Ancient Roman Art and Architecture

Study Notes

The Roman Empire laid the foundation for Western Civilization, and almost every aspect of modern life in the West was influenced by the Romans.
The Roman alphabet, used to write the English language, was a Roman invention.

Roman art and architecture is grouped into the Classical or Greco-Roman period due to the influence of ancient Greece.
The ancient Greeks developed the technology and artistic techniques needed to create life-like sculptures, but the Romans used these techniques to create numerous three-dimensional likenesses of important historical figures.

Roman sculptures were made from either marble or bronze.
Marble is a type of metamorphic stone commonly used by the Greeks and Romans for both sculpture and architecture.
Bronze is a metal alloy used for tools, sculptures, and other purposes.
The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius is a giant 13.9 ft tall bronze statue that has survived for centuries.

Few Roman paintings have survived, but those found in Pompeii provide valuable insight into Roman culture.
Roman painting techniques were more advanced than those during the Middle Ages, and it wasn't until the Renaissance that life-like images were created again.
The Golden Ratio, a mathematical formula believed to produce beautiful symmetry, was common in Greek and Roman art.

Mosaics were widely used by the Romans to depict various images.
The city of Pompeii contains many important Roman mosaics, including an image of a chained dog.

Reliefs were a common form of Roman art, where the background is carved more deeply than the figure jutting out.
The Romans used reliefs to depict important historical events, and historians study reliefs to understand Roman history and religion.
The Ara Pacis Augustae is the largest and best-preserved monument that depicts Roman reliefs.

The Romans invented concrete, a building material made by adding a binding material to tiny pebbles, such as those found in volcanic ash.
Concrete allowed the Romans to build large and complex buildings, including giant domes that covered wide spaces.
Roman architecture was not only used for public buildings but also as a means of propaganda, reflecting the grandeur of Rome.
Examples of Roman architectural feats include:
- Pantheon: A temple to all the gods worshiped by the ancient Romans, commissioned by Emperor Hadrian and completed in 125 AD.
- Colosseum: A large amphitheater in Rome where sporting events, including gladiatorial fights, were staged, completed around 80 AD.
- Pont du Gard: A Roman aqueduct in France, one of the most famous still standing.
- Arch of Titus: A monumental arch erected in 81 AD to commemorate the quelling of a Jewish revolt, used as a type of trophy to recognize Roman military victories.

Roman models of art and architecture have been extensively used in government and other public buildings throughout the world for millennia.
The White House, Capitol Building, and Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, are all modeled after Roman style architecture.
Roman art continues to be used due to its pleasing aesthetics and its symbolism of power and grandeur.