the Ionic order—with its scroll-like volutes—is his favorite because it strikes a “golden mean” between the severe Doric and the flowery Corinthian.
The Supreme Court: A Temple of Justice
Built between 1932 and 1935, the Supreme Court Building was envisioned as a “grand temple of justice.” Before this, the Supreme Court met in the old Senate chamber or even the basement of the Capitol.
This building leans toward the more ornate, almost Baroque style of Neoclassicism, featuring Corinthian columns. While impressive today, it was roundly criticized when it opened:
- Justice Harlan Fiske Stone called it “bombastically pretentious” and inappropriate for a “quiet group of old boys”.
- Another Justice remarked that they would look like “nine black beetles in the Temple of Karnak”.
- Howard Brubaker of The New Yorker delivered the ultimate burn: it had “fine big windows to throw the New Deal out of”.
The Shirtless Washington: A Latin Language Mystery
Perhaps the most bizarre example of Neoclassicism discussed is the statue of Enthroned Washington by Horatio Greenough (1840).
Originally intended for the Capitol Rotunda, this statue depicts George Washington shirtless, with a “cut, god-like torso” and a Roman sword, looking like a cross between a philosopher and Zeus. It was so controversial and uncomfortable for viewers that it was moved outside, and eventually to the Smithsonian.
The Latin Inscription:
The statue features a Latin inscription that reads:
Simulacrum istud ad magnum libertatis exemplum nec sine ipsa duraturum Horatius Greenough faciebat.
Translation: “Horatio Greenough made this image as a great example of freedom, which will not survive without freedom itself”.
Even in 1840, artists felt the need to use the Latin language to lend gravitas to their work—even if that work involved a semi-nude Founding Father.
Conclusion: Potatoes and Problems
As the hosts wrap up this architectural tour, they remind us that our view of the ancient world is often filtered through these 18th and 19th-century reinterpretations. We see white marble and solemnity, while the ancients saw color and chaos.
Gustatory Parting Shot:
Dr. Winkle leaves us with a quote from Douglas Adams regarding the limits of problem-solving:
“It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.”
Whether you are building a temple to justice or just trying to get through the day, remember: Neoclassicism may be grand, but it is always a little bit romantic.
Valete!
Resources for the Latin Learner
- Hackett Publishing: For excellent translations of Boethius, Plato, and more, use code AN2021 for 20% off and free shipping at hackettpublishing.com.
- Ratio Coffee: Brew your morning cup with the precision of a Roman engineer (and check out the Ratio 6 or 8). Use code ANCO for 15% off at ratiocoffee.com .
- The Moss Method: Want to go from “neophyte to erudite” in Greek? Check out Dr. Noe’s course at mossmethod.com.
First Thousand Words in Latin: Next week, the hosts will be discussing this Usborne book, perfect for beginners.
