HISTORY OF ARCHITECTURE-IV

TOPIC: ROMAN ARCHITECTURE PART -1

HAJIRA S 1SI20AT
JEEVAN M 1SI20AT009
SUMUKHA K 1SI20AT026
 INTRODUCTION
•The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own
purposes, creating a new architectural style. The Romans absorbed Greek and Phoenician
influence, apparent in many aspects closely related to architecture; for example, this can be
seen in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of
dining. The Romans, similarly, were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who
supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as
hydraulics and in the construction of arches.
•Social elements such as wealth and high population densities in cities forced the ancient
Romans to discover new (architectural) solutions of their own. The use of vaults and arches
together with a sound knowledge of building materials, for example, enabled them to achieve
unprecedented successes in the construction of imposing structures for public use. Examples
include the aqueducts of Rome, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla, the
basilicas and Colosseum. They were reproduced at smaller scale in most important towns and
cities in the Empire. Some surviving structures are almost complete, such as the town walls of
Lugo in Hispania Tarraconensis, or northern Spain.
•Political propaganda demanded that these buildings should be made to impress as well as
perform a public function.] The Romans didn't feel restricted by Greek aesthetic axioms alone
in order to achieve these objectives. The Pantheon is a supreme example of this, particularly
in the version rebuilt by Hadrian, which remains perfectly preserved, and which over the
centuries has served, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, as the inspiration for countless
public buildings. The same emperor left his mark on the landscape of northern Britain when
he built a wall to mark the limits of the empire, and after further conquests in Scotland, the
Antonine wall was built to replace Hadrian's Wall.
• Roman architecture covers the period from the establishment
of the Roman Republic in 509 BC to about the 4th century AD,
after which it becomes reclassified as Late Antique or Byzantine
architecture.
• Roman architectural style continued to influence building in the
former empire for many centuries, and the style used in
Western Europe beginning about 1000 is called Romanesque
architecture to reflect this dependence on basic Roman forms.
• The Romans only began to achieve significant originality in
architecture around the beginning of the Imperial period, after
they had combined aspects of their originally Etruscan
architecture with others taken from Greece, including most
elements of the style we now call classical architecture.
• The Romans produced massive public buildings and works of
civil engineering, and were responsible for significant
developments in housing and public hygiene, for example their
public and private baths and latrines, under-floor heating in the
form of the hypocaust, mica glazing (examples in Ostia Antica),
and piped hot and cold water (examples in Pompeii and Ostia).
PRIMARY MATERIALS

• The earliest buildings built in and around Rome were

made of tuff, a type of volcanic rock of varying
hardness, which could be worked mostly with bronze
tools. Later, harder stones were used, like peperino and
local albani stone from the Alban hills. During the
empire, the most common stone used for building was tuff alabaster
travertine, a form of limestone quarried in Tivoli, as used
on the exterior of the Colosseum in Rome.
• Marble was used only for facing or decoration, or
sometimes in mosaics. Coloured marbles and stones like
alabaster, porphyry and granite, were also popular, as
exemplified by the remains of Hadrian's Villa at Tivoli.
The majority of domestic homes were made with a
variety of unburned bricks faced with stucco.
 Amphitheatre
The amphitheatre was, with the triumphal arch and basilica, the only major
new type of building developed by the Romans
amphitheatre of pomei
They were used for gladiatorial contests, public displays, public meetings
and bullfights, the tradition of which still survives in Spain and Portugal

Basilica
The Roman basilica was a large public building where business or legal
matters could be transacted.
they were normally where the magistrates held court, and used for other official
ceremonies, having many of the functions of the modern town hall .
basilica of maxentius

Circus
The Roman circus was a large open-air venue used for public events in the
ancient Roman Empire. Circuses were venues for chariot racing, horse races,
and performances that commemorated important events of the Empire were
performed there.

circus maximus
Horreum
A horreum was a type of public warehouse used during
the ancient Roman period

Forum

Every city had at least one forum of varying size. In addition to its standard
function as a marketplace, a forum was a gathering place of great social
significance, and often the scene of diverse activities, including political
discussions and debates, rendezvous, meetings, etc. Much the best known
example is the Roman Forum.
roman forum

Triumphal arches

the Roman triumphal arch was used to commemorate victorious generals or

significant public events such as the founding of new colonies, the construction
of a road or bridge, the death of a member of the imperial family or the
ascension of a new emperor.
Aqueduct

The Pont du Gard, near Vers-Pont-du-Gard, France

The Romans constructed numerous aqueducts in order to bring water from distant sources
into their cities and towns, supplying public baths, latrines, fountains and private
households. Waste water was removed by complex sewage systems and released into
nearby bodies of water, keeping the towns clean and free from effluent. Aqueducts also
provided water for mining operations, milling, farms and gardens.

Bridges

Roman bridges, built by ancient Romans, were the first large and lasting
bridges built. Roman bridges were built with stone and had the arch as the
basic structure. Most utilized concrete as well, which the Romans were the
first to use for bridges.