3/4 Rome: The Empire

Question 1

Describe how Romans built a wall with concrete:

Answer 1

mold/support structure outside, stone inside, poured concrete to fill in gaps

Question 2

What secret did Roman concrete have, that was not rediscovered until the 19th century?

Answer 2

Pozzolana/volcanic ash

Question 3

What is the function of the ballast rings or steps in the Pantheon?

Answer 3

tension rings to keep the dome in compression

Question 4

What was Augustus Caesar’s main builder?

Answer 4

Agrippa

Question 5

Name four different buildings the Romans used for public entertainment:

Answer 5

a. Colosseum b. Circus Maximum c. Pompey’s Theater

d. Thermae of Titus

Question 6

What was Nero’s “Golden House”?

Answer 6

Domus Aurea, built after 2/3 of Rome was destroyed by a fire, used land to build series of buildings

Question 7

What building did Vespasian build over the lake in Nero’s palace?

Answer 7

the Collosseum

Question 8

List the four orders of pilasters on the Flavian Amphitheater, starting with the ground elevation:

Answer 8

a. doric b. ionic c. corinthian d. composite

Question 9

What are the three main spaces in Roman Bath?

Answer 9

a. frigidarium b. tepidarium c. caldarium

Question 10

Why are there three parts in a Thermae window?

Answer 10

they did not want to split arch in half

Question 11

How did Vespasian pay for the construction of the Colosseum?

Answer 11

sends son Titus to destroy Jerusalem

Question 12

Who was Trajan’s architect?

Answer 12

Apollodorus of Damascus

Question 13

How did Trajan pay for the construction of his Forum?

Answer 13

went to war with Dacia/Romania

Question 14

The column of Trajan recorded what event?

Answer 14

the conquest of Dacia

Question 15

The largest clear span constructed up to the advent of iron framing was the ________________.

Answer 15

Pantheon

Question 16

What emperor constructed the Pantheon?

Answer 16

Hadrian

Question 17

Hadrian built his villa at ____________________.

Answer 17

Tivoli, Italy

Question 18

pozzolana cement

Answer 18

cement made from volcanic ash from Pozzouli

Question 19

concrete

Answer 19

hard construction material made of sand, gravel, pebbles, stone, and mortar

Question 20

opus recticulatum

Answer 20

Roman brickwork in a diamond pattern

Question 21

dome: oculus

Answer 21

circular window at top/center of dome

Question 22

dome: haunch

Answer 22

part of the dome that wants to expand between compression and tension

Question 23

dome: coffers

Answer 23

sunken panels in ceiling, contribute to length of dome

Question 24

Commodity, Firmness, and Delight

Answer 24

Vitruvis’ 3 Principles of Design: useful, sturdy, and beautiful

Question 25

tuscan

Answer 25

unfluted version of Doric

Question 26

composite orders

Answer 26

combination of ionic and corinthian

Question 27

triumphal arch

Answer 27

monumental structure in the shape of an arch, Romans document their triumph in some way

Question 28

thermae: frigidarium

Answer 28

cold, bathroom

Question 29

thermae: tepidarium

Answer 29

warm room without water

Question 30

thermae: caldarium

Answer 30

sauna like room with hot bath

Question 31

thermae window

Answer 31

large arched windows segmented into three, characteristic of public baths in Rome

Question 32

barrel vault

Answer 32

formed by the extrusion of arch on a horizontal axis, cannot make an opening because it will collapse

Question 33

groin vault

Answer 33

intersection of two barrel vaults