Transcript Roman Architecture

Roman Architecture and
Engineering
Roman Aqueducts
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Supply water to cities and industrial sites
Most aqueducts were underground
Powered by gravity
City of Rome had 11 aqueducts, supplied
300 million gallons per day
Roman Roads
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Built mostly by slaves and soldiers
53,000 miles of total Roman Roads
Main use was to move armies
Also used extensively for trade and travel
Today, many European roads follow same
routes
The Roman Forum
• Center of political and economic life during
the Roman Republic
• Buildings include:
– Senate chambers
– Temples to the Gods
– Monuments to victories
The Pantheon
• Built to honor all Roman Gods
• Dome is most impressive feature, a
perfect sphere
• Oculus – opening allowing sunlight to
stream in
The Coliseum
• Used for the games of Rome
• Held 50,000
• 80 entrances, could disperse crowd in 5
minutes
• Underground floors housed gladiators,
wild animals, could be flooded