Roman Architecture

Architectural Character of Roman Architecture

1. Vastness and Magnificence

2. Ostentation and Ornateness

3. Adapted the Columnar and Trabeated Style of Greeks

4. Developed the arch, vault, and dome of the Etruscans

System of Construction

• trabeated

• arcuated

Principal Materials

• Concrete -for walls, vaults, and domes

• Stone

• Brick

• Marble

• Terra Cotta

Forum

• used for meeting place (marketplace/piazza)

• similar to greek Agora

Temple of Maison Carree: Nimes

• biggest existing Roman temple

• best preserved

• served as a model for the US Virginia Capitol

The Pantheon in Rome

• a Corinthian temple

• octastyle (8 columns)

• architect: Agrippa

The Temple of Vesta

most sacred shrine in Rome

Basilicas

Roman hall of justice

The Basilica of Constantine in Rome

• known as the “ Basilica Nova”

• begun by Maxentius and completed by Constantine

The Basilica of Trajan in Rome

Architect: Apollodorus of Damascus

Thermae

a palacial public bath elevated on platform with utilities underneath

3 Parts of Thermae

1. Main Building

2. Xystus

3. Outer Ring of Apartments

Main Building

• Tepidarium - warm room

• Calidarium - hot room with hot water

• Sudatorium - faconicum or sweet bath, hottest bath

• Frigidarium - cold section of roman bath

• Apodyteria - dressing room

• Unctuaria - oil and perfume room

• Sphaesristerium - used for ball games

• Library

• Small Theater - located along the main building area

Xystus

• large open space similar to a park-like enclosure

• landscaped with fountains and statues

Outer Ring Apartments

• lecture room

• Exedrae - alcove where disputes were settled

• Collonade

Thermae of Caracalla

• main building twice the size of westminster abbey

• 1600 bathers

The Theater of Marcellus in Rome

built completely out of concrete and masonry

Amphitheaters

place for gladitorial contest or combat

Colosseum in Rome

• started by Vespasian

• completed by Domitian

• 50,000 spectators; 4 storey facade
  

Roman Circus

• roofless enclosure for chariot race and gladitorial shows

• long oblong with one rounded end

The Circus of Maxentius in Rome

• Spina - a divind wall

• Carceres - starting wall for horses and chariots

• can hold 250,000 spectators

Tombs

• burial ground

• 5 Classifications

  1. Coemetra

  2. Monumental Tombs

  3. Pyramidical Tombs

  4. Temple Shaped Tomb

  5. Sculptured Tombs

Coemetra

• subterranean tombs or catacombs

• 2 parts

  • Columbaria - pigeonhole like where ashes are stored

  • Loculi - receptacle for the whole corpse

Monumental Tombs

• large cynlindrical block

• open or quadrangular podium topped with conical ground earth or stone

• ex. Mausoleums

Pyramidical Tombs

egyptian pyramid but smaller in scale

Temple shaped tombs

patterned after the greeks

Sculpture Tombs

minor tomb in varying ornate forms

Cenotaph

• memorial tomb for soldiers and heroes who died in battle

• monuments for people who buried elsewhere

Domus

• a private house planned in the following manner:

  • Prothyrium - porch entrance

  • Atrium - entrance court open to the sky with an impluvium or cistern at the center for collecting rainwater

  • Salon/Tablinum - room ot passage for family records and hereditary status

  • Peristyle - inner collonaded court with garden

  • Cubicula or Cubiculum - different rooms surrounding the peristyle

  • Tricilinia or Triclinum - dining room

  • Occus - reception hall; Calleda Solar or drawing room

  • Alae - alcove or small room opening off the atrium

  • kitchen and pantry

Villa

luxurious country house

Insula

tenement house

Aqueducts

distribution of water

Roman Fountain

• 2 Types

  • Lacus or Locus - basin type

  • Salientes - spouting jets

Triumphal Arches

• commemorative monuments of victorious generals

• ex. arch of titus

Pillar of Victory

• memorial column

• ex. Trajan’s Column - made entirely oout of marble in doric form

• ex. Column of Marcus Aurelius - commemorates emperor’s victory against Danube

Rostral Column

commemorative of naval victories

Comparative Arches

• triangular

• semi-circular

• segmental

• corbelled

• drop

• lancet

• elliptical

• ogee