Roman Architecture and More!

How did it Begin?

• The Romans achieved originality in building very late in their existence.

• Roman architecture was very much like that of Greece, aside from the contribution of the arch, and its later three-dimensional counterpart, the dome.

The Roman ColosseumThe Roman Colosseum Over 160 ft high with eighty

entrances. (76 for spectators and 4 for the emperor.)

The Colosseum could empty out in 5 minutes.

The Colosseum could hold up to 50,000 spectators.

Public events such as gladiator fights, mock naval battles (some dispute the naval battles) and wild animal hunts were held at the Colosseum.

The Roman Colosseum The Roman Colosseum Although it

survives only as a ruin, it still rates as one of the finest examples of Roman architecture and engineering.

Roman Aqueducts

• Of the 260 miles of the aqueduct system, only 30 miles were visible to the people of Rome.

• Aqueducts were a way to get water to major cities.

Roman CatacombsRoman Catacombs

Ancient Christian Ancient Christian underground underground burial places near burial places near Rome, Italy. Rome, Italy.

The PantheonThe Pantheon

Originally built as a temple.Originally built as a temple.

It is the best-preserved of all Roman buildings It is the best-preserved of all Roman buildings and the oldest important building in the world and the oldest important building in the world with its original roof intact. It has been in with its original roof intact. It has been in continuous use throughout its history. continuous use throughout its history.

Dome

The Roman Forum

The Roman Forum was the central area around which ancient Rome developed. This is where commerce, business, and the administration of justice took place.

Notice the columns

Circus MaximusCircus Maximus Designed to Designed to

hold horse and hold horse and chariot racing.chariot racing.

It could hold up It could hold up to 250,000 to 250,000 people (1/4 the people (1/4 the population of population of Rome). Rome).

The track could The track could hold 12 hold 12 chariots. chariots.

Roman - Triumphal - Arch

• Most triumphal arches were built during the Roman Empire.

• By the 4th century C.E., 36 triumphal arches were recorded as existing in Rome. Only five now survive.

Roman ArtRoman Art Curiously, although Curiously, although

examples of Roman examples of Roman sculptures, sculptures, paintings, buildings, paintings, buildings, and decorative arts and decorative arts survive in great survive in great numbers, few numbers, few names of Roman names of Roman artists and artists and architects are architects are recorded. recorded.

Language and WritingLanguage and Writing

• The Roman alphabet was derived largely from The Roman alphabet was derived largely from the Greek and was almost the same as the one the Greek and was almost the same as the one we use today. we use today.

• During the early Roman Empire, a During the early Roman Empire, a revolutionary change in the form of books and revolutionary change in the form of books and other written records was taking place. other written records was taking place.

• The changeover from books in the form of a The changeover from books in the form of a rolled manuscript to a book that was bound rolled manuscript to a book that was bound along one edge.along one edge.

Roman GovernmentRoman Government

The Romans never had a written The Romans never had a written constitution, but their form of their constitution, but their form of their government, roughly parallels the government, roughly parallels the modern American division of modern American division of executive, legislative, and judicial executive, legislative, and judicial branches branches