Ancient Roman

art and architecture

Romulus Founder of Rome
 800 BC a Latin princess gave
birth to a pair of twin boys
fathered by the god Mars

 The boys Romulus and Remus

were taken away from her as a
punishment for an oath she had
taken

 They were rescued and cared

for by a she wolf

Left to drown at the edge of the  Romulus became king and

flooding Tiber River, Romulus and called the city Rome after a sign
Remus were found and raised by a
from the gods
she wolf.
pleasant climate and fertile soil

Tiber river was the main source of

water and mode of transportation

Peasant settlement located 24km upstream of the Tiber River in a

region of a group of seven hills known as the Palatine Hills
 barley

wheat

Agriculture was the main

economic activity as barley and
wheat was the source of food
Who were the Romans?

The Romans were best in warfare , engineering and the setting

up a government

Practitioners and builders, learning from the genius of the

Greek

Introduced new building types and construction systems and

materials – developed architectural forms on a grand scale.

Not as religious as the Greeks, more recreational buildings than

sacred.
Developed a driving compulsion to spread the benefits of
Roman law, and had a deep intolerance for people who were
not Romanised.
Who were the Romans? :Social Class

Patricians Plebeians
 the rich aristocrats  commoners
 membership of the Senate ,  tax payers
political debates  poor farmers
 carry out religious ceremonies  slaves
Who were the Romans? :Education

Every Roman child is educated to read , write and count and

taught swimming , sword fighting and playing musical instruments
by their parents or a hired slave tutor called a pedagogue
Who were the Romans? :The People
Their character was stern , brave
and steadfast

They are very ambitious , highly

competitive for civil and military
honors

Spent lavishly on dress , housing

and entertainment

The Roman men wore the toga and

tunic while the women adorned the
stola which was similar to the Ionic
dress of the Greek

Colour , denotes the rank and status

of the wearer
eg: A knight’s trabea is laced with
crimson stripe
Who were the Romans?:Women

The women of Rome had a better place in society compared

to their counterpart in Greece. These women were educated
and played a major role in the decision in their families .
Who were the Romans? :Government System
The Roman Republic

2 ROMAN CONSULS

SENATE
300 membership for life

CITIZEN ASSEMBLY

The Roman Law

Ancient Roman
architecture
Rome was not built in one day
Roman Architecture
Romans were famous for their
advancement in architecture and
engineering.

AESTHETICALLY, the Romans

were content to follow Greek
precedents but STRUCTURALLY
they improved on them .
Roman Architecture :
Construction Methods and Characteristics

Introduction of new construction methods :

Roman Arch, Vault and Dome

With these methods the Romans were able to construct bigger

temples and buildings than ever before – adoption of imposing
building scale and size to reflect the grandeur of the empire.
Roman Architecture :
Construction Methods and Characteristics
Greek shapes assimilation:

– Architectonical orders were used more in a

decorative than in a practical way
– The use of orders linked to the wall created
a decorative element
– They used the classical orders and two
more:
• Tuscan
• Composite
 Tuscan
Order

Composite
order
Roman Architecture :
Construction Methods and Characteristics
-introduction of concrete in construction ; a stronger and readily
available substitute for stone , which also allows for more
dramatic forms

- freedom of concrete also inspired the colonnade screen ; a row

of purely decorative columns in front of a load-bearing wall.

- tile or mosaic covered concrete supplanted marble as the

primary building material

-in smaller-scale architecture, concrete's strength freed the floor

plan from rectangular cells.

-use of the arch, vault (extruded arch), apse, and dome -- all of
which can be used to span spaces for public buildings designed
to accommodate a large crowd.
CONCRETE technology
 Roman Architecture :
The Building Typologies
Infrastructure Residential Recreational

Roads Domus Theatre

Bridges Insulae Amphitheatre
Aqueducts Palace Circus (stadium)
Roads Villa Baths
Defensive wall Farm villas

Art Public Religious

Tiles , mosaic, Basilica Temples

fresco Forum
Sculptures Marketplace
Statues
 Roman Infrastructure: Paved Roads

- Paved roads were needed to reach

to any point of the empire

- They facilitated both communication

and political control

All Roads Lead to Rome

Roman Infrastructure: Aqueducts
An engineered structure designed to bring huge quantities of pure water
into the city from the mountainous regions . Water to the public baths and
homes are supplied from the aqueducts through a systematic water supply
system.

Some aqueducts are still in use to

this present day

Such Etruscan engineering methods were employed in

the construction of the massive structures for aqueducts
and bridges all over the Roman Empire.
Roman Infrastructure: Aqueducts

-Aqueducts were built in order to avoid geographic

irregularities between fountains or rivers and towns.

-Not only valleys were crossed by superposed cannels,

but also mountains were excavated by long tunnels,
pits and levels of maintenance.

- They were used to bring water to cities.

Roman Infrastructure: Aqueducts

The water flowed in a tube on the

top of the aqueduct called a
water channel.
The arches supported the water
channel.
The water flowed through a
rectangular channel lined with
concrete.
Romans Had Flushing Toilets

It’s well-known that Romans were responsible for pioneering the sewer
system. They were one of the first examples in history to use underground
flowing water to wash away waste.
Roman Infrastructure: Bridges and Drainage
Roman engineers were true masters building them, since
constructions were essential elements for reaching places
and cities often situated at the bank of rivers.

This location was due to defensive and infrastructural reasons

-supply and drainage.

They are characterised by:

- arches.
- Route of more than 5 m. wide.
- Rectangular pillars from their basis.
Residential Building Type : Insulae

Large apartment buildings where the

lower and middle classes dwelled.

A block with shops and light industry at

the ground level and apartments
above.

These structures ranged in height from  Insulaes became a social

four to seven stories. problem in the Roman Empire .

These insulae did not have running  They were often overcrowded
water or sanitation, with the inhabitants and noisy and the absence of
relying on public toilets and fountains. proper sanitation and garbage
disposal system was a threat to
The name of the ‘insulae’ was derived the health of the occupants.
from the Latin for islands. It would
appear these buildings were spaced  Most of this structures are of
out like islands (hence the name), while timber and was a fire hazard to
being surrounded by road. the surrounding buildings.
Residential Building Type : Insulae
Residential Building Type : Domus
Residential Building Type : Domus
 Residential Building Type : The Villa

Hadrian Villa:Maritime Theatre

Hadrian Villa :Overall plan

Hadrian Villa:Pecile
 Residential Building Type : The Villa
 A country house out of the urban boundaries

 Large residence for the wealthy and those in

power.

 Similar to a town, often with private stadium,

bath, pools, etc.

 They are self sufficient ; grow their own crops Hadrian Villa:Building with three
and tend to cattle Exedras

 Walls are adorned with frescos and extensive

mosaic murals depicting their lavish lifestyles

Hadrian Villa: Details of Mosaic Floor

Hadrian Villa: Building with Fishpond

Public Building Type : The Forum
 Forums were cultural centres in cities.
 Temples for Imperial worship, schools, basilica, markets or even termae
had a direct access through forum.
 In many cases even buildings for spectacles -circus, theatres and
amphitheatres- were communicated so.
 Forums were a way in for important persons to tribunals.
Public Building Type : The Forum
Public Building Type : Basilica

A large meeting hall most often used for

the law courts.

The basilica could also contain the stock

exchange, business and offices,
administrative offices, and therefore was
a physical link between law and
business.
Public Building Type : Basilica

Contained interior colonnades that divided the space,

giving aisles or arcaded spaces at one or both sides,
with an apse at one end where the magistrates sat,
often on a slightly raised dais.
Public Building Type : Basilica

The central aisle tended to

be wide and was higher
than the flanking aisles, so
that light could penetrate
through the clerestory
windows.
Public Building Type : Thermal Bath
Public Building Type : Thermal Bath

There were spaces for public life

They consisted of different rooms:

 Changing rooms
Different temperature rooms:
 Frigidarium (cold)
 Tepidarium (warm)
 Caldarium (hot)
 Swimming pool
 Gymnasium
 Library
Public Buildings : Thermal Baths
 After a morning's work at the office or
shop, most Romans enjoyed spending
the afternoon at the thermae or
public bath.
 They were a social meeting place.

 Men and women enjoyed coming to

the baths not only to get clean but to
meet with friends, exercise, or read at
the library.
 The baths had hot and cold pools,
towels, steam rooms, saunas, exercise
rooms, and hair cutting salons. They
had reading rooms and libraries, as
among the freeborn, who had the
right to frequent baths, the majority
could read.

 The indentations in the wall were

storage lockers.
The Baths at Pompeii
Recreational Buildings : The Roman Baths

The Roman baths used the

Hypocaust system for heating the
building and the pools. This under
floor heating system had hot air
heated from the basement fires
flowing between the brick or
concrete columns which support
the ground floor.

The warm air flows through wall

ducts into the rooms at the baths
and quickly heats them.
At one time, there were as many as 900 public
baths in ancient Rome. Small ones held about
300 people, and the big ones held 1500 people
or more.

The floor tiles have been removed to expose

the empty space through which
hot exhaust gases flowed, heating the tiles.
Public Building Type : Thermal Bath

Baths of Caracalla
 The second largest Roman public baths, or thermae,
built in Rome c. 212 AD
 more of a leisure centre than just a series of baths
Caracalla´s Bath House Overall Plan
Caracalla´s Bath House Plan
Public Building Type : Theater

-It is similar to the Greek but it

is not located in a mountain
but it is completely built

-It has a semicircular scenery

-It does not have the

orchestra because in Roman
plays was not a chorus

-The rest of the parts are

similar to those of the Greek
theatre
Public Building Type : Theater

Merida’s Roman Theatre

Public Building Type : Amphitheater

- It comes from the fusion of

two theatres
- It was the place for
spectacles with animals
and fights (gladiators)
- There could be filled with
water for naval battles.
Public Building Type : Amphitheater (Coloseum)

There were four arcaded stories, the

first three each had eighty arches,
framed respectively by engaged
Doric, Ionic and Corinthian columns.
Public Building Type : Amphitheater (Coloseum)
Public Building Type : Amphitheater (Coloseum)
Archaeologists have determined that an aqueduct leading to the site of
the Colosseum could easily have filled the arena by using the hydraulic
lifting mechanisms that were installed underground at the east and west
ends of the amphitheater for the enactments of sea battles.
Public Building Type : Amphitheater (Coloseum)
The maze of tunnels
and chambers
beneath the arena
floor included a
number of holding
pens designed to
keep animals until
they were released
into the arena itself
for hunting
spectacles.
Public Building Type : Circus

The most important

event at the Circus
was chariot racing.
The track could hold
twelve chariots, and
the two sides of the
track were separated
by a raised median
termed the spina.
Statues of various
gods were set up on
the spina

To cater for the demand of a mass public entertainment space on a lavish

scale Julius Caesar expanded the Circus around 50 BC, after which the
track measured approximately 600 m (1,968 ft) in length, 80 m (387 ft) in
breadth and could accommodate an estimated 250,000 spectators.
The emperors spent enormous amounts of money to entertain the people. In fact,
159 days each year had been declared holidays by the A.D. 100's.On these holidays
the emperors provided amazing circuses and games to keep the people happy.
Public Building Type : Circus
Public Building Type : Temple

 It copied the Greek model

 It has only one portico and a

main façade

 It is built on a podium

 Instead of having stairs all

around, it only has them in the
main façade
Public Building Type : Temple (Pantheon)
The Pantheon is one of the great spiritual
buildings of the world. It was built as a
Roman temple and later consecrated as
a Catholic Church.

The interior volume is a cylinder above

which rises the hemispherical dome.

Opposite the door is a recessed

semicircular apse, and on each side are
three additional recesses, alternately
rectangular and semicircular, separated
from the space under the dome by The aerial view of the Pantheon
paired monolithic columns.

The only natural light enters through an

unglazed oculus at the center of the
dome and through the bronze doors to
the portico.
Public Building Type : Temple (Pantheon)
Public Building Type : Temple (Pantheon)
Five rows of twenty-eight square coffers
of diminishing size radiate from the
central unglazed oculus with a diameter
of 8.7 m (29 feet) at the top of the
dome.

The dome is constructed of stepped rings

of solid concrete with less and less
density as lighter aggregate (pumice) is
used, diminishing in thickness to about
1.2 m (4 feet) at the edge of the oculus.

The dome rests on a cylinder of masonry

walls 6 m (20 feet).
Public Building Type : Temple (Pantheon)
Thank You