Transcript Ancient Roman Architecture

Ancient Roman Architecture
Pantheon
Pantheon:
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Original building built by Marcus Vipsanius
Agrippa, 27-25 B.C.E.
Destroyed by fire in 80 A.D.
Rebuilt approx. A.D. 125 by Emperor Hadrian
Inscription from original building added: M
AGRIPPA L F COS TERTIUM FECIT: “Marcus
Agrippa, son of Lucius, built during his third
consulate.”
Piazza della Rotunda –
Stolen Egyptian Obelisk
Photo: M. Griffin
Pantheon Exterior
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Exterior: Looking at the exterior, you get a
very different impression from that of the
interior.
Cella (walled room to house the statue of the
god): looks like a simple drum shape topped by
a low dome.
Porch (Portico): square shape with three rows
of columns in front of the entrance; topped by
pediment.
Exterior View: Portico and Cella
Photo: M. Griffin
View from inside Portico with Corinthian Columns
Ground level:
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has risen since ancient Roman times;
entrance steps are now submerged so that
the whole building looks more short and
squat than it would have in ancient times.
View of
Pantheon Cella
exterior with
modern street
level observable
on the left
Photo: M. Griffin
Pantheon: best preserved interior of any
ancient Roman structure.
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Saved from destruction when converted to
church in 7th Century C.E.
Still in use as church today.
Unchanged from Roman Times:
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Columns
Floor
Colored marble paneling of walls
Coffered ceiling (except for bronze or gilt covering)
Christian Altar
Photo: M. Griffin
Christian Statue
of Mother and
Child
(In niche
probably once
occupied by
statue of
Roman god)
Photo: M. Griffin
Unchanged from
Ancient Rome:
•Floor
•Columns
•Marble Panels
(multi-colored)
Photo: M. Griffin
Unchanged from
Roman Times:
•Coffered ceiling
(with sunken
panels)
Dome
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Romans – highly skilled with concrete
Largest unreinforced concrete dome in the
world;
Remained the largest dome in the world for at
least a thousand years.
Concrete becomes thinner toward the top of the
dome (20 ft. thick at bottom; 6 feet at top);
Concrete near the top may even be made with
lighter materials (e.g. pumice)
Occulus (Eye)
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Occulus – circular opening at top of dome;
symbolic of the sun;
open to the sky;
143 feet above the floor;
7.8 meters across.