Public Buildings in Ancient Greece

Study Notes

Public Buildings in Ancient Rome

Stoa: Long colonnaded structure connecting public monuments and providing shelter.
Prytaneion: Senate house for the chief dignitaries of the city.
Agora (Town Square): Open-air meeting place for business transactions and marketplace activities.
Bouleuterion: Covered meeting place for democratically elected councils.
Assembly Halls: Venues for general citizen assemblies.
Odeon: Theater used primarily for musical performances and competitions.
Stadium/Stadion: Foot racecourse that also hosted athletic performances.
Hippodrome: Similar to a stadium, designed for horse racing and events.
Palaestra: Wrestling court typically accompanying gyms and exercise areas.
Gymnasium: Facility for physical exercises, featuring courts, bathing tanks, and dressing rooms, as well as areas for spectators and discussion.
Ephebium: Club within gymnasiums for lectures and training, exemplifying early communal learning spaces.
Palaestra and Gymnasium served as prototypes for later Roman "Thermae" (bathhouses).

Historical Architectural Development

Etruscan Period: Noted for the invention of the true arch and rich mineral resources.
Roman Architecture (20th–4th Century AD): Centers on significant figures like Romulus and Remus, emphasizing Rome’s strategic Mediterranean location.

Influences on Roman Architecture

Climatic:
- Northern Italy: Temperate weather
- Central Italy: Sunny climate
- Southern Italy: Near-tropical conditions
Religious Influences: Strong veneration of emperors over traditional deities.
Social and Political Influences: Notable emperors like Nero, Vespasian, Trojan, Hadrian, Septimus Severus, Caracalla, and Diocletian engaged actively in architecture, adopting Greek columnar and trabeated styles.

Architectural Characteristics

Roman architecture is characterized by:
- Vastness and magnificence
- Ostentation and ornateness
- Multi-story complexes
- Functional and practical design with economic material use

Advances in Vault Architecture

Barrel Vault: Circular or wagon-headed vault supported by two parallel walls.
Groin Vault: Formed by the intersection of two semicircular vaults.
Hemispherical Dome: Employed over circular structures, showcasing Roman ingenuity.
Types of masonry techniques used include Opus Testaceum, Opus Mixtum, Opus Quadratum, Opus Incertum, and Opus Reticulartum.

Column Capitals

Composite Capital: A blend of Doric and Ionic styles.

Architectural Examples

Forum: An open space serving as a market and meeting place, exemplified by the Forum Romanum.
- Roman Forum: Center of ancient Rome, active since around 500 BC, serving various civic functions.

Thermae (Public Baths)

Components of Thermae:
- Tepidarium: Warm bath area.
- Calidarium: Hot bath room with heated water.
- Frigidarium: Cooling room for post-bathing.
- Sudarium: Dry sweating room.
- Apodyteria: Dressing room area.
- Palaestra: Space for physical exercise.
- Unctuaria: Location for applying oils and perfumes.
- Spaeresterium: Games area within the baths.

Description

Explore the different types of public buildings in Ancient Greece, such as the Stoa, Prytaneion, Agora, Bouleuterion, Assembly Halls, and Odeon. Understand their purposes and significance in the ancient city structure.