Roman Architecture Flashcards
Method of ancient rome in extending influence
means of conquest
material for floor paving
terra-cotta
material for facing of wall
clay bricks
material for walling
marble
volcanic stone
tufa
hard limestone
peperino
favorite material; pozzolana (volcanic earth) + stone/brick rubble; main building material; plasticity, can be shaped/molded; saves time on the construction process (cheaper)
concrete
temperate climate in rome
N. Italy
genial and sunny climate in rome
Central Italy
tropical climate in rome
S. Italy
clever and Rome’s nightmare
Hannibal Barca
greatest of the roman army; was assassinated
julius caesar
nephew of julius caesar, first ruler of Roman empire; Augustus and Imperator
Gauis Octavius
established in celebration of Rome’s recovery; Roman Peace
Pax Romana
2 acts of constantine:
- accepting Christianity as a religion equal to other religions
- chose Byzantium as the headquarters of the empire and later inaugurated as constantinopolis
Etruscan Architectural Character
true radiating arch
tuscan order
atrium type house
simpler version of the doric; shaft and column is plain
tuscan order
funeral cells and niches along the walls
walled city of falerii nori
earliest sewage system
cloaca maxima
main entrance to this historic city
arch of augustus, perugia, italy
ancient etruscan burial city, tumulus mounds
necropolis, cerveteri
renowned for vivid wall paintings
etruscan tombs, tarquinia
Roman architectural character
- columnar and trabeated
- arcuated
- vaulted
Instead of columns, this was used by the Romans to supports the arch
Piers
Columns were employed by the Romans as
Decorative features
This were the architectural aims of the Romans
Essentially utilitarian
Developed by combining the volutes of the ionic and acanthus of the corinthian
Composite order
5 Roman wall masonry
- Opus quadratum
- Opus incertum
- Opus reticulatum
- Opus testaceum
- Opus mixtum
Alternation of courses of bricks and small squared stones
Opus mixtum
Rectangular and square blocks of stones in regular ashlar courses
Opus quadratum
Small rough stones with pyramidal ends set irregularly in mortar
Opus incertum
Square stones set diagonally, forming a net-like pattern
Opus reticulatum
Brick facing with pyramidal ends
Opus testaceum
Allowed the Roman to build vaults of a magnitude never equaled until the production of steel in the 19th century
Concrete
This has the advantage over stone
Concrete
4 advantages of concrete over stone
- Can be accommodated to complicated plan forms
- Has greater cohesion
- Economical
- Easier to use than stone-cutting
Open area in a vault
Span
In a vault, this is where the arch would rest
Impost
Top stone of the arch
Keystone
The exterior curve line in a arch/vault
Extrados
4 Types of roman vaults
- Semi-circular or barrel or wagon-headed or tunnel vault
- Cross vault
- Semi-dome
- Hemispherical dome
Borne throughout its length on the two parallel walls of a rectangular plan
Semi-circular/ barrel/ wagon-headed/ tunnel vault
Formed of two semi-circular vaults of equal span
Cross vaults
Used over semi circular structures type of roman vault
Semi-dome
Type of vault used over circular structures
Hemispherical dome
Recesses that lightens the concrete
Coffers/ lacunaria
3 marble mosaic patterns
- Opus vermiculatum
- Opus sectile
- Opus spicatum
Marble mosaic patterns (small pieces of tiles) produced pictorial patterns
Opus vermiculatum
Cut work, produced geometrical pattern (Marble mosaic patterns)
Opus sectile
Produced the herringbone or chevron pattern
Opus spicatum
Masonry projecting from a wall provided to give additional strength to the same and also to resist the thrust of the roof or wall especially when concentrated at any one point
Buttress
3 types of roman buttresses
- Niche/ hemicycle
- Spur buttress
- Pinnacle buttress
Roman buttress for retaining the earth
Niche/ hemicycle
Roman buttress used when large openings for doors and windows were needed
Spur buttress
Roman buttress placed on top of a spur buttress to help by their weight drive the oblique thrust more steeply down to earth
Pinnacle buttress
4 examples of roman architecture
- Forum
- Rectangular temples
- Circular temples
- Basilica
Agora counterpart in Greek; central open space used as a meeting place, market or political demonstrations
Forum
A type of roman forum that Consists of a series of monumental public squares
Imperial forums
Oldest roman forum and most important in the city
Forum romanum
Largest of the forums, built by apollodorus of damascus; this building, standing for more than 1800yrs was once a bustling business center
Forum of trajan
Are a mixture of greek and etruscan types
Roman temples
The typical prostyle portico and podium were etruscan in type while they resembled the greek in many aspects; no particular orientation of temples compared to the greek facing east and etruscan facing south
Rectangular temples
Built by domitian; known for its ornate entablature
Temple of vespasian
Was designed for hadrian by apollodorus of damascus
Temple of venus and rome
Was dedicated to mars by augustus to avenge the death of caesar
Temple of mars, ultor, rome
Best preserved roman temple
Maison, Carree, Nimes
Was commenced by antonius pius; substructure is formed of gigantic blocks of stone known as the trilithon
Temple of jupiter, Baalbek, Lebanon
Gigantic blocks of stone
Trilithon
The coffered timber ceiling was an astonishingly luxuriant concept
Temple of bacchus, baalbek
Is the most perfectly preserved ancient roman temple; has oculus and it is the largest dome built without reinforcement
The pantheon
Was erected by hadrian, part of the pantheon
Rotunda
Built by aggripa, son-in-law of augustus; part of the pantheon
Temple aggripa
The eye in the pantheon, it is 30’ O
Oculus
Also called Coffers
Lacunaria
Was the most sacred shrine in the imperial city and contained the holy fire of vesta
Temple of vesta, rome
Has a curved inward entablature as its decorative feature
Temple of venus, baalbek
Hall of justice and commercial exchange; their central position indicates the importance of law and business in old rome
Basilica
Largest in rome, was designed by apollodorus. It had no known religious function and was dedicated to the administration of justice, commerce and the presence of the emperor
The basilica of trajan (basilica ulpia)
Had a great central nave, 4 side aisles with clerestory windows and a space divided by rows and columns and two semicircular apse
Basilica ulpia (basilica of trajan)
The columns and the walls were of precious marbles; the 50m high roof was covered by gilded bronze tiles
Basilica of trajan (basilica ulpia)
Has immense groined vaults in 3 compartments, has coffered ceiling
Basilica of constantine and maxentius
Public baths that was not a place for bathing but for the people to socialize, painted, read/ exercise
Thermae
Greek word meaning hot
Thermos
Curved metal implement
Strigil
Played an important role into the life of ancient rome; significant culture, conversation was necessary, social activity
Bathing
Palatial public baths for imperial rome, designed for luxurious bathing, has a staff of attendants like manicurist, barbers and shampooers and has rooms for lectures and areas for athletic sports
Thermae
3 compartments of the main building
- Tepidarium
- caldarium
- Frigidarium
Warm bath
Tepidarium
Hot bath
Caldarium
Unheated bath
Frigidarium
Other amenities in the main building (4)
- Sudatorium
- Apodyteria
- Unctuaria
- Palaestra
Dry sweating room
Sudatorium
Dressing room
Apodyteria
Oil room
Unctuaria
For physical exercise
Palaestra
Open-space for foot racing (part of a thermae)
Xystus
Lecture rooms and exedrae for poets and philosophers (part of a thermae)
Outer ring of apartments
This was a very hot bath and steamy room
Caldarium
A hot dry area for inducing sweating
Laconicum
Its specialty is the pleasant feeling of constant radiant heat which directly affects the human body
Tepidarium
Is a small or a large unheated pool
Frigidarium
Central floor heating system in a thermae
Hypocaust
The floor was raised above the ground by pillars called pilae stacks
Hypocaust
Pillars in a hypocaust called pilae stacks
Slippers
Spaces were left inside the wall so that hot air and smoke from the furnace would pass through these enclosed areas and out of the flues in the roof, thereby heating
Hypocaust
Can accomodate 1600 bathers with its size and magnificence
Thermae of caracalla
Great vaults were richly ornaments with coffers. Pavements were formed of bright colored mosaics in geometrical patterns or with figures of athletes
Thermae of Caracalla, Rome
It can accommodate 3000 bathers, was the grandest and the most sumptuous of the public baths. It was begun by Diocletian and Maximian about A. D. 302 and finished by Constantinius and Maximus
Thermae of Diocletian
Basilica made from the thermae of Diocletian
Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli
Small private baths in palaces and houses
Balneum
the oldest bathhouse in Pompeii
stabian baths, pompeii
The baths had a communal central heating plant and were divided into 2 sections for males and females
Forum baths, pompeii
Has a hole in the caldarium that allows the steam to escape from this hot room (caldarium)
Forum baths,pompeii
The very first pipe the old roman empire introduced
Terra-cotta pipes
Has marble benches pierced with holes for wastes to pass through a shallow water channel in front of the seats was furnished with sponges attached to sticks for patrons to wipe themselves
Roman latrines
Is a space for a sponge on a stick to clean the lower part of the body in a roman latrine
The lower hole
Were designed with a deep channel running around the four sides of a rectangular space
Latrines
Were adopted from the Greeks and restricted to a semi-circle
Roman Theaters
Were not hollowed out of a mountain side but were built up by means of concrete vaulting
Roman theaters
Theater dedicated to augustus
Theater of marcellus
Is for the display of mortal combat. The arena (sand) absorbs theblood of combatants
Amphitheater
Most of them are prisoners
Combatants
Was commenced by vespasian and completed by domitian
The colosseum (flavian amphitheater)
3 components parts of concrete used in the colosseum
- Lava for foundation
- Tufa and brick for walls
- Pumice stone for vaults to reduce their weight
Special architectural features of the colosseum (3)
- Massive piers which support the 3 tiers of countless arcades
- Decorative use of the classic orders super imposed on the walls
- Grand sweeping lines of the unbroken entablature round the building
The structural problems involved were engineering in character because the romans built the gigantic edifice without scooping the earth
The colosseum
is an entirely new departure made possible by the invention of concrete. It can seat to a capacity of over 80000
The colosseum
Is a canvas awning drawn over to protect the audience from rain/sun
Velarium
Is a chamber beneath an arena, where bodies of dead gladiators are dragged and piled
Spoliarium
Was also used for mock naval battles
The colosseum
Mock naval battles
Naumachia
For horse and chariot-racing
Circus
Stalls that held the contestants’ chariot and horses
Carceres
Dividing walls at the center
Spina
Is an ancient hippodrome and mass entertainment venue
Circus Maximus, rome (great circus)
5 classes of tombs
- Coemetria or subterranean vault
- Monumental tombs
- Pyramidal tomb
- Temple-shaped tomb
- Sculptured memorials
Contains both the columbaria and loculi
Coemeteria or subterranean vault
Niches that receive the ashes of the dead
Columbaria
Recesses for corpses, bigger niches accepting bodies of dead and corpses
Loculi
Resemble etruscan tumuli with a conical crown of earth
Monumental tomb
Now the castle of saint angelo
Mausoleum of hadrian
Taken from egyptian ideas
Pyramidal tombs
Have mortuary chapels with colonnaded portico and sepulchral vault
Temple-shaped tombs
Now the cathedral of st. Domnius
Mausoleum of diocletian
Cenotaphs or monumental blocks in honor of persons buried elsewhere or those people who died in war and cannot be found
Sculptured memorials
Erected to emperors and generals commemorating victorious campaigns
Triumphal arches
Arch located in the palatine hills
Arch of titus
Were erected to celebrate Naval victories, decorated with prows of ships and figures
Rostral columns
Columns erected to record triumphs
Pillars of victory
Has so many bas-relief, example of pillars of victory
Column of trajan, rome
3 types of town gateways and archways
- Forming part of the protective wall circuit
- Ornamental portals to forums and markets
- At main street intersections
Example of forming part of the protective wall circuit
Porte de mars, reims, france
Comes from the word palatine, where a group of magnificent palaces were built by emperors augustus, tiberius, caligula, domitian, and severus
Palaces
Private house, was the home of the wealthy and the middle class. The etruscan atrium house and the traditional greek peristyle house are combined to make this
Domus
Parts of a domus (13)
- Alae
- Posticum
3 triclinium - Atrium
- Implivium
- Taberna
- Prothyrum
- Andron
- Peristilium
- Oecus
- Cubicula
- Culina
- Summer triclinium
Conversation area (part of a domus)
Alae
Service door (part of a domus)
Posticum
Dining (part of a domus)
Triclinium
Open court (part of a domus)
Atrium
Rain cistern (part of a domus)
Implivium
Shop (part of a domus)
Taberna
Entrance (part of a domus)
Prothyrum
Passageway (part of a domus)
Andron
Colonnaded garden (part of a domus)
Peristilium
Reception (part of a domus)
Oecus
Bedroom (part of a domus)
Cubicula
Kitchen (part of a domus)
Culina
Dining for guest during summer (part of a domus)
Summer triclinium
Formal dining room, derived from gk. Words ‘tri’ three and ‘kilned’ couch. There are 3 couches on 3 sides of a low square table. The master of the house and. The guests holds a feast lying on these couches. This was a formal style in ancient rome
Triclinium
Country house, is the summer house of the wealthy romans
Villa
2 types of roman villa
- Villa rustica
2. Villa urbana
Was a glorified farmhouse with barns, orchards, and vineyards for the owner of the estate
Villa rustica
3 components of a roman villa rustica
- Urbana (main house)
- Agricenter
- Hustica
Was a pleasure retreat with formal gardens adorned with fountains and sculptures
Villa urbana
Was a complex of over 30 buildings
Hadrian’s villa
Apartment blocks, the roman were the first civilization to utilize flats and apartments
Insulas
Are houses for the lower classes. The floor at the ground level was used for shops with living space in the higher floors
Insulas
Is being dumped on the street below or emptied into vats that were kept under the stairs
Chamberpot
Water conveying ducks
Specus
Are water channels on water bridges constructed to convey water
Aqueducts
A special mixture of ground terra cotta and lime used for the lining of water channels, aqueducts and reservoirs
Opus signinum
Was listed in the unesco world heritage site in 1985
Pont-du-gard, nimes, france
Was begun by emperor caligula and completed by claudius
Aqua claudia
Are simple, solid and practical in construction and designed to offer a well-calculated resistance to the meh of water
Bridges (pons)
Is the oldest bridge in rome made of bricks and travertine stones
Pons fabricius, rome
Was built by marcus aemilius scaurus, has semi-circular arches over massive piers with protecting ‘starlings’ or cut waters and extra arches above them to allow the flood waters to pass through
Pons milvius, rome
Is the longest of the remaining roman bridges
Puente romano, merida spain
were set for commercial exchange, military transfers and a more rapid conquest of other new countries
Roads
Is an ancient roman highway that was named for appius claudius caecus who began its construction in 312 b. c.
The appia antica (appian way)
It was once one of the world’s most important roads and the most famous of all the roads that radiated from rome towards the far ends
The appia antica (appian way)
Has a total length of 563 km. it used to be known as the ‘regina viarum’ the queen of all roads
Appian way
Is lined with the ruins of the tombs of prominent romans
Appian way
Built between 50-90 B. C. It was a tomb for the wife of crasus
Tomb of cecilia metella
(Tomb)Freed slaves
Tomb of rabirii
Existed mainly in courts and gardens of private houses
Fountains
2 types of fountains
- Lacus
2. Salientes
Is a fountain with a large basin of water
Lacus
Is a spouting jet fountain
Salientes
4 characteristics of roman architecture
- Vastness
- Magnificence
- Ostentation
- Ornateness
