04 AMACE HOA1 | 06 ROMAN

Geographical Influence (Roman Architecture)

The central and commanding position of Italy in the Mediterranean enabled Rome to act as intermediary in spreading art & civilization over Europe W. Asia & N. Africa through conquest rather than colonization.

Geological Materials (Roman Architecture)

Included terra cotta brick marble tufa (soft volcanic stone) peperino (hard limestone) pozzolana (volcanic ash) and concrete as the favorite material.

Stratlingite

Crystals that develop over time from lime making Roman concrete remarkably durable.

Climatic Influences (Roman Architecture)

Diverse climates across Italy (North: temperate; Central: genial and sunny; South: tropical) accounting for a variety of architectural treatments and features.

Religious Influence (Roman Architecture)

Chief Roman Gods acquired similar attributes to Greek gods; every house contained an altar to the Lares (family gods) and ancestor worship was a recognized religious rite.

Etruria

Region in west central Italy occupied by the Etruscans who dominated early Rome until Rome increased dominance in the 6th century BC.

Hannibal Barca

Carthaginian general known for clever war tactics; considered ancient Rome's nightmare and greatest enemy who was defeated leading to Carthage becoming a Roman province.

Julius Caesar

Leader of a military dictatorship resulting from a professional army in Rome; assassinated and succeeded by his nephew.

Gaius Octavius (Augustus Caesar)

Nephew and successor of Julius Caesar and the first ruler of the Roman Empire; given titles Imperator and Augustus; ruled during the Augustan Age (Golden Age) and established Pax Romana.

Augustan Age

Regarded as the Golden Age of Rome during the reign of Augustus Caesar.

Pax Romana

Peace established throughout the Roman world in celebration of Rome's recovery under Augustus.

Hadrian

Successor to Octavius whose reign was regarded as the 2nd Golden Age; cultured literate artistic emperor known for his love of poetry literature and architecture.

Constantine

Roman emperor who accepted Christianity as a religion moved the empire's headquarters to Byzantium and inaugurated it as Constantinopolis.

Constantinopolis (Constantinople)

New headquarters of the Roman Empire inaugurated by Emperor Constantine (formerly Byzantium).

True Radiating Arch

Characteristic feature of Etruscan architecture utilizing wedge-shaped stones pointing to a center.

Tuscan Order

The 4th architectural order; a simpler Etruscan version of the Doric order featuring an unfluted shaft and a simplified base capital and entablature.

Atrium House

Etruscan residential typology that influenced Roman domestic architecture.

Walled City of Falerii Novi

Etruscan city featuring funeral cells and niches along its walls.

Cloaca Maxima

One of the earliest sewage systems in ancient Rome built by the Etruscans.

Arch of Augustus Perugia

Historic Etruscan arch serving as the main entrance to the city of Perugia Italy.

Necropolis Cerveteri

Ancient Etruscan burial city consisting of tumulus and chamber tombs laid out symmetrically like a town for the living; UNESCO World Heritage Site (2004).

Etruscan Tombs in Tarquinia

Famous underground burial chambers accessed by stairs featuring over 200 painted tombs dating from the 7th century BC; UNESCO World Heritage Site (2004).

Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus Rome

Most important temple in Ancient Rome located on the Capitoline Hill showing Etruscan architectural characteristics.

Methods of Roman Construction

Includes Columnar and trabeated Arcuated and Vaulted systems.

Comparison: Roman vs. Greek Arch Usage

Roman arches were supported on piers with columns as decorative elements; Greek buildings did not use the arch constructively and used columns as structural elements.

Comparison: Roman vs. Greek Building Height

Roman buildings were constructed with several storeys; Greek buildings were typically one-storey.

Comparison: Roman vs. Greek Architectural Aims

Roman architectural aims were essentially utilitarian; Greeks prioritized the outward aesthetic effect of buildings.

Composite Order

The 5th architectural order developed by the Romans combining Ionic volutes with Corinthian acanthus leaves.

Abutment

Masonry that supports one end of an arch.

Span

Horizontal distance between the two supporting members of an arch.

Springline

Line at which an arch begins to curve.

Impost

Masonry piece upon which one end of the arch sits.

Spandrel

Triangular area above and on either side of an arch.

Stringcourse

Horizontal band located on top of an arch.

Keystone

The top and most important stone of an arch.

Extrados

The exterior curved line of an arch.

Intrados

The interior curved line of an arch.

Voussoir

Wedge-shaped stone used to construct an arch.

Crown

The top section of a curved arch.

Haunch

The side of an arch located between the crown and the impost.

Rise

Vertical distance between the springline of an arch and its keystone.

Opus Quadratum

Roman wall masonry consisting of rectangular and square blocks of stone laid in regular ashlar courses.

Opus Incertum

Roman wall masonry made of irregular-shaped and randomly placed uncut stones.

Opus Reticulatum

Roman wall masonry featuring square stones set diagonally forming a net-like pattern.

Opus Testaceum

Roman wall masonry facing made of brick.

Opus Mixtum

Roman wall masonry consisting of alternating courses of bricks and small squared stones.

Advantages of Roman Concrete

Allowed construction of massive vaults; could accommodate complicated plan forms had greater cohesion was economical and easier to use than stone-cutting.

Semi-Circular or Barrel Vault

Vault borne throughout its length on two parallel walls of a rectangular plan.

Cross Vault (Groin Vault)

Vault formed by the intersection of two semi-circular vaults of equal span.

Groin

The line of intersection formed by two crossing vaults.

Semi-Dome

Vault structure used to cover semi-circular spaces.

Hemispherical Dome

Dome structure used over circular spaces.

Coffers (Lacunaria)

Recessed panels in concrete vaults and domes used to lighten their overall weight.

Opus Vermiculatum

Mosaic pattern made from small pieces of tiles (tesserae) to create detailed pictorial designs.

Opus Sectile

Mosaic pattern made from larger specially cut tiles producing geometrical and pictorial designs.

Opus Spicatum

Mosaic pattern laid in a chevron or herringbone pattern.

Buttress

Supporting masonry built against a wall to resist lateral thrust.

Niche / Hemicycle Buttress

Type of Roman buttress used for retaining earth.

Spur Buttress

Type of Roman buttress used where large openings for doors and windows were required.

Pinnacle Buttress

Buttress placed on top of a spur buttress to add weight and direct oblique thrust more steeply downward.

Forum

Central open space in Roman cities serving as a meeting place market or site for political demonstrations (counterpart to the Greek Agora).

Imperial Forums

Series of monumental public squares built by successive Roman emperors.

Forum Romanum

The oldest and most important forum in Rome.

Forum of Trajan

Largest of the Roman forums built by Apollodorus of Damascus as a bustling business and civic center.

Apollodorus of Damascus

Chief architect of Emperor Trajan and designer of Trajan's Forum Basilica of Trajan and Temple of Venus and Rome.

Rectangular Temples (Roman)

Combination of Greek and Etruscan features (Etruscan prostyle portico/podium without fixed orientation; Greek decorative details).

Temple of Vespasian

Roman temple built by Domitian known for its ornate entablature.

Temple of Venus and Rome

Designed for Emperor Hadrian by Apollodorus of Damascus.

Temple of Mars Ultor Rome

Temple dedicated to Mars by Augustus to avenge the assassination of Julius Caesar.

Maison Carrée Nîmes

The best-preserved ancient Roman temple in existence.

Temple of Jupiter Baalbek Lebanon

Massive temple commenced by Antoninus Pius featuring a substructure built from gigantic stone blocks called the Trilithon.

Trilithon

Substructure of the Temple of Jupiter at Baalbek formed of three gigantic blocks of stone.

Temple of Bacchus Baalbek

Temple featuring an astonishingly luxuriant coffered timber ceiling.

The Pantheon

Most perfectly preserved ancient Roman circular temple; largest unreinforced concrete structure in the world.

Marcus Agrippa

Son-in-law of Augustus who erected the original temple on the site of the Pantheon.

Rotunda of the Pantheon

Erected by Emperor Hadrian featuring an unreinforced concrete dome spanning 43.3 meters.

Oculus

30-foot circular opening at the apex of the Pantheon dome that illuminates the interior symbolizes the union of earth and sky and lightens the structure.

Temple of Vesta Rome

Most sacred circular shrine in the imperial city housing the holy fire of Vesta.

Temple of Venus Baalbek

Circular temple featuring a distinctive inward-curving entablature.

Basilica

Roman hall of justice and commercial exchange whose central urban position reflected the importance of law and business.

Basilica of Trajan

Largest basilica in Rome designed by Apollodorus; featured a central nave 4 side aisles clerestory windows gilded bronze roof tiles and two semicircular apses.

Basilica of Constantine and Maxentius

Grand Roman basilica featuring immense groined vaults divided into 3 compartments.

Thermae

Palatial public baths of Imperial Rome designed for luxurious social bathing athletics lectures and entertainment.

Strigil

Instrument used by ancient Romans to scrape dirt and olive oil off the skin during bathing.

Tepidarium

Warm bath or steam room in a thermae utilizing radiant heat from walls and floors.

Caldarium

Hot bath or sauna in a thermae; the hottest room in the sequence containing a hot water bath and sometimes a laconicum.

Frigidarium

Cold bath room in a thermae with cold water pools designed to close skin pores after warm baths.

Sudatorium

Dry sweating room in a Roman thermae.

Apodyteria

Dressing room in a Roman thermae.

Unctuaria

Oil application room in a Roman thermae.

Palaestra (Roman)

Area in a thermae reserved for physical exercise.

Xystus

Open space within a thermae used for foot-racing.

Outer Ring of Apartments (Thermae)

Peripheral areas in a thermae containing lecture rooms and exedrae for poets and philosophers.

Laconicum

Hot dry room inside or adjacent to a caldarium designed to induce sweating.

Hypocaust

Central floor heating system in a thermae where elevated floors allowed hot air and smoke from a furnace to circulate underneath and through wall channels.

Pilae Stacks

Brick pillars or 'slippers' that raised the floor in a hypocaust system.

Thermae of Caracalla

Massive Roman public bath complex capable of accommodating 1600 bathers.

Thermae of Diocletian Rome

Grandest and most sumptuous public bath in Rome accommodating 3000 bathers; started by Diocletian/Maximian (AD 302) and finished by Constantius/Maximinus.

S. Maria degli Angeli

Church converted from the restored frigidarium of the Thermae of Diocletian.

Balneum

Small private bath located within Roman palaces and private residences.