Roman Architecture
Module 6: Roman Architecture (300 BC – AD) The social life of the Romans is clearly revealed in their architecture:
Thermae - for bathing and games
Circuses – for races
INFLUENCES Amphitheaters – for gladiatorial contests
Theatres – for drama
GEOGRAPHICAL Basilicas – for lawsuits
Rome – the central and commanding position of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea. State Temples – for religion
- act as an intermediary in spreading art and civilization over Europe, Domus (apartment house) – for family life
Western Asia and North Africa.
RELIGIOUS
Roman Empire – was not only confined geographically to Italy, but included all Roman Gods – acquired similar attributes to those of the Greeks.
those parts of Europe, North Africa and Western Asia which constituted the then- Jupiter – the supreme god, and the ruler of the sky
known world. Juno – goddess of marriage
Apollo – god of law and reason, art music and poetry, founder of cities
GEOLOGICAL Minerva – goddess of wisdom and learning
Terra-cotta and bricks – extensively used, even for important buildings Neptune – the sea god
Marble and stone Bacchus – god of wine, feasting and revelry
Travertine – a hard limestone Ceres – goddess of earth and agriculture
Tufa – a volcanic substance of which the hills of Rome are mainly composed. Diana – goddess of the chase
Peperino – a stone from volcanic origin Mercury – messenger of the gods
Pozzolana – a clean and sandy earth, gave the Roman a material which Venus – god of commerce
contributed largely to the durability of their architecture. Vulcan – god of fire
Mars – god of war
CLIMATIC
North – temperate region of continental Europe
Central Italy – more genial and sunny
South – almost tropical
HISTORICAL & SOCIAL
Rome – founded 750 BC. It was under Etruscan domination and ruled by
Etruscan Kings.
Roman Architecture
ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE (750 BC to 100 BC) 7. Etruscan Sarcophagi – both ordinary burial and cremation practiced in Etruria
until 4th century BC. Sarcophagi of stone, alabaster and terra cotta.
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS
& EXAMPLES
1. Earliest use of the true or radiating arch.
2. Invention of a new order of Architecture called the TUSCAN.
3. City walls were of large partly burnt bricks approximately 475mmx305x152
(1’- ½” x 1’ x ½’), laid in clay mortar of 4.4m (14’-6”) thick.
8. The Cloaca Maxima, Rome – constructed as an open drain for the valleys
between the hills of Rome.
4. Tombs were located on necropolis sites taking the form of great conical
tumuli.
9. The Arch of Augustus, Perugia – built of large blocks of travertine stones,
without mortar.
10. The Temple of Juno Sospita, Lanuvium – the plan has three cells for three
deities and a front portico with two rows of four columns, widely spaced and
5. Atrium – type of house, dwelling were of sun-dried brick, covered with terra- approached by walled-in steps.
cotta-tiled wooden roofs, columns were sheated with terra-cotta walls and
columns were of stone throughout.
6. Podiums – high platforms of which temples stood.
Roman Architecture
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 BC to 365 AD)
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERS EXAMPLES
1. The Roman adopted the columnar and trabeated style of Greeks. 1. FORUMS
2. Developed the arch and the vault made by Etruscans. - corresponding to agora in a Greek city. Was a central open space
3. Combined use of column, beam and arch is the keynote of the Roman style in used as a meeting place, market, or rendezvous for political
its earliest stage. demonstrations.
4. Colosseum piers strengthened and faced by attached half columns support
arches, which in their turn carry the entablature. 2. RECTANGULAR TEMPLES
5. In Aqueducts, the arch was supported on piers without the facing column. Ex. Temple of Fortuna, Rome
6. The Roman added as 4th and 5th orders of architecture, TUSCAN and Temple of Mars, Rome
Composite orders. Temple of Concord, Rome
7. The architectural aims of the Romans were essentially utilitarian. Temple of Castor and Pollux, Rome
8. Use of concrete, a hard composition which consists of small fragments of Maison Carree, Nimes – best preserved Roman temple
stone, such as tufa, peperino or travertine or broken bricks, laid in excellent Temple of Diana, Nimes
mortar of lime and well selected sand or pozzolana. Temple of Vespasian, Rome
9. Roman walls, both of stone and concrete. Temple of Antoninus and Faustina
10. Concrete vaults Temple of Saturn, Rome
Temple of Jupiter
Temple of Bacchus
3. CIRCULAR & POLYGONAL TEMPLES
Ex. Temple of Vesta, Rome
- Was the most sacred shrine in the Imperial city, and here
under the custody of the vestal virgins the sacred fire was
kept which signified the home heart as the center and source
of Roman life and power.
Temple of Vesta, Tivoli
Temple of Portunus, Rome
11. The principles of buttress and pinnacles were also used.
Roman Architecture
Pantheon, Rome - were halls of justice and commercial exchanges. These buildings
- the finest of all illustrations of Roman construction, embodies which are of pronounced type are a link between classic and Christian
every form of Roman buttress. architecture.
- the building is two tiers high to the springing of the
hemispherical dome inside, but there is an extra tier on the 5. THERMAE
outside, providing rigid and weighty haunches to prevent the - Palatial public baths of Imperial Rome, portray even in their ruin, the
dome from splitting outwards and as an extra precautions, a manners and customs of the pleasure.
- Were resorted to for news and gossip, and served like a modern club
as rendezvous of social life besides being used for lectures and
athletic sports.
Ex. Thermae of Caracalla
6. THEATERS
- Roman theatres often adapted from the Greek to suit the Roman
drama.
series of steps of concrete rises two-thirds the height of the
dome.
4. BASILICAS
7. AMPHITHEATERS
- characteristically Roman buildings found in every important
settlement and are good exponents of the character and life of the
Romans, who preferred displays of mortal combats and gladiator
combats.
- considered to be a good training for a nation of warriors
Roman Architecture
Example: 8. CIRCUSES
The Colosseum, Rome - for horse and chariot racing, derived from the Greek hippodrome.
- a vast ellipse 189 x 156.5 m with eighty external arcaded openings on Example: Circus Maximus, Rome
each storey, those on the ground floor forming entrances from which
the various tiers of seats were reached.
- the arena proper is an oval 87.47 x 54.86 m surrounded by a wall
4.57m high, behind which was the podium, with the Imperial thrones
and seats for the officers of the state.
- Auditorium seats for 50,000 spectators.
9. TOMBS
Five (5) Class of Roman Burial Places
a. Coemetaria
- or subterranean vaults contained both columbaria and Loculi.
columbaria – is so called because of their resemblance to pigeon-
holes were niches formed in the rock to receive a vase containing the
ashes of the deceased and with the name inscribed thereon.
Roman Architecture
Loculi – or recesses for corpses were sealed with a front slab
inscribed with the name, Sarcophagi. 10. TRIUMPHAL ARCHES
- - these are erected to emperors and generals commemorating
- often beautifully carved with figures and festoons are victorious campaigns.
surmounted by lids like roofs terminating in scrolls, were also - adorned with bas-reliefs and usually carried gift-bronze statuary on
placed in the vaults. These vaults were called catacombs. an attic storey.
Examples:
The Arch of Titus, Rome (AD 82)
- commemorates the capture of Jerusalem.
- earliest known examples of the fully- developed Roman Composite
Order.
b. Monumental tombs - the “Soffit” of the archway is ornamented with deeply recessed
- most typical Roman class, descended from the Etruscan coffers.
tumuli, with their embracing ring of stones or rock. They - a “relief” in the center represents the apotheosis of Titus. On one
consisted of large cylindrical blocks, often on a quadrangular side of the opening is a carved relief of the Emperor in a triumphal
podium, topped with a conical crown of earth or stone. cart.
Example: - a “keystone”, which project considerably to support the main
The Mausoleum of Augustus architrave, are richly carved and are faced with figures of Roma and
- was a huge cylinder 88.39m (290 ft) in diameter, faced in Fortuna.
travertine, supporting a mound of earth, 44.20m (145ft) high - the attic storey with the dedication was originally surmounted by
from the ground. bronze “Quadriga”.
Soffit – the ceiling or underside of any architectural member.
Keystone – the central stone of a semi-circular arch.
c. Pyramidal tombs
d. Temple- shaped toms
e. Sculptured memorials
Roman Architecture
Spandrel – the triangular space Examples:
enclosed by the curve of an arch.
Quadriga – four-horsed chariot, in
sculptured form, often surmounting a
monument.
12. AQUEDUCTS
- The Romans gave importance to an adequate water supply.
The Arch of Constantine, Rome (312 AD)
- built in honor of Constantine’s victory Examples
over Maxentius.
- is of fine proportions with eight The Pont du Gard, Nimes France
monolithic detached Corinthian columns - forms part of a magnificent aqueduct 40km (25 miles) long.
supporting an entablature, and on the attic - constructed to bring water to Nimes from the neighborhood of Uzes.
storey, a quadriga. - it is 268.83m long and formed three tiers of arches, crossing the
valley 47.24m above the river gard.
11. TOWN GATEWAYS & ARCHWAYS
Three (3) main types:
o those forming part of the protective wall circuit usually simple, but
sometimes elaborated into commemorative monuments.
o ornamental portals to forums, market places or other large
enclosures;
o arches built at main street intersections particularly when the main
streets were collonaded.
Roman Architecture
Segovia Aqueduct (15 century AD)
- a well preserved, magnificent Roman engineering in a procession of
lofty double-tier arches. The granite length is 2700 ft and a height of
102 ft.
Bridge of Augustus, Rimini (14 AD)
- the best preserved and one of the finest ancient structures in Italy.
13. ROMAN HOUSES
Roman dwelling houses are of three (3) types:
a. Domus or Private house
b. Villa or Country house
c. Insula or Apartment block