HOA Roman.docx

**Roman Architecture** - a civilization of innovators that combined new construction techniques and materials with creative design producing a whole range of iconic structures **GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES** **THE ROMAN EMPIRE** - The central and commanding position of Italy in the Mediter...

**Roman Architecture** - a civilization of innovators that combined new construction techniques and materials with creative design producing a whole range of iconic structures **GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCES** **THE ROMAN EMPIRE** - The central and commanding position of Italy in the Mediterranean sea enables Rome to act as intermediary in spending art and civilization over Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa - Differs from that of Greece, the only building material is marble - In the neighborhood of Rome, there was: - Travertine, a hard limestone - Tufa, a volcanic substance - Marble, mostly white are used for exterior and interior finishing. - **POZZOLANA**, a clean, sandy earth, when mixed with lime, finest examples of Roman Architecture. **Climate** - **North Italy- Temperature of Europe** - **Central Italy** is genial and sunny - **South Italy** is almost tropical **RELIGION** - Polytheistic (Roman mythology) - SACERDOTALISM has no place in Roman religion **HISTORY - SUMMARY OF TIMELINE** - Many city-states on the Italian peninsula - Rome became the most powerful - Rome conquered all of Italy to "strongest empires" in history - Was centrally-located on the northern Mediterranean - Not a sea-faring people **Two periods:** - **Etuscan** - **Roman** - Developed constitutional republic - Provinces run by governors - Latin was the official language - Applied roman system of laws **ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE** - **Etruscans**- early inhabitants of Central Italy; Great builders, influenced Roman Architecture. - use of the true radiating arch, white walls of solid cyclopean masonry **BASIC FORMS OF ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE** - Introduced the **Arcuated System**: - radiating arc (semi circular) - Tuscan column - atrium type house - The **remains**, which consist chiefly of: - Tomb City Walls - Gateways - Temples - Bridges - Aqueducts **ANCIENT ROMAN ARCHITECTURE** - The Romans adopted the Columnar and Trabeated style of the Greeks - developed the ARCH, VAULT, AND DOME **SOCIAL AND POLITICAL INFLUENCES** - Roman society originated as a society of **small farmers** to "**one of the most urbanized societies**" in the pre industrial world. - **Wealth and high population** **densities**- forced the ancient Romans to discover new (architectural) solutions - **Political propaganda** - made to impress as well as perform a public function. **ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER** 1. Vastness and Magnificence 2. Ostentation and Ornateness 3. Columnar and Trabeated style of the Greeks 4. Developed the ARCH, VAULT and DOME of the Etruscans - **System of Construction** - **TRABEATED AND ARCUATED** -- Combination of Columns, Beams and Arches. **TYPES OF VAULTS** 1. **Tunnel Vault**- two parallel walls throughout its length 2. **Wagon Vault with Intersecting Vault** 3. **Hemispherical Dome**- Used over circular structures 4. **Cross Vault**- intersection of two semi-circular vaults of equal span - **COLUMNS** - Orders of architecture, used by Greeks - **Tuscan Order** - Simplified version of Doric order - **Composite Order** - Most decorative **DECORATION** - **Mosaics** - Thousands of small stones to form a pattern - **Construction Principles** - **Opus Incertum** - small stones, loose pattern - **Opus Quadratum** - rectangular blocks, with or without mortar joints - **Opus Reticulatum** - net-like effect - **Opus testaceum** - wall built with concrete and specially made triangular baked bricks. - **Opus Caementicum** - "Roman concrete" - **Opus Mixtum** - opus reticulatum + opus latericium **EXAMPLES OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE** 1. **FORUM** - similar to the Greek Agora, used for meeting place, market - In the town center was an open space called the forum - Surrounded by a hall, offices, law courts and shops - **The Roman Forum**- is a rectangular forum (plaza) - **Imperial forums** - consist of a series of monumental public squares - The first Imperial forum was built by Julius Caesar. 2. **RELIGIOUS ARCHITECTURE - TEMPLES AND BASILICAS** - **TEMPLE** - - - - - - - - - - - **\ M\[ARCUS\] - AGRIPPA - L\[ucii\] - F\[ilius\] - CO\[n\] S\[ul\] -- TERTIUM - FECITOR**\" meaning \"***Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, made \[this building\] when consul for the third time.*** - - **The Temple of Vesta, Rome** - The most sacred shrine in Rome - **Basilicas** -- Roman Hall of Justice - **Basilica of Constantine \[and Maxentius\], Rome** - Also known as Basilica Nova (New Basilica) - It was the largest building in the Roman Forum - **Basilica of Trajan, Rome** - Architect: Apollodorus of Damascus - Also the Basilica Ulpia 3. **THE PANTHEON** 4. **THERMAE** - a palacial public bath - **3 Parts of the Thermae** - Main Building - **Tepidarium** -- warm room - **Calidarium** -- a hot room - **Sudatorium** -- also called faconcium, hottest bath - **Frigidarium** -- the cold section - **Other Parts** - - - - - - **Xystus** --fountains and statues - **Outer Ring of Apartments** -- contains the following: Lecture Room, Exedrae , and Collonade 5. **THEATERS AND AMPITHEATERS** - **Theaters** - Built upon their own foundations - **The Theater of Marcellus, Rome** - Built completely of concrete and masonry - **Amphitheaters** - A place for gladiatorial contests or combats - **The Colosseum, Rome-** Flavian Amphitheater **\ ** 6. **CIRCUS** - **Roman Circus** - A roofless enclosure for chariot race 7. **TOMBS AND DWELLINGS** - **Tombs** -- burial ground - - - - - - - - - - **Dwelling Houses** - **DOMUS** -- a private house planned in the following manner: - **Prothyrium** -- porch entrance - **Atrium** -- entrance court open to the sky - **Salon**-- a room for family records - **Peristyle** --court containing a garden - **Cubicula** --rooms surrounding the Peristyle - **Triclinia**-- a dining room - **Occus** -- a reception hall - **Alae** --small room opening - **VILLA** -- a luxurious country house - **INSULA**- A tenement house 8. **AQUEDUCTS AND WATER FOUNTAIN** - **Aqueducts-** are used for distribution of water 1. **Locus** -- basin type 2. **Salientes** --spouting jets - **Triumphal Arches** - monuments to honor victorious generals