CIRCULAR OR SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCH

SEMI-CIRCULAR
ARCH
BASIC CONSTRUCTION OF ARCHES
An arch is an architectural form that controls the pressure from the weight of a building in a
specific way. The arch directs pressure downwards and outwards, creating a strong passage
underneath it that has the ability to support heavy structures. This is called compressive
stress, because the pressure of the weight is compressed by the shape of the arch. Because
the stress is directed both down and outwards, walls or other structures were often required to
reinforce the arch. The arch allowed ancient builders to make larger, more complex buildings
that could hold more space and people.
The central feature of an arch is the keystone, or the wedge-shaped stone at the very top of
the arch. It is the last stone placed during construction, and it locks all the other stones of the
arch into position. The keystone bears almost no weight, but is the centre of redirecting the
weight of the structure down and outwards. The Romans used arches with circular tops, called
rounded arches, which were made of stone. A series of rounded arches side by side is called
an arcade.
THE SEMI-CIRCULAR OR ROMAN ARCH
HISTORY OF ROMAN ARCHES
The arch was first used in the Mediterranean world by those in Mesopotamia,
Greece, Persia, and ancient Italy. While these cultures had the arch, they rarely used
it except for underground tunnels and drainage systems, where the force of the earth
around it provided natural buttressing, or reinforcement.
The Romans learned the arch from the Etruscans of Tuscany and were the first people
in the world to really figure out how to use it. Romans in the first centuries BC
discovered how to use arches in the construction of bridges, aqueducts and buildings.
The Roman arch is largely responsible for the expansion of infrastructure across the
Roman Empire.
You may know about Rome's famous roads and aqueducts that crisscrossed from
Britain to the Middle East. Without the arch, these constructions would probably not
have been possible. The Roman arch became a foundational aspect of Western
architecture and generated new systems of building across Europe.
BRIDGES AND
AQUEDUCTS
By placing a lighter arch on top
of a heavier one meant that the
downward pressure kept the
structure solid.
BRIDGES AND AQUEDUCTS
One of the foremost uses of the arch in building was for bridges and aqueducts.
When roads or pipes needed to cross an area without level terrain, say a valley or
river, an arcade of arches gave them the support they needed to sustain their weight
off the ground. This was extremely important in the development of Rome. Without
bridges to connect their roads, the Roman army would not have been able to march
across Europe, expanding the Empire.
Aqueducts required a consistent, gradual slope so that the water could flow through
them naturally. This slope had to be consistent for possibly hundreds of miles, which
would have been impossible if the Romans could not elevate and support the
aqueducts. Rome alone required hundreds of miles of aqueducts to provide enough
fresh water to its massive population.
BRIDGES AND
AQUEDUCTS
ARCHES OF
TRIUMPH
Most triumphal arches were
built during the Imperial period
to commemorate victorious
generals or significant public
events such as the founding of
new colonies.
MONUMENTAL ARCH
OF PALMYRA, SYRIA
A monumental arch was built in
the 3rd century to commemorate
the Roman victories over the
Parthians.
COLOSSEUM,
ROME, ITALY
This oval shaped amphitheatre
in the centre of Rome uses the
same principles in design like
the aqueduct but using 3 stories
of superimposed arcades which
are framed by half-columns of
the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian
orders.
COLOSSEUM,
ROME, ITALY
COLOSSEUM,
ROME, ITALY
SEMI-CIRCULAR ARCHES
IN ISLAMIC
ARCHITECTURE

Umayyad Mosque of Damascus,

Syria has an arcade of semi-
circular arches with Roman style
Corinthian columns.
UMAYYAD MOSQUE OF
DAMASCUS, SYRIA
GREAT MOSQUE OF
CORDOBA, SPAIN

The columns and double arches

were an innovation in design,
elevating the ceiling even
higher.

The lower arch is a horseshoe

arch and the higher one a semi-
circular arch. The red and white
voussoirs were inspired by those
of the Dome of the Rock,
Jerusalem.
GREAT MOSQUE OF
CORDOBA, SPAIN