Lieu de Memoire, is a theory and term used in connection with the
concept of collective memory. The most commonly spread memory spaces are
actual places, but not limited to only that. It could also be events,
people or the more abstract concept of symbolism. The place of remembrance
may be marked with monumental structures, buildings or statues, and is
meant to remind those who came later on, about the past. A place of memory
might even have different meanings to different people, all depending on
what views they have on what is remembered there (if they have good or bad
associations with the “memory”).
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The monuments commemorating people and places are examples on the use of Lieux de Memoire |
At the Roman Forum, the usage of the memory space played a big
role in the evolution of the spatial development. The Forum Romanum is a
good example on the usage of this in Rome. The Forum was a public place
which contained not only public buildings, but also various monuments of
different kinds. Several of the monuements was changed and swittched out
over time, often due to a shift in what was the desired events or people to
be honored.
The Arch of Septimus Severus, at the foot of the Capitoline Hill, is a triumphal arch in white marble. It was dedicated in 203 CE in honor of the victory in two campaigns againts the Parthians in 194-95 CE and 197-199 CE in the Parthian-Roman Wars (54 BCE - 217 CE). The campaigns honored, was lead by the Emperor Septimus Severus and his two sons, Caracalla and Geta. The arch served as a place of memory over not only the victories, but also as a rememberance of Septimus Severus and his sons. After Septimus Severus's death, his two sons served as co-Emperors untill Geta was assassinated. After Geta's death, Caracalla had all images and inscriptions referring to to Geta removed as a way to try and erase the memory of his brother.
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| The Arch of Septimus Severus |
At the Archaic Agora in Athens, the Stoa Poikile was constructed in the
middle of the 5th century BCE. The stoa was decorated with painted wooden
panels which displayed scenes from important battles where Athens had been
victorious, as well as also scenes from the greek mythology. After the
Battle of Pylos in 425 BCE, the bronze shields that were looted was
displayes as proof of the Athenian military prowess. The Stoa served as a
public place of rememberance of the battles that Athens had fought and won.
The paintings displayed in the Stoa remained for more than 600 years before
they were eventually removed. Generations upon generations of Athenians and
visitors to Athens could visit the Stoa and see the displays of Athens
former military glory. The stoa, the wooden panels and the shields displayed there, served as a reminder to the Athenians and the visitors, containing the memory of the former glory in the city's past.
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A surviving shield that were once displayed as a trophy and
symbol of the Athenian military prowess. (Agora Object: B 262) |
The concept that have been coined Lieu de Memoire have been
used for millenniums, even if it the concept itself was not defined untill
in the more recent years. Through the changes and spatial use of ancient
sites we can finde traces of the concept, and also how it changed over
decades, centuries and even millenniums. The memory could be manipulated with the adding or removing of parts of the memorials containing the memory at the site. While it is common that there is a memorial in place to keep the memory, it is not always neccessary. It can be the place itself that keeps the memory. The sites of old battlefields are potential examples of that.
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Further reading:
Legg, S. (2005) Contesting and surviving memory: space, nation, and
nostalgia in Les Lieux de Mémoire.
Nora, P. (1996) Realms of Memory: Rethinking the French Past, Vol. 1 - Conflicts and Divisions. Columbia University Press.
Russell, A (2016) The Politics of Public Space in Republican Rome. Cambridge University Press.
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