Roman Architecture Flashcards
Where did Roman architecture originate from?
- Took inspiration from the Greeks but expanded on it
- Influenced by foreign construction techniques, they learnt from everywhere they conquered (Europe, the North Coast of Africa and the Middle East.
What were the elements that highlight the start of urban planning?
- Roman roads: example of their straight lines/straightness
- Urban design: Hadrian’s Wall (also acts as defensive architecture)
- Urban planning: Vindolanda (Roman fort near Cambridge)
What system did the Roman use for town planning?
a grid system
What is cardo?
the grid line/street that runs north-south
What is decamanus?
the grid line/street that runs east-west
What is an agora?
Agora: public open spaces used as a meeting point/assembelies/markets or area for military camps.
How many times was Rome fortified?
As the Roman Empire expanded fortification of Roman cities became increasingly important. Rome fortified 7 times with 7 distinct set of walls delineating city’s continued expansion.
What was the Forum?
Forum is the location of the basilica (the centere of business and legal activities), the senate and the temple.
What were some common features of the Greek Temple?
- accessible from all angles
What were some common features of the Roman Temple?
- one set of stairs
- uni directional
- facing the forum
- odd number of columns
What was the basilica?
centre of business and legal activities
Why did Romans usually have an odd number of columns in their temples?
So there was a clarity of how to get in (unidirectional).
What were some of the structural innovations used by the Romans?
- arches
- vaults
- dome (Romans introduced larger dome)
- entatis
What are the two types of vault?
barrel & groin
How do arches work?
Arches work by using compressive stress pushing the forces downwards and outwards.
What is the difference between a barrel and groin vault?
The barrel vault which is a ceiling or roof made up of a series of arches (think extrusion) and the groin vault which is formed by the perpendicular intersection of two barrel vaults.
Where did the dome come from?
The dome is a hemispherical structure evolved from the arch, arch rotated = dome.
Where where domes first used?
Domes were first used in huts and tombs in the ancient Middle East, India and the Mediterranean. However the romans introduced a larger scale dome which can be seen in buildings such as the Pantheon in Rome.
Who was one of the key figures who documented innovations?
The Romans were the first to document innovations:
- Vitruvius
- Leonardo da Vinci
What is the main difference between the Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre?
The biggest difference between Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre is the shape: greek = semi circular, roman = circular
What does amphitheatre mean?
‘theatre in the round’, amphi is Greek for around.
What is another difference between the Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre in terms of topography?
Another difference is that Greek theatres are built into the topography. Whereas Roman amphitheaters create the same topography within the structure (built on flat ground).
What is perhaps the most famous Roman amphitheatre in Rome?
the Colosseum
What was the capacity of the Colosseum in Rome?
50,000
What orders were the columns in the Colosseum?
first floor = doric order
second floor = ionic order
third floor = corinthian order
What types of bricks did Romans use and why?
Much smaller and thinner bricks to ease transportation
What is insulae?
Insulae directly translates to “island” in Latin but refers to an apartment building or block in Roman architecture.
What construction technique was used that made the National Museum of Roman Art very fireproof?
Made using two layers of thin brickwork with a concrete layer in the middle.
What are the main differences between the Greek corbelled arch and the Roman true arch?
- true arch was perfectly round (bricks were placed circularly)
- corbelled arch was slightly pointed (bricks were placed horiszontally)
What was the Panthenon?
- Roman temple
- perfect dome
- had an oculus for light
- very symmetrical
What is Pantheism?
the belief in multiple gods
What were the two mani technologies used by the Romans?
- mosaic floor: artwork made with tiny gemstones used in many public and private buildings, were a display of wealth
- hypocaust: essentially a Roman type of underfloor heating that works by hot air circulating underneath the floor which warms it up
What was Hadrian’s Villa?
- 120-130 AD
- located in Tivoli (just outside Rome)
- essentially a mini town
- considering the topography, lines on the land
- it broke apart from the original grid structure
- very influential
- building with water
What was the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine?
- AD132, Rome
- Largest building in the Roman Forum
- uni directional
- stated to move to something more christian based
- high level light to nave
- vaults as shrines to gods
- future chapels and transepts
- aisles, nave, apse
