Roman Architecture

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Roman Architecture
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Historical Background

• The buildings found in Rome at the peak of its
  power, were large and impressive
• These included theaters, baths, temples,
  libraries, imperial palaces and basilicas (public
  meeting places).
• Public monuments celebrating the achievements of
  emperors existed as arches and columns.

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• The Romans borrowed architectural features from
  the Etruscans and the Greeks.
• Form of the Arch- Etruscans
• Corinthian Architectural order- Greeks
• The Romans mastered the design of the arch and
  introduced a new type of building material,
  concrete, to form their own architectural style.

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Corinthian
Doric
Ionic
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Roman Concrete

• The Romans invented a new building material that
  we still use today, concrete.
• They mixed stone, sand, lime mortar and water. It
  dried and hardened into concrete.
• The surviving Roman monuments testify to the
  strength and durability of concrete.

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Arches

• The Romans made great use of the Etruscan Arch
• The Romans used the arch in various ways. They
  used it to create architectural structures of
  great size and strength.
• The vault was created by putting a series of
  arches side by side.

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• The dome was created by several arches crossing
  in different directions in a circular space.
• Arches and Concrete revolutionized Roman
  architecture.
• The Arch can be seen in the construction of city
  gates, bridges and aqueducts. As well as theaters
  and ampitheaters (round theaters).

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Colosseum

• It was the most famous example of an ampitheater
  in Rome.
• Emperor Vespasian started construction in 72 A.D
  and completed it in 80 A.D.

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• Could hold about 55,000 spectators.
• The Colosseum was used to entertain the public
  with games. These games were a way for an emperor
  to increase his popularity.
• The games started with comical acts and ended
  with
• fights to the death between
• animals and gladiators or between gladiators
  and gladiators.

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Aqueducts

• It is a water transport system that allows water
  to flow through pipes or channels to carry water
  from a well or stream into the town.
• The water was distributed throughout a complex
  system of lead or earthenware pipes.

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• It moved the water using gravity
• The aqueduct had to be built at exactly the right
  angle in order to use gravity to its full
  potential.
• It was important for the route of water to be
  constant and running.
• They were used to bring water to areas that did
  not have natural water resources.

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The Pont de Gard

• Was a masterpiece built and named for the Gard
  River.
• It channeled water from Nimes, France.
• Highest of all Roman aqueducts.
• It consisted of three tiers of arches
• The Pont de Gard is a testimony to the
  engineering and construction skill of the Romans.

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Pantheon

• The Pantheon dates back to 27 B.C., when it was
  first built by Marcus Agrippa.
• Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it between 117-125 A.D.
  after it burned to the ground in 80 A.D.
• Was a temple dedicated to All Gods.
• The original use of the Pantheon is unknown, but
  it is assumed it was used as a temple.

Temple of All Gods
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• It was made of solid concrete consisted of a
  round main room topped by a dome and was fronted
  by a porch of Corinthian columns.
• The dome on top is 142 feet in diameter
• The oculus, the hole in the top of the dome is
  used as a light source for the interior

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Activity

• Become a Roman Architect
• Using the features we discussed such as arches,
  columns or domes draw your own Roman structure
• Use the structures discussed as a guideline for
  your own Roman Structure
• Provide a name
• Be creative and use color
• On the Back Write
• Name of the Structure.
• Who you designed it for.
• What Features you used.