Scribd
Upload
138 views25 pages

1 Roman Architecture

Roman architecture was heavily influenced by Greek and Etruscan styles. The Romans adopted the column-trabeate system but also made innovations like developing the arch and using concrete. They built many structure types including forums, temples, basilicas, baths, theaters, aqueducts, and triumphal arches. The Pantheon and Colosseum are two of their most famous and influential buildings that demonstrate the Romans' skill in vaulting and construction on a grand scale. Concrete and brick innovations allowed for new walling systems and vaulted ceilings.

Uploaded by

kazqilamsyar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
138 views25 pages

1 Roman Architecture

Roman architecture was heavily influenced by Greek and Etruscan styles. The Romans adopted the column-trabeate system but also made innovations like developing the arch and using concrete. They built many structure types including forums, temples, basilicas, baths, theaters, aqueducts, and triumphal arches. The Pantheon and Colosseum are two of their most famous and influential buildings that demonstrate the Romans' skill in vaulting and construction on a grand scale. Concrete and brick innovations allowed for new walling systems and vaulted ceilings.

Uploaded by

kazqilamsyar
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 25

Roman Architecture

History of Architecture

No’man Bayaty
Introduction
• The Roman republic started its dominion from its grandest city, Rome
which is estimated to be established at 750 B.C.
• The beginning was by fighting the Etruscans and controlling their lands.
• Romans faced many severe wars against the Phoenicians until it was able
to control Sicily and north Africa (146 B.C.)
• Greece became a Roman province in 133 B.C. and became a gate towards
Asian territories.
• In 55 B.C. Julius Cesar crossed to Britain.
• The Roman empire stayed in power till the 4th century.
Introduction
• The Italians unlike the Greek did not have tendency for sailing.
• The main material on the Italian mainland was marble, and they also used
terracotta, stone and brick.
• The Roman civilization can be divided into the Roman Republic and the
Roman Empire.
• The nation became a prototype for an international nation inspiring many
others to follow it.
• Romans were very good at constructions, and they developed several
systems.
Architectural Character
• Roman architecture is affected heavily by the Greek and Etruscan
architecture.
• They used the same (column-trabeate) system and added the arch as a new
development.
• They also took the dome architecture from the Etruscans, and it became an
important development for the Roman architecture.
• They also used the Greek order after developing it, and thus we had five
main orders: Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, Corinthian and the Composite.
• The construction abilities were visible in the various building types the
Romans built, such as: theaters, baths, temples, amphitheaters, aqueducts,
bridges, tombs, basilicas and Fora.
Architectural Character
• The Romans also utilized concrete for the first time, which was made of
small fragments of stone, debris and limestone mixed with mortar.
• This method, with the use of bricks led to many walling systems.
• This also improved the Roman vaulting system, which became an
important development in Roman architecture.
• The Romans used domes mainly over circular structures.
• Most of the Roman decoration came from the use of colorful marble and
the different patterns produced by the building materials.
• Sometimes glass mosaic and bronze was used for internal decoration.
Architectural Character
• The Roman walls
Architectural Character
Tuscan Doric Ionic Corinthian Composite
Architectural Character
Examples (Fora)
• The Forum is associated with Greek
Agora.
• It is an open space used as meeting
place, marketing and political reasons.
• The Roman Forum (Forum Romanum)
is the most important one since it
includes many other Fora.
• Many other Roman cities included Fora
like Pompeii and Damascus.
Examples (Fora)
• Forum Romanum
Examples (Temples)
• Roman temples were very similar to the Greek ones.
• They used the steps from the Etruscan temples, raising them from the
ground.
• The Roman temples were larger than the Greek but shorter in length.
• The Romans also used circular and polygonal temples.
• The colonnade usually would not surround the whole temple.
Examples (Temples)
• Temple of Mars
Examples (Temples)
• Temple of Vesta is one of the important circular temples.
• It was situated in the Roman Forum.
Examples (Temples)
• The Pantheon
Examples (Temples)
• The Pantheon
Examples (Basilicas)
• Basilicas are some of the finest buildings erected by the Romans.
• The were established as halls of justice and exchanges for merchants.
• It was usually a rectangular building, with two or four rows of columns.
• The end was a semi-circular sanctuary in which the judge would sit.
• The roof was made of wood, flat or gabled.
• The entrances were on the sides of the building.
Examples (Basilicas)
• Basilica of Trajan (Ulpia)
Examples (Basilicas)
• Basilica of Constantine (Maxentius)
Examples (Thermae)
• Thermae or public baths, were another distinctive Roman buildings.
• These were multi-functional buildings, where cleaning was the main one.
• Usually a Roman bath would consist the following parts:
• 1- The central block: contains the warm bath, hot bath and the cold bath.
• 2- The courtyard: this was a large open space, with suitable sitting areas
where spectators would watch sport events and wrestling.
• 3- Surrounding apartments: here people would listen to lectures in history
and philosophy, and deep discussions and conversations took place.
Examples (Thermae)
• Bath of Caracalla
Examples (Theaters)
• The Roman theater at Orange, France
Examples (Theaters)
• The Colloseum
Examples (Theaters)
• The Colloseum
Examples (Others)

Triumphal arch Column of victory


Examples (Others)

Aqueduct

You might also like