Roman Architecture PDF

History of Architecture and Arts- I 2024-2025 Roman Architecture Influences Historical Geographical and climatic Religious Social Origins of Roman Architecture Elements of Roman architecture show very significant Greek influence. The Romans were...

History of Architecture and Arts- I 2024-2025 Roman Architecture Influences Historical Geographical and climatic Religious Social Origins of Roman Architecture Elements of Roman architecture show very significant Greek influence. The Romans were less attached to “ideal” forms and extended Greek ideas to make them more functional. Romans needed interior space for worship, whereas the Greeks worshipped outside. Greek technology (Post & Lintel Construction) leads to new elements. Structure Elements Round arch - strength through compression Barrel vault Groin vault Dome Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 Ancient Roman Orders The Romans took the Greek Orders but they made them taller and lighter, the capital and frieze were more ornamental and the column looks thin. With the original Greek orders, the romans added two: Tuscan Simplified Doric having unfluted column and a plain base, capital and shaft having no decoration. Composite It combined elements of both the Ionic and Corinthian orders. Columns could become part of the wall itself (engaged columns) and function purely as decoration Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 Building materials Concrete: Ancient Roman concrete was a mixture of lime mortar, sand with stone rubble, pozzolana, water, and stones Terracotta and Ceramics Bricks and stone Iron Wood: wider application of the truss, which allowed them to span larger spaces Truss Roman Innovation 1-The Arcuated Arch Aqueduct: Pont Du Gard, Nimes, France, 19 - 98 BC Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 2-Roman roads Appian way was Europe's first highway, built in 312 BC, it connected Rome with Capua (near Naples). Eventually it stretched 400 miles to Brindisi, from where Roman ships sailed to Greece and Egypt Milestones : The Romans also erected stone markers at mile intervals to notify the passerby of distances covered or the number of miles to go to reach their destination. The Roman Forum The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace. Place for meeting and discussing politics, art, music, wars. 1. Market of Trajan 2. Forum of Trajan 3. Forum of Augustus 4. Forum of Nerva 5. Forum of Vespasian 6. Forum of Caesar 19. Basilica Nova 20. Temple of Venus and Rome 21. Arch of Titus 22. Coloseum Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 THE Trajan’s FORUM in Rome, Italy. 106 AD The Ancient Roman Temples Main features of the Roman Temples: Rectangular Temples Circular Temples Used the free Ancient Roman columns and roman pilasters. The temple was raised on a high foundation of steps ( about 20 steps) to give a monumental appearance to the temple. (Therefore the columns had a rectangular high base). The Pantheon Temple. 126 AD The building is circular with a portico of three ranks of huge Corinthian columns (eight in the first rank and two groups of four behind) under a pediment. A rectangular vestibule links the porch to the rotunda, which is under a coffered concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus). The walls are bearing (6m thick) made from concrete. There are no openings in the internal walls. Niches and alcoves were used to reduce the heavy effect of the wall. Colored marble decorations. Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 THE BASILICA The Latin word basilica, was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC. The Basilica was a roofed hall with a wide central area—the nave—flanked by side aisles, and it often had two or more stories. In Roman times basilicas were the site of business transactions and legal proceedings, but in Christian times, they were adapted into churches with an apse and altar at the end of the nave. Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 Trajan's BASILICA (Basilica Ulpia) The basilica contained a central hall or nave with colonnaded aisles lit by a clerestory. Symmetrical plan. Two niches for the jurists. The two edges for main and library entrances. The ceiling is made from wood construction. The Basilica of Maxentius (Basilica Nova) 312AD The building consisted of a central nave covered by three groin vaults suspended 39 meters above the floor on four large piers. The basilica stood on concrete and rectangular platform. The central nave was 80 m long, 25 m wide, with side aisles. 8 massive marble columns (14,5 meters high). Ancient Roman amphitheatres Roman theaters Unlike Greek theaters, which were situated on natural slopes, Roman theaters were supported by their own framework of piers and vaults and thus could be constructed in the hearts of cities. Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 The Colosseum is an elliptical amphitheatre, built in 72 AD. Oval shaped. 1860m x 1539m. 400m high. 50,000 people. Ground floor had 80 arches for entry/exit. Concrete building. Exterior covered in marble. 3 orders used. Underground, there was a labyrinth of passages, dressing rooms, cages, cells and storage accommodations sand floor to absorb blood of combatants ROMAN BATH Baths of Caracalla , AD 215 The libraries were located on the east and west sides of the bath complex. A place for bathing, relaxing and having conversations. Lower floors had furnaces and service rooms. Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025  Hadrian’s villa Residence built (125–134 AD) at Tivoli near Rome Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025 Head of a Roman. 75- The Arch of Titus in Rome 81 AD, Augustus of Prima Porta 50 BCE , Rome an early Roman imperial triumphal arch with a single archway Lecturer: Nouf Albarrak 2024-2025