roman architeture
TRANSCRIPT
Roman Architecture
The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted theexternal Greek Architecture around 12th
century B.C. for their own purposes, creating anew architectural style. The Romans absorbedGreek influence, apparent in many aspectsclosely related to architecture; for example, thiscan be seen in the introduction and use of theTriclinium in Roman villas as a place andmanner of dining.
The use of vaults and arches together with a soundknowledge of building materials, for example,enabled them to achieve unprecedented successes inthe construction of imposing structures for public
use.Examples include the aqueducts of Rome, the
Baths ofDiocletian and the Baths of Caracalla, the
basilicasand perhaps most famously of all, the Colosseum.
Aqueducts of Segovia, in Spain
The Roman use of the arch and their improvements in the use of
concrete and bricks facilitated the building of the manyaqueducts throughout the empire, such as the magnificentAqueduct of Segovia andthe eleven aqueducts in Romeitself, such as Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus. The domePermitted construction of vaulted ceilings and provided largecovered public space such as the public baths and basilicas.The Romans based much of their architecture on the dome,
suchas Hadrian's Pantheon in the city of Rome, the Baths ofDiocletian and the Baths of Caracalla.
Although less visible level to the modern observer,ancient Roman developments in housing and publichygiene are impressive, especially given their day
andage. Clear examples are public and private baths andlatrines, and under-floor heating in the form of thehypocaust, double glazing(examples in Ostia
Antica),and piped water(examples in Pompeii).
Roman architecture was sometimes determined based uponthe requirements of Roman religion. For example, thePantheon was an amazing engineering feat created for religiouspurposes,and its design (the large dome and open spaces) wasmade to fit the requirements of the religious services. Some of themost impressive public buildings are the amphitheatres, over220 being known and many of which are well preserved, such asthat at Arles, as well as its progenitor, the Colosseum in Rome.They were used for gladiatorial contests, public displays, publicmeetings and bullfights, the last of which survives in Spain.
In addition to its standard function as amarketplace, a forum was a gathering place of great social
significance,and often the scene of diverse activities, includingpolitical discussions and debates, rendezvous,
meetings,et cetera.
Many lighthouses were built around theMediterranean and around the shores of theirexpanding empire, including the Tower of
Hercules At A Coruña in northern Spain, a structure whichstill survives to this day. A smaller lighthouse atDover, England also still exists as a ruin about halfthe height of the original. The light would have
beenprovided by a fire at the top of the structure
Tile covered concrete quickly supplanted marble as the primarybuilding material and more daring buildings soon followed,with great pillars supporting broad arches and domes ratherthan dense lines of columns suspending flat architraves. Thefreedom of concrete also inspired the colonnade screen, a rowOf purely decorative columns in front of a load-bearingwall. In smaller scale architecture, concrete's strengthfreed the floor plan from rectangular cells to a morefree flowing environment. Roman architects invented Romanconcrete and used it in buildings where it could stand on itsown and support a great deal of weight. The first use of concreteby the Romans was in the town of Cosa sometime after 273 BC.
Ancient Roman concrete was a mixture of lime mortar,pozzolana, water, and stones, and stronger thanpreviously-used concrete. The ancient builders placedthese ingredients in wooden frames where it hardenedand bonded to a facing of stones or (more frequently)bricks. When the framework was removed, the newwall was very strong with a rough surface of bricks orstones. This surface could be smoothed and faced withan attractive stucco or thin panels of marble or othercoloured stones called revetment
Most Roman cities had at least one, if not many, suchbuildings, which were centers of public bathing andsocialization. Baths were extremely important forRomans. They stayed there for several hours and wentdaily. Wealthier Romans were accompanied by one ormore slaves. After paying a fee, they would strip nakedand wear sandals to protect their feet from heatedfloors. Slaves carried their masters' towels and gotthem drinks. Before bathing, patrons exercised. They
didthings such as running, mild weight-lifting, wrestling,
andswimming.
Baths of Caracalla
Public architecture Amphitheatre - (List of Roman
amphitheatres) Basilica Insulae Temple (Roman) Roman theatre Thermae Triumphal arch
Public buildings Baths of Trajan Baths of Diocletian Baths of Caracalla Colosseum Circus Maximus, in Rome, Italy - (Circus (building)) Curia Hostilia (Senate House), in Rome Domus Aurea (former building) Forum Pantheon Tower of Hercules Trajan's Column, in Rome Tropaeum Traiani Hadrian's Villa
Private architecture Roman gardens Alyscamps, a necropolis in Arles, France Domus Catacombs of Rome Roman villa
Civil engineering Roman engineering Roman aqueduct Roman bridge Roman lighthouse Roman road Roman watermill
Military engineering Antonine Wall, in Scotland Hadrian's Wall Limes Germanicus
Architectural elements Hypocaust Mosaics Roman brick Roman roofs Roman spiral stairs
