The Romans who didn't build: Crassus, Cicero, and Marcus Aurelius' architectural legacy, or lack thereof

Throughout the Republican and Imperial eras, Rome’s leaders patronised the construction of public buildings and infrastructure projects. Doing so could bring prestige, popularity, and present and posthumous fame. However, there are also several notable Romans who were markedly more restrained than their peers in this activity. Given the acknowledged advantages of this form of civic munificence, this paper asks why certain individuals did not engage in it. Focusing on the city of Rome, it considers the building activity of Marcus Licinius Crassus, Marcus Tullius Cicero, and the emperor Marcus Aurelius. Each presents a distinct standalone case, thus providing new insights into this element of their individual biographies. Taken collectively, the discussion adds to our picture of attitudes toward building and architecture in Roman society overall, further illuminating that its perceived role within politics, society, and culture was of variable value.