Roman Architecture Notes

Roman Architecture

Historical Precedents

• Egyptian: Lotus, papyrus, and palm capitals.
• Neo-Babylonian: Heraldic animal figures.
• Assyrian: Chiseled alabaster slabs and crenellation.
• Greek: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders with a trabeated system.
• Roman Innovations: Arch, vault, dome, and the Composite and Tuscan orders.

Foundation Myths and Influences

• Romulus and Remus: Twin brothers and central figures in Rome's foundation myth. They quarreled, leading to Remus's death, after which Romulus founded Rome.
• Etruscans: Influenced by ancient Greek culture. Historians believe they merged with the Roman Empire after its establishment.
• Map of Etruscan and Greek areas of influence, showing various cities and leagues.

Geography of Rome

• Seven Hills of Rome:
  • Vatican
  • Quirinal Hill (Collis Quirinalis)
  • Viminal Hill (Collis Viminalis)
  • Capitoline Hill (Collis Capitolinus)
  • Palatine Hill (Collis Palatinus)
  • Esquiline Hill (Collis Esquilinus)
  • Caelian Hill (Collis Caelius)
  • Aventine Hill (Collis Aventinus)
• Tiber River (Tiberis)
• Tiber Island (Insula Tiberina)
• Field of Mars (Campus Martius)
• Servian Wall (Murus Servii Tullii)

Roman Civilization in Pop Culture

• References to the movie Gladiator.
• Mention of Mount Vesuvius and the city of Pompeii, including the movie Pompeii.

Roman Concrete

• Opus caementicium: Roman concrete. Durable due to pozzolanic ash, which prevents cracks from spreading.
• Normally faced with stone or brick; interiors decorated with stucco, fresco paintings, or marbles.

Roman Brickwork

• Development began under Augustus, influenced by Greek techniques.
• The earliest dated building using fired brick is the Theatre of Marcellus, completed in 13 BC.
• Opus reticulatum: Diamond-shaped bricks of tuff (cubilia) around a core of opus caementicium.
• Opus Latericium: Coarse-laid brickwork facing a core of opus caementicium.
• Opus Quadratum: Squared blocks of stone set in parallel courses, often without mortar.
• Opus Listatum/Vittatum: Parallel horizontal courses of tuff blocks alternated with bricks.
• Opus mixtum: Mix of opus reticulatum and opus latericium, or opus vittatum and opus latericium.
• Opus Incertum: Irregularly shaped and randomly placed uncut stones or tuff blocks in a core of opus caementicium.

Brickwork Patterns

• Stretcher, Header, Rowlock, Soldier, Sailor, Shiner.

Arches

• Key parts of an Arch:

  • HAUNCH
  • SPANDREL
  • KEYSTONE
  • RISE
  • SPRINGER
  • SPRING
  • INTRADOS
  • SPRING LINE
  • IMPOST
  • ABUTMENT
  • EXTRADOS
  • ARCHIVOLT (FACE)
  • VOUSSOIR

Vaults

• Barrel Vault: Semicircular or wagon-headed, borne on two parallel walls throughout its length.
• Cross Vault: Formed by the intersection of two semi-circular vaults of equal span, used over square apartments or bays.

Domes

• Dome: Hemispherical, used over circular structures.
• Oculus: An opening at the crown of a dome.

Mosaics

• Thousands of small stones or glass tiles set in mortar to form a pattern, often depicting scenes of Roman life.

Religion and Emperors

• Religion became part of the state constitution. Emperors were venerated more than gods, resulting in fewer temples.
• Important Emperors who patronized architecture in Rome:
  • Augustus (First Emperor)
  • Nero
  • Vespasian
  • Trajan
  • Hadrian
  • Septimus Severus
  • Caracalla
  • Diocletian

Roman Empire Map

• Map showing the extent of the Roman Empire and its provinces around 395 AD.
• Prefectures: Gaul, Italy, Illyricum, The East
• Dioceses: Spain, Gaul, Britain, Africa, The City of Rome, Italy, Macedonia, Dacia, Egypt, The East, Pontus, Asia, Thrace

Roman Orders

• Tuscan Order
• Composite Order

Roman Orders Elements

• PLINTH
• CORNICE
• CAP
• DADO
• BASE
• MOULDING

Tuscan Order details

• FILLET
• TORUS
• PLINTH
• WASH
• OVOLO
• ASTRAGAL
• CORONA
• TENIA
• ABACUS
• NECK
• TRACHELEUM
• Counterpart of Doric capital

Composite Order

• Combination of Ionic & Corinthian Capital

Roman Forum

• Open space used as a meeting place, market, or rendezvous for political demonstrations.
• Includes:
  • Temple of Faustina and Antonius Pius
  • Lapis Niger
  • Santi Luca e Martina
  • Mamertine prisons
  • Temple of Concordia
  • Temple of Vespasian
  • Temple of Saturn
  • Portico of Divi Consenti
  • Five-pillared Monument of Diocletian
  • Rostra
  • Umbilicus Urbis
  • Temple of Caesar
  • Temple of the Dioscuri - Castor and Pollux
  • Spring of Juturna
  • Temple of Augustus
  • Horrea Agrippiana
  • Santa Maria Antiqua
  • Round Temple of Vesta
  • Regia
  • Temple of Romulus
  • Santi Cosma e Damiano
  • Santa Francesca Romana
  • Temple of Venus and Roma

Imperial Fora

• Trajan's Forum:
  • Architect: Apollodorus of Damascus
  • Includes Trajan's Column, Temple of Trajan, Libraries, Basilica Ulpia, Markets of Trajan
• Other Fora: Forum of Caesar, Forum of Augustus , Temple of Peace , Forum of Nerva

Temple Types

• Rectangular Temple: Half of the columns were attached to the naos wall. Raised in a podium, oriented towards the south.
• Circular Temple: Half of the columns were attached to the naos wall. Raised in a podium, oriented towards the south.
• Temple of Vesta: The most sacred shrine & source of Roman life & power.

Pantheon

• Most famous and perfectly preserved of all ancient buildings in Rome.
• Converted into a Catholic church named Sta. Maria Rotunda.
• Architect: Marcus Agrippa for Augustus; rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian.
• Dome structure made of concrete with tuff (limestone) and pumice.
• Artesonado (coffered ceiling) reduced the dome's weight.
• Walls of the cylindrical drum are 6m thick.
• Brick arches distribute the dome's weight.
• Oculus provides illumination.
• Height and width of the dome are equal: $43.3$ m.
• Marble floor restored in 1873 to its original Roman design.
• Portico with Egyptian granite columns built on the foundations of the temple of Marcus Agrippa.

Basilicas

• Trajan's Basilica: Built by Apollodorus of Damascus.
• Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine: Largest basilica in the Forum Romanum.
• Semicircular exedra and lateral portico with colonnade.

Curia

• Roman Senate House.
• Curia Julia.

Thermae (Roman Public Baths)

• Parts of a Thermae:
  • Main Building with chief apartments
  • Tepidarium – warm room
  • Calidarium – hot room, or with hot water bath
  • Frigidarium – cooling room
  • Sudatorium/Laconicum – dry sweating room
  • Apodyteria – dressing room
  • Palaestra - for physical exercise (outdoor)
  • Unctuaria or untoria – place for oils & perfumes
  • Spaeresterium– game room
• Balneum/Balneae: Small public baths

Hypocaust System

• Heating system used in Roman baths.
• Furnace heats under-floor chamber.
• Columns of tiles supporting floor, with bridging tiles.

Villas

• Hadrian's Summer Villa

Theaters

• Roman Theater vs. Greek Theater.

Colosseum

• Built by Vespasian, completed under Titus, modified by Domitian (Flavian Dynasty).
• Also called Flavian Amphitheater.
• Used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as mock sea battles.
  *Safety net, crowned by elephant tusks.
  *Trap doors
  *Counterweight.
  *Winch rooms
  *Timber arena foundations
  *Cages on a hoist

Velarium

• Canvas awning that protected spectators from the sun.
• Operated by teams of sailors from the imperial naval base.

Colosseum Sections

• VOMITORY
• PODIUM
• Senators
• Equestrians
• Intermediate categories
• Women and plebeians

Triumphal Arches

• Roman Arch: Triumphal Arc of Constantine

Columns

• Trajan's Column

Domus (Wealthy Family's House)

• Located in town.
• Includes:
  • Peristyle
  • Impluvium
  • Prothyrum (Entrance)
  • Tablinum
  • Oecus
  • Alae
  • Kitchen
  • Cubicula

Parts of the Domus

• Vestibulum/Fauces: Main entrance hall
• Atrium/atria: Open courtyard where guests are welcomed
• Compluvium: Square roof opening above the atrium
• Impluvium: Rainwater cistern
• Tablinum: Office space
• Triclinium: Roman dining room
• Alae: Open area near the atrium
• Cubiculum: Bedroom
• Culina: Kitchen
• Posticum: Service entrance
• Tabernae: Roman shop
• Ostium: Entrance to the domus

Other Roman Housing

• Insula: Multi-story apartment blocks.
• Villa: Roman country house built for the upper class; e.g., Villa dei Misteri, Pompeii.

Aqueducts

• Basins and conduits collected mountaintop rainwater.
• Arched structures carried fresh water across valleys and over built-up city areas.
• Inverted siphons sent water under its own pressure down one side of a valley and up the other.

Aqueduct Function

• Water from a spring in the hills was collected in a reservoir to build up pressure and ensure a steady supply to a city.
• Used cut stone blocks to build covered water channels.
• Arches spanning roads below.

Pons

• Bridge.

City Design

• Decumanus Maximus: An east–west oriented road in a Roman city or castrum (military camp).
• Cardo Maximus: North-south road; usually the main street.
• Via: Street.

Roman Via Construction

1. Soil: leveled & Rammed
2. Statumen
3. Audits
4. Nucleus
5. Dorsum
6. Crepido, margo or semita: raised footway, or sidewalk, on each side of the via
7. Edge

Greek vs. Roman Architecture

Functional Comparison

References

• Visual Dictionary of Architecture; Francis D.K. Ching
• Global History of Architecture; Francis D.K. Ching
• History of Architecture; Sir Bannister Fletcher
• Ar. Roy De Guzman; History of Architecture Roman Architecture Presentation