Ancient Roman Architecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering key architectural concepts, engineering innovations, and structures from Ancient Etruscan and Roman history based on the lecture notes.

Etruscans

The regional precursors to Roman civilization, active from about 800 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E. in central Italy around Tuscany.

Tusci

The Latin name for the Etruscans, which gives the region of Tuscany its name.

Stone Arch

An architectural structure used in Etruscan gateways that distributes load laterally to either side, allowing for larger and stronger openings than post and lintel construction.

Tufa

A soft local volcanic rock out of which the Etruscans carved underground tomb rooms.

Necropolis

Literally 'a city for the dead'; a large cemetery containing elaborate underground tombs designed as recreations of above-ground dwellings.

Julius Caesar

Roman general who declared himself emperor for life in about 50 B.C.E., leading to the collapse of the Roman Republic.

Flavian Amphitheater

Also known as the Coliseum; a freestanding stadium standing 615 feet long, 510 feet wide, and 157 feet tall that seated over 60,000 spectators.

Aqueducts

Precision-engineered Roman bridge structures designed to bring water into cities from distant sources using a gravity-fed gradient.

Pont du Gard

A famous Roman aqueduct located in France, built circa 19 BC.

Visigoths

The invading group that conquered Rome after first cutting off its water supply by crippling the aqueducts.

Anatomy of a Roman Arch

Key structural elements of a stone arch: 1. Keystone, 2. Voussoir, 3. Back, 4. Impost, 5. Intrados, 6. Rise, 7. Clear span ('Bay'), 8. Abutment.

Barrel Vault

A continuous vault or hallway ceiling formed by extending a single arch in a straight line.

Groin Vault

A ceiling construction created by intersecting two barrel vaults at right angles.

Dome

A rounded vault created by rotating an arch in a complete circle.

Roman Concrete

A structural building material created by adding aggregate (gravel, small stones, and tile pieces) to lime mortar and casting the mixture inside wooden forms.

Pantheon

A temple dedicated to 'every god' in Rome, rebuilt around 125 AD during Emperor Hadrian's reign, featuring a 142-foot wide by 142-foot tall unreinforced concrete dome.

Oculus

The central circular opening at the top of the Pantheon's dome, serving as its sole source of natural light.

Rotunda

The interior circular room of the Pantheon, covered by a coffered concrete dome ceiling.

Tuscan Order

A Roman column order featuring a shorter shaft without fluting, along with a simple base and capital.

Composite Order

A Roman column order combining elements of Ionic and Corinthian styles, featuring the most elaborate capital of all column orders.

Pons Aemilius

An ancient Roman bridge located in Rome, Italy, also known as Ponte Rotto ('Broken bridge').