Roman Architecture Basics

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Questions and Answers

What symbol was used by early Christians and later integrated into Byzantine art?

Olive branch

Apple

Eagle

Fish (correct)

Who started the Iconoclastic Controversy in 726?

Marcus Aurelius

Julius Caesar

Constantine I

Emperor Leo III (correct)

What major architectural structure is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater?

Colosseum (correct)

Aqueduct

Hagia Sophia

Pantheon

Which part of the Old Roman basilica was a semicircular space in front of the nave?

Apse Signup and view all the answers

What were monastic artists' representation values during the Early Christian Period?

Spiritual significance Signup and view all the answers

What was the exterior wall height of the Colosseum?

48 meters Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was NOT a symbol used by early Christians?

Olive branch Signup and view all the answers

In which architectural part of the church is the altar located?

Apse Signup and view all the answers

What room in the palatial public baths of Imperial Rome was used for hot baths?

Caldarium Signup and view all the answers

Which monument is a single, freestanding colossal column used as a commemorative monument?

Column of Victory Signup and view all the answers

Who began the construction of the Pantheon?

Agrippa Signup and view all the answers

What purpose does the oculus in the Pantheon serve?

Admitting light Signup and view all the answers

What was the Ara Pacis constructed during?

Augustus's reign Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following rooms in the palatial public baths of Imperial Rome was used for oiling and shampooing?

Unctuaria Signup and view all the answers

Which Roman structure was used as a long hairpin race course for chariot races?

Circus Signup and view all the answers

What is the high platform upon which a Roman temple was raised called?

Podium Signup and view all the answers

Which of these was the Roman house of the middle class?

Domus Signup and view all the answers

Which structure was essentially a Roman building used to house the law court and eventually became a hall of justice and commercial exchange?

Basilica Signup and view all the answers

What type of columns adorns the exteriors of Roman temples?

Engaged columns Signup and view all the answers

What were Roman public baths known as?

Thermae Signup and view all the answers

Which of these options served as the Roman block of flats used as shops and apartments?

Insulae Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the purpose of the Roman Forum?

A complex that included temples, triumphal arches, and shops Signup and view all the answers

What is the diameter of the dome of the Hagia Sophia?

109ft Signup and view all the answers

Who commissioned the construction of the Hagia Sophia?

Emperor Justinian Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the economic system based upon limited land ownership and forced labor during the Romanesque period?

Manorialism Signup and view all the answers

What was the function of reliquaries during the Romanesque period?

Containers of relics Signup and view all the answers

What characterized the architectural plan of the Hagia Sophia?

Domed cross plan Signup and view all the answers

During which period did the Romanesque style of art emerge?

9th Century Signup and view all the answers

Which of these statements about the Romanesque period is true?

Knighthood was a significant institution. Signup and view all the answers

What was a common painting technique during the Romanesque period?

Frescoes Signup and view all the answers

Which historical period is known as the Golden Age of Byzantine?

The period under Justinian Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary location for sculptures in Byzantine art?

Church interiors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a feature of Byzantine painting?

Single plane representation Signup and view all the answers

What type of dome structure was commonly used in Byzantine architecture?

Pendentive domes Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural plan was predominant in Western Europe during the Byzantine era?

Latin cross plan Signup and view all the answers

What material was used to create lavish interiors of Byzantine buildings?

Lavish mosaics and murals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following was commonly depicted on Byzantine column capitals?

Reliefs of abstract or floral designs Signup and view all the answers

What was the chief religion of the Roman world until the 4th century?

Christianity Signup and view all the answers

What is the nave of a basilica?

The main space of the church extending from the narthex to the choir apse Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of an ambo/ambulatory in a basilica?

A semicircular walkway with chapels off it surrounding the sanctuary Signup and view all the answers

Which part of a monastery is typically used for housing books and sources of knowledge?

Library Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural landmark is alongside the Cathedral of Pisa and famous for its leaning tower?

Cathedral of Pisa Signup and view all the answers

What is an apse?

A semicircular or polygonal vaulted recess Signup and view all the answers

What is the transept of a basilica?

A transverse open space as wide as the nave forming a square at the crossing Signup and view all the answers

Which feature is part of both a basilica and a monastery?

Choir Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the purpose of a castle?

A private residence and fortress of lords Signup and view all the answers

What type of architecture is described as formerly a hall of justice and redesigned to be a place of worship?

Basilica Signup and view all the answers

Which type of architecture houses relics or tombs of martyrs?

Martyrium Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural feature is used for the sacrament of baptism?

Baptisteries Signup and view all the answers

What type of plan is associated with a centrally-domed structure?

Centralized plan Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the architectural feature 'Wind-blown acanthus'?

Byzantine capitals Signup and view all the answers

Which type of construction method was commonly used by the Romans?

Hand-laid rubble Signup and view all the answers

What term was used to refer to Gothic art in Western Europe?

Opus Fragencium Signup and view all the answers

Which method of teaching dominated the schools of Western Europe from about 1100 until about 1600?

Scholasticism Signup and view all the answers

Who is credited with potentially inventing the Gothic Style?

Abbot Suger Signup and view all the answers

Which art form involved mixing pigments with egg?

Tempera technique Signup and view all the answers

What was the favorite theme in Gothic painting?

Madonna enthroned Signup and view all the answers

Which order was founded during the Gothic period?

Dominican Signup and view all the answers

What technique is used to create stained glass?

Mixing metallic oxides into molten glass Signup and view all the answers

Which sculpture characteristic was common in Gothic art?

Contrapposto poses Signup and view all the answers

What event is depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry?

The Battle of Hastings Signup and view all the answers

What was one function of Romanesque sculpture?

To serve as 'literature for the illiterate' Signup and view all the answers

Which architectural feature was used to counter the lateral thrust of vaults in Romanesque architecture?

Masonry buttress Signup and view all the answers

Which theme was commonly depicted in Romanesque art?

The Majesty of Christ Signup and view all the answers

What is a 'troweaw' in Romanesque architecture?

Central support of Medieval doorways Signup and view all the answers

Which type of arch was introduced to Romanesque architecture from Islamic architecture?

Pointed arch Signup and view all the answers

Where was the lunette with complex iconography typically found in Romanesque churches?

Above the door Signup and view all the answers

What is a chevron ornamentation characterized by?

Inverted zigzag pattern Signup and view all the answers

What is considered the greatest Norman building in England?

Durham Cathedral Signup and view all the answers

Where is the CENTER FOR THE DESIGNED ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONS, INC. located?

No. 2 Matulungin St, Central Diliman Quezon City Signup and view all the answers

Which building in London is known as the Royal Palace of Her Majesty?

Tower of London Signup and view all the answers

What is the contact phone number for CENTER FOR THE DESIGNED ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONS, INC.?

89905689 Signup and view all the answers

What is the website of CENTER FOR THE DESIGNED ENVIRONMENT PROFESSIONS, INC.?

<a href="http://www.cdep.org.ph">www.cdep.org.ph</a> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Roman Architecture

Forum: a public space with temples, triumphal arches, pillars of victory, Roman basilica, senate, and shops
Temple: a frontal building with stairs, a podium, and a deep portico with columns; typically made of brick and concrete with marble or stucco facades
- Parts: podium, cella, orders, and pediment
Domus: a Roman house for the middle class
Insulae: blocks of flats used as shops and apartments
Villa: a house for the upper-class Roman
Theater: a building with a more impressive skene than Greek versions, built on level ground with a semi-circular orchestra
Amphitheater: a smaller version of the Colosseum, emphasizing arches over decorative external orders
Circus: a long, hairpin-shaped race course for chariot races
Aqueducts: large reservoirs and cisterns for transporting water to towns
Tombs: pyramidal, temple-shaped, or subterranean vaults with sculptural memorials

Palatial Public Baths of Imperial Rome

Baths of Carcalla: a representative of palatial public baths with facilities including:
- Caldarium (hot room)
- Tepidarium (warm room)
- Frigidarium (cold room)
- Gymnasium
- Anconicum (dry sweating room)
- Unctuaria (oiling and shampooing)
- Apodyteria (dressing rooms)

Architectural Landmarks

Column of Victory: a single, freestanding colossal column used as a commemorative monument
Ara Pacis: a great marble monument constructed during the reign of Augustus
Mausoleum: a cemetery or tomb
Triumphal Arch: a commemorative arch-monument decorated with reliefs showing moments of victory

Pantheon

Began by Agrippa in 27 BC and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in 120 AD with a circular shape
Dome: a dome with a diameter equal to its height and an oculus at the center to admit light
Portico: incorporates elements of an earlier temple building

Early Christian Period

Christian Symbolisms: initial basis for Byzantine art, including the cross, fish, lamb, chi-rho, alpha, and omega

Byzantine Period

Art Forms: fresco, mosaic, and sarcophagus
Architecture: old Roman basilicas redesigned into churches with a focus on sacred and material world rejection
- Plan: atrium, nave, side aisles, apse, and altar
Iconoclastic Controversy: prohibited the production of icons in representational human form in 726 AD

Types of Architecture

Basilica: a former hall of justice redesigned into a place of worship
Martyrium: a sanctuary that enshrines a relic or tomb of a martyr
Mausoleum: a large tomb, almost temple-like
Baptisteries: used for the sacrament of baptism

Byzantine Capitals

Wind-blown/Wind-swept acanthus: a type of capital decoration

Romanesque Period

Hagia Sophia: a major cathedral in Constantinople with a domed cross plan
St. Mark's Basilica in Venice: a representative of Romanesque architecture
Historical Background: age of faith, monasticism, feudalism, knighthood, and Crusades
Painting: frescoes, reliquaries, and illustrated manuscripts
Sculpture: served as "literature for the illiterate" with a focus on religious emotions and psychological reality
Characteristics of Romanesque Art: revival of monumental artwork, stylized figures on columns and capitals, and "Westwork"

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Description

Learn about the fundamental structures of Roman Architecture, including Forums, Temples, Domus, Insulae, and Villas. Explore their components, features, and purpose.