Roman Era Lecture PDF

ROMAN ERA Dr. Ola Khayat ROMAN ERA ▪ The grand imperial designs of the early Roman Empire are most likely reflected in its architecture. ▪ Because of the Roman admiration for Greek art, Greek scholars and craftsmen were imported to Rome. ▪ The Romans paid more attention to the interior than the G...

ROMAN ERA Dr. Ola Khayat ROMAN ERA ▪ The grand imperial designs of the early Roman Empire are most likely reflected in its architecture. ▪ Because of the Roman admiration for Greek art, Greek scholars and craftsmen were imported to Rome. ▪ The Romans paid more attention to the interior than the Greeks, whose architectural focus was on the exterior. ▪ Roman interiors were characterized by ornamentation and decoration, inspired by Hellenistic, Greek, and Egyptian design elements. ▪ Although very few examples of furniture survive from this period, documentary evidence helps in understanding the characteristics of the furniture. ROMAN ERA ▪ Rome dates back to approximately 753–509 BC and began to flourish with the Roman invasion of Italy in 343 BC. ▪ The rule of Rome declined and deteriorated until it was divided into two empires—one in the East and another in the West—in 65 BC, and ultimately ended in 475 AD. ▪ The geography and resources of Italy differed from those of Greece. While the Greeks relied predominantly on stone and marble, the Romans used a variety of materials, including different types of stones, bricks, painted pottery, and tiles. ▪ Near Rome, volcanic activity created a type of stone known as travertine, which contributed to the availability of gravel and sand, further leading to the widespread use of concrete. ▪ Buildings were constructed entirely of concrete, and the walls were often covered with stones, bricks, or marble to avoid the bare appearance of the concrete. ROMAN ERA ▪ The Greek civilization is considered the primary inspiration for Roman civilization, as Roman architecture was heavily influenced by Greek design, especially in temples and some public buildings. ▪ However, a key difference between the two civilizations was that the Romans prioritized public buildings over religious ones, unlike the Greeks. ▪ Roman temples were typically built either facing a light source or a public square, and location played a crucial role in their design. While the Romans cared deeply about the entrances to their temples, they did not emphasize positioning the temple so that it could be viewed from all directions, as the Greeks did. ROMAN ERA ▪ Roman temples came in two main types: rectangular or circular. ▪ One of the most significant distinctions of Roman architecture is the new direction it took, focusing more on secular buildings and public spaces rather than religious structures and private ones. Additionally, the Romans made extensive use of arches in various forms, which allowed for the creation of many beautiful and innovative designs. ROMAN ERA ROMAN ERA ROMAN ERA ROMAN ERA COMPONENTS OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE ▪ The ancient Roman house, or old palaces, had several distinctive architectural features and components. ▪ It typically had two large doors that led into a hall, shed, or vestibule, known as the vestibulum, which then opened into the courtyard. This courtyard, called the atrium, was the most important part of the house. It was a spacious, open area, usually square, around which the other rooms of the house were arranged. ▪ The atrium was open to the sky in the center of the house, though some had a tiled roof. In the center of the atrium was a basin known as the impluvium, a Roman marble basin that collected rainwater falling from the roof. COMPONENTS OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE ▪ The space around the basin was surrounded by four covered corridors, which connected the essential parts of the Roman house. The atrium opened into various rooms, including the kitchen (culina), which had a chimney in the roof to vent the smoke from cooking. ▪ There was also the bedroom and a worship room, often located on the wall opposite the courtyard, dedicated to the household god who protected the home. ▪ Over time, these rooms began to form a cohesive group, with one section opening into a back hall parallel to the atrium. This back hall often had windows and led to the master's private quarters, which contained valuable possessions such as jewelry, ornaments, important documents, and statues that symbolized the family, especially their ancestors and deceased members. ▪ The back hall also opened into a beautiful garden, and in some homes, the tablinum—a room used for business or family affairs—sometimes opened onto a public road, providing space for merchants or craftsmen. Some houses also had an upper floor. COMPONENTS OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE Vestibule/atrium ‫ردهة‬/‫ دهليز‬-1 The square (open to )‫ الساحة (مفتوحة على السماء‬-2 the sky) The basin where ‫ الحوض الذي يتجمع فيه الماء‬-3 water collects ‫ غرف مقتنيات – غرفة‬-‫ األجزاء األساسية للبيت (غرف النوم‬-4 The basic parts of the house (bedrooms -)‫عبادة‬ belongings rooms - worship room) Central Square ‫ ساحة وسطية‬-5 garden ‫ حديقة‬-6 room for Trade Owners‫ غرفة ألصحاب التجارة‬-7 COMPONENTS OF THE ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE THE INNER COURTYARD OF AN ANCIENT ROMAN HOUSE ARCHES ▪ The semicircular arch was a hallmark of the Roman Empire and likely the origin of the term "Romanesque." ▪ This arch symbolized strength and solidity. ▪ Romanesque architects embraced it, incorporating it into a wide range of structures—doors, windows, ceilings, and porticoes ‫ األروقة‬. The Romanesque style was marked by a new emphasis on massive proportions, reflecting the growing stability of the era and the resurgence of European culture after the four centuries of the Dark Ages. GENERAL VIEW OF FRESCOES 40-50 BC GENERAL VIEW OF FRESCOES 40-50 BC ARCHED STRUCTURES ▪ Romanesque architects were nothing if not ambitious. They aimed to build massive new churches and wanted to roof them with masonry ‫بالبناء‬, rather than wood. To solve this challenge, they turned to their favorite architectural feature: the semicircular arch. This arch allowed for openings that were not supported by masonry. With a bit of ingenuity, they extended the arch into a tunnel shape, creating what is known as the barrel vault. ▪ There were three common types of arched structures in Roman times: 1) Barrel vault ‫البرميل‬ 2) Groin vault ‫الفخذ‬ 3) Ribbed vault ‫المضلع‬ BARREL VAULT ‫البرميل‬ ▪ The barrel vault is the simplest type of structure. ▪ It consists of a semicircular arch extended along a single axis. ▪ This technique has a long history, with examples found in ancient Egypt and Rome. ▪ Earlier medieval churches ‫ كنائس القرون الوسطى‬also used this method, though their application was relatively modest ‫بشكل‬ ‫متواضع‬. GROIN VAULT ‫الفخذ‬ ▪ The barrel vault is well-suited for covering a long hall, but churches typically require more complex structures, as they depend on multiple axes. This is where the groin vault comes in. ▪ It is formed when two barrel vaults intersect at right angles, creating a square-shaped space at the crossing. ▪ The advantage of the groin vault is that it transfers weight more vertically onto the columns, rather than horizontally onto the walls. ▪ The Romans used this technique in their baths and indoor markets, and Romanesque architects later enlarged and enhanced these structures, making them grander and more beautiful over time. RIBBED VAULT ‫المضلع‬ ▪ A new form of arched structure emerged near the end of the Romanesque period: the ribbed vault. ▪ This structure is the opposite of the groin vault. ▪ The ribs help concentrate the weight, directing it into a few small, precise points. ▪ With this ribbed design, Romanesque architects could create wider, taller, and more impressive churches. FURNITURE IN THE ROMAN ERA ▪ The typical materials used by the Romans in designing and building furniture were wood, metal, and stone. However, documentary evidence suggests that Roman furniture often featured metals such as bronze, gold, and silver, with bronze being the most commonly used. ▪ Inlaid decorations on Roman furniture commonly included materials like bronze, gold, silver, ivory, glass, tortoiseshell, and ebony. ▪ The Roman couch, or lectus, had a simple design, consisting of a horizontal reclining surface supported by four vertical legs. The head and foot areas were often adorned with decorative finial supports called volcra, which rested above the legs. ▪ Couches were highly valued and often buried with honored family members, reflecting their importance in Roman society. Their luxurious design is typical of furniture found in wealthy Roman homes. ▪ Interestingly, while we today associate tables with eating, wealthy Romans did not sit at tables but reclined on couches during meals. ▪ The length of these couches was relatively short by modern standards. ROMAN BANQUET COUCH, 1ST CENTURY BC. Roman banquet sofa details illustrate the leg with brass and Volca fittings. Source: Walters Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland, Group: Roman Art. Roman banquet sofa, wood and copper. FURNITURE IN THE ROMAN ERA ▪ This Roman sofa, dating from the 1st–2nd century AD, is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and has been reassembled from fragments, some of which are believed to have come from the imperial villa of Lucius Verus. ▪ Although the decoration and carving on the sofa and footstool are lavish, their construction is quite simple. ▪ The Roman sofa itself is rectangular, supported by four vertical columns or legs, and is usually turned on a lathe and carved. Both ends feature volcra (crescent-shaped) finials. The footstool is decorated with scenes of winged Cupids and tiger.  FURNITURE IN THE ROMAN ERA Roman sofa and footstool, first to second century AD, made The details of the Roman Footrest details showing of wood and bone reassembled from fragments sofa of the corner show a wings and tigers (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Roman art) great carved leg, a head carved above a lion statue (animal head) THANKS! Do you have any question?