Transcript Roman Art & Architecture

Roman Art & Architecture
Roman Arches
Roman Arches
• Where do we draw the line between
functional engineering and ornamental art
& architecture? Is one less gratifying than
the other? We are as amazed when we
happen across the Pont du Gard at
Nimes as we are when we walk through
the portico into the rotunda of Hadrian’s
Pantheon.
Roman Arches
• It has been said that the vast amount of slave labour in the Roman
World arrested some of the Roman’s capabilities for technological
advancement. “Necessity being the mother of invention”.
• However the truth of the matter is that the Romans moved on
technologically, just like the slave owning Greeks before them.
• The difference between the two civilisations was perhaps the greater
maturity of the Romans. The Greeks tried many new avenues
constantly changing ideas, while the Romans selected a few ideas,
and then drove them to their fullest extent. For example the arch.
• As engineers the Romans were unsurpassed. Their roads were
known as the arteries of their empire. Here however we will look
only at their aqueducts, (bridges) and drains.
Roman Arches
• An aqueduct is essentially a transport vehicle for
water bringing it from its source to where it
needs to be distributed. Our more narrow sense
of its meaning is that an aqueduct is an arched
structure used to bring water across a valley.
• Most of the Roman aqueducts were
underground. They were timber lined and
followed the natural contours of the land.
• Approximately 170,000,000 litres of water were
supplied to the city of Rome per day. This fed
the bath houses, the fountains, and the more
salubrious private houses.
Roman Arches
• In Side, on the south coast of Asia Minor, Water
was carried vast distances just to flow in
channels down the main street. A most
excessive luxury which was not unique,
especially in the eastern empire.
• The most well known extant aqueduct is of
course the Pont du Gard. This elaborate carrying
device supplied water to ancient Nimes.
• It was built in 14AD to a length of 275metres and
a height of 50 metres.
Roman Arches
• The whole structure is three tiered. On the
level immediately above the valley floor
was a road.
• The third level carried the water channel.
• The construction is made entirely of
unfaced brick.
Roman Arches
• This huge construction, and others at Segovia, and
Alacantra, were as much symbols of power as they were
functional necessities. One can only imagine what a tribal
Gaul or German would think when faced with the majesty of
the Pont du Gard. Any empire which could construct such
monstrosities was deserving of respect.
• This complies with other Roman strategies of control in
conquered areas. Functional symbols of power and strength
were constructed everywhere. The luxuries of Rome were
fast tracked into the new provinces so, at least, the power
brokers of the area, could experience what it was like to live
as a Roman. When they experienced running water, bath
houses, wine, circuses, and gladiatorial contests, would they
want to return to their more primitive ways?
Roman Arches
• For an empire as wealthy as Rome it was only a small
step to move from functional construction to ornamental.
The arch, being a symbol of power and strength, was an
ideal insignia of the imperial brand.
• It was not always expedient to build huge aqueducts in
every town so the triumphal arch was born. Single,
isolated but supreme in its own power, it
• was the perfect symbol for strong men. The emperors
loved them and built them every where in the empire.
Fifty are recorded, alone, in Rome itself. One must
consider that walking under these constructions was like
an act of submission to the strength and power of its
creator. No wonder these types of monuments are used
in Napoleonic Paris, Imperial London, and Nazi Berlin.
•
Roman Arches
• The triumphal arch, erected to commemorate
important military victories had pre-dated
imperial Rome by two centuries.
• The first recorded mention is of an L Stertinius
devoting some of the money he made
campaigning in Spain, to the setting up of two
arches. One in the forum Boarium, the other in
the Circus Maximus.
• However it was not until Augustus and his
immediate successors that the triumphal arch
became an established convention.
Roman Arches
• The Augustan examples are simple rectangular
masses normally containing just one arch
framed by pilasters. The inscription would be
overhead, surmounted, normally, by a chariot
group. A good example being the Arch of Titus.
• Later in the imperial period the three arched
variety began to appear. The best extant
example probably being the Arch of
Constantine.
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