Transcript Roman Architecture

Historical Background
• The buildings found in Rome at the peak of
its power, were large and impressive
• These included theaters, baths, temples,
libraries, imperial palaces and basilicas
(public meeting places).
• Public monuments celebrating the
achievements of emperors existed as
arches and columns.
• The Romans borrowed
architectural features from the
Etruscans and the Greeks.
– Form of the Arch- Etruscans
– Corinthian Architectural orderGreeks
• The Romans mastered the
design of the arch and
introduced a new type of
building material, concrete, to
form their own architectural
style.
Corinthian
Doric
Ionic
Roman Concrete
• The Roman’s invented
a new building material
that we still use today,
concrete.
• They mixed stone,
sand, lime mortar and
water. It dried and
hardened into
concrete.
• The surviving Roman
monuments testify to
the strength and
durability of concrete.
Arches
• The Romans made great use of
the Etruscan Arch
• The Romans used the arch in
various ways. They used it to
create architectural structures of
great size and strength.
• The vault was created by putting
a series of arches side by side.
• The dome was created by several arches crossing in
different directions in a circular space.
• Arches and Concrete revolutionized Roman
architecture.
• The Arch can be seen in the construction of city gates,
bridges and aqueducts. As well as theaters and
ampitheaters (round theaters).
Colosseum
• It was the most famous
example of an
ampitheater in Rome.
• Emperor Vespasian
started construction in
72 A.D and completed it
in 80 A.D.
• Could hold about 55,000 spectators.
• The Colosseum was used to entertain
the public with games. These games
were a way for an emperor to increase
his popularity.
• The games started with comical acts and
ended with
fights to the death between
animals and gladiators or between
gladiators and gladiators.
Aqueducts
• It is a water transport
system that allows water
to flow through pipes or
channels to carry water
from a well or stream
into the town.
• The water was
distributed throughout a
complex system of lead
or earthenware pipes.
• It moved the water using gravity
– The aqueduct had to be built at exactly
the right angle in order to use gravity to
its full potential.
– It was important for the route of water to
be constant and running.
• They were used to bring water to
areas that did not have natural water
resources.
The Pont de Gard
• Was a masterpiece built and
named for the Gard River.
• It channeled water from Nimes,
France.
• Highest of all Roman aqueducts.
• It consisted of three tiers of
arches
• The Pont de Gard is a testimony
to the engineering and
construction skill of the Romans.
Pantheon
• The Pantheon dates back to
27 B.C., when it was first built
by Marcus Agrippa.
• Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it
between 117-125 A.D. after it
burned to the ground in 80
A.D.
• Was a temple dedicated to All
Gods.
“Temple of All Gods”
• The original use of the
Pantheon is unknown, but it is
assumed it was used as a
temple.
• It was made of solid concrete consisted
of a round main room topped by a
dome and was fronted by a porch of
Corinthian columns.
• The dome on top is 142 feet in
diameter
• The oculus, the hole in the top of the
dome is used as a light source for the
interior
Activity
• Become a Roman Architect
– Using the features we discussed such as arches,
columns or domes draw your own Roman structure
– Use the structures discussed as a guideline for your
own Roman Structure
– Provide a name
– Be creative and use color
– On the Back Write:
• Name of the Structure.
• Who you designed it for.
• What Features you used.