Roman Engineering & Architecture

Incorporation of Greco-Roman ideas into the Roman Republic & Empire

Greco-Roman Civilization

•Romans adapted Greek culture to reflect their own values, beliefs, and traditions. (Ex…give deities Latin names)

The Culture of Ancient RomeRoman religion was polytheistic & based on the Greek gods (usually

only the names changed)

The Culture of Ancient Rome

Roman writing was

called Latin & was based on Greek writing

The Culture of Ancient Rome

Roman architecture

borrowed heavily from Greek styles

Like Greek agoras, Roman

cities had a forum for markets and

public gatherings

Roman Art• Reasons

• political purposes• commemorate events

• Statuary “warts and all” (realistic)

• Coins• portraits revealed character• Events• Mythology

Roman Fort

Roman Coinage

Elagabalus & GrandmotherHades stealing Persephone

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.During the Republic – Temple Architecture:

K blended Etruscan & Greek features.

K emphasis on the front of the building.

K example: Temple of Fortuna Virilis.

Roman Architecture

Columns (Greek orders)• Doric• Ionic• Corinthian

Temple of “Fortuna Virilis”Temple of “Fortuna Virilis”

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

CONCRETE:

K created a revolution in architectural design.

K create larger, heavier buildings. * example: - The Sanctuary of Fortuna Palestrina.

Sanctuaryof Fortuna Palestrina

Sanctuaryof Fortuna Palestrina

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

ARCH & VAULT:

K Race Track – Circus Maximus

K Amphitheaters

K Public Baths

K Coliseum

Before: weight

Arch: gave greater support which allowed larger buildings

After:

Circus MaximusSeated 300K

Early Roman AmphitheaterEarly Roman Amphitheater

Seats about 20,000

Roman TheaterRoman Theater

Public Baths (England)

Triumphal Arch of TitusTriumphal Arch of Titus

The Roman Empire• Constantine - reunited the empire and moved the

capital to Constantinople. Adopted Christianity (Holy Roman Empire)

• Commemorates Constantine’s victory at the Battle of Milvian Bridge (312 CE)

• allows Constantine to emerge as the sole ruler (previously tetrachry, in which several people ruled)

• No mention of Christianity in it--interesting b/c the Battle of Milvan Bridge is where Constantine had his vision, which is ultimately what converts him to Christianity.

Arch of Constantine (in Rome)• Break from earlier Greco-Roman motifs/styles by moving away from

the naturalistic style• Reliefs connect Constantine to past emperors in the reliefs (Roman

Imperial past).• Spans the Via Triumphalis (truimphiant way) that emperor would

take entering the city. • Also signifies the imperial presence in the empire. (Propoganda!)• Jás Elsner in Imperial Rome and Christian Triumph:

• "Power is very rarely limited to the pure exercise of brute force.... [T]he Roman state bolstered its authority and legitimacy with the trappings of ceremonial--cloaking the actualities of power beneath a display of wealth, the sanction of tradition, and the spectacle of insuperable resources[...]."

• Power is… complex….as much a matter of impression, of theatre, of persuading those over whom authority is wielded to collude in their subjugation. … (A) matter of presentation, its cultural currency in antiquity (and still today) was the creation, manipulation, and display of images. In the propagation of the imperial office, at any rate, art was power.

Porta Nigra

• Built between 186-200 CE• Built of grey andstone• Northern gate of Trier, Germany

(capital of Roman province of Gallica Belgica)

• Part of four city gate at North, South, East, West of city

• Original name not preserved, weathering to a black had locals in the Middle Ages call it Porta Nigra or the Black Gate

The Coliseum

• Purpose: entertain the masses, pronounced power and dominance of Roman Empire.

• Men sacrificed in battle w/ exotic animals from throughout the Empire: crocodiles, leopards, elephants, lions & tigers

• Used arches in construction (usally done with concrete, marble & bricks)

Interior of the ColiseumInterior of the Coliseum

Arena is Latin for the sand, coating the floor that soaks up the blood of the combatants.

CharacteristicsCharacteristicsDOME:

K Basilicas - Large and relatively open space. - examples: ► Pantheon ► early Christian churches

Cylindrical DomeCylindrical Dome

K With the dome, theRomans could surpass earlier cultures by their ability to span space.

K Light enters throughthe oculus on top.

The Pantheon PlansThe Pantheon Plans

The Pantheon 128 A.D.

• Commissioned by Emperor Hadrin

• Started in 118 A.D.• It is a clock of sorts. It tells the

time by rays of light hitting the sculptures inside.

Pantheon:

The floor was made from stone from the four corners of the empire.

Dome: almost figured it out but couldn’t close it at the very top. Still remarkable feat!

Engineering

• Roads• aided the army• remained long after the

fall of Rome

• Aqueductsbrought fresh water to cities (some still in use across Europe)

Hadrian’s Wall in BritainHadrian’s Wall in Britain