Roman Era Overview and Architecture

Roman Era Overview

• The Roman Empire flourished from approximately 753-509 BC, with the Roman invasion of Italy in 343 BC.
• The Roman Empire eventually declined and was divided into two empires (East and West) in 65 BC.
• The empire ended in 475 AD.
• Roman architecture was greatly influenced by Greek art, as evidenced by the importation of Greek scholars and craftsmen to Rome.
• Romans prioritized interior design over exterior design, emphasizing ornamentation and decoration inspired by Hellenistic, Greek, and Egyptian styles.
• Furniture from this period is less common than architectural examples.
• Documentary evidence enables an understanding of furniture characteristics despite limited surviving examples.

Roman Architecture

• Roman buildings utilized a variety of materials, including stones, bricks, painted pottery, and tiles – contrasting with the predominantly stone/marble approach of the Greek style.
• Volcanic activity near Rome led to the presence of Travertine stone.
• This contributed to the widespread use of concrete in Roman architecture.
• Concrete buildings often had stone/brick/marble coverings, avoiding the plain concrete surface.
• Roman temples came in rectangular or circular forms.
• Roman architecture emphasized secular buildings and public spaces rather than religious structures.
• Roman temples were centered on a light source or a public square, unlike the Greek emphasis on all-directional views of the temple.

Roman House Components

• Ancient Roman houses/palaces contained distinctive architectural components.
• A primary component was the vestibulum—a hall, shed, or vestibule connecting to a courtyard.
• The courtyard, called the atrium, was the central, open space of the house.
• An impluvium—a marble basin—within the atrium collected rainwater from the roof.
• A kitchen (culina), bedroom, and worship hall, dedicated to the household god, were typically located within the home.
• Over time rooms coalesced around the atrium and back hall
• Back halls held valuable family possessions, including jewelry, ornaments, important documents and statues.
• Many houses had upper floors and tablinums—rooms used by merchants or craftsmen.
• The overall layout of the house emphasized cohesive family units and spaces for public dealings

Roman Architectural Elements

• The semicircular arch is a key identifying feature of Roman architecture
• Arch designs were integrated into many structural elements
• Romans used arches, ceilings, porticoes and other structures, using substantial proportions and a renewed focus on aesthetics.

Roman Furniture

• Roman furniture often incorporated metals like bronze, gold, and silver, beyond basic materials like wood and stone.
• Roman couches (lectus) were horizontally placed reclining surfaces supported by vertical legs.
• Volcra, decorative finials, frequently adorned the head and foot regions of couches.
• Couches held significance in Roman society and were sometimes buried with deceased members.
• While modern society relates tables to dining, wealthy Romans usually reclined on couches while eating, with couches being generally shorter compared to today's standards.

Roman Arched Structures

• Roman architects developed and used barrel vault, groin vault, and ribbed vault designs for building arches in diverse structures. (Detailed descriptions provided)