ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

CONTENTS

 PRELUDE TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION

 Etruscan Civilization
 Etruscan Architecture

 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – 365 A.D.)

 ROMAN ORDERS

 TOWN PLANNING

 TYPICAL EXAMPLES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTIC

FEATURES.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 PRELUDE TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION
 ETRUSCAN CIVILIZATION
Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to a civilization of
ancient Italy in the area corresponding roughly to Tuscany

The ancient Romans called its creators the Tusci or Etrusci.

Their Roman name is the origin of the terms Tuscany, which refers to
their heartland, and Etruria, which can refer to their wider region.

Rome was founded within or adjacent to Etruscan territory, and there is

considerable evidence that early Rome was dominated by Etruscans
until the Romans sacked Veii in 396 BC.

When Rome was still in its infancy, Etruscans were powerful and prosperous.

By 6th century B.C. they had a federation of twelve city states. Etruscan cities were separate
entities which never came together to form a single Etruscan state.

The region was rich in mineral resources such as metal ore, copper, tin, silver, iron etc.

Metal working was largely practiced and their excellent work made them famous in all the
trading world

The mining and commerce of metal, led to an enrichment of the Etruscans and to the expansion
of their influence in the Italian peninsula and the western Medirterranean sea.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE
PRELUDE TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION
The sites of the Etruscan towns are nearly all on or near a line, curving slightly from the sea,
extending from Fiesole, near Florence, through Arretium, Cortona, Volsinii, and Falerii, to Rome.

The only sites of much importance near the sea were Cossa and Tarquinii.

Etruscan settlements were frequently built on a hill—

the steeper the better—and surrounded by thick walls,
as if for the purpose of defence.

Much of the town-walling remains in various places, as at Fiesole,

Cortona, Cossa, and Voltera, and furnishes grand examples both
of the polygonal and of the squared masonry, which has been
described as belonging to the early period of Greek architecture.

Towns were neatly planned on grid iron system with broad streets, water supply and drainage.

The Romans skill in plumbing and town planning had their origin in Etruria.

The Etruscans were directly responsible for many of Roman's cultural as well as building
development.

Etruscans houses were built with sun-dried bricks and wooden roof covered with terra-cotta tiles.
They were the earliest to introduce the radiating arch.

They invented a new order of Architecture called the Tuscan Order.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
Roman Civilization in the Chronological Order

ROMAN KINGDOM Etruscan Civilization

753 B.C. – 509 B.C.
Fall of Etruscan dynasty
ROMAN REPUBLIC and Rome Republic
508 B.C. – 27 B.C. established

ROMAN EMPIRE Post Republican Phase

27 B.C. – 1453 A.D.

FEUDAL EUROPE

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION
The “Etruscan” – early settlers of west-central part of Italy.

The ancient capital Rome founded near river Tiber – protected

by seven surrounding hills.

The country is located centrally in Europe and is very mountainous.

The coast-line of Italy is simple and not indented like Greece.

They were not sea fearing and colonists like Greeks.

They did not depend on colonization, but they conquered empires.

Italy being in the central position in the Mediterranean sea,

the Roman’s art and culture spread over Europe, Western Asia and
Northern Africa which later on came under the Roman Empire.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 GEOLOGICAL CONDITION
The building materials of early Italy centred in Etruria.

The iron was got from island of Elba, copper from neighboring islands.

Other materials used by them were stone and timber.

The Romans made full use of the natural resources and obtained suitable earth for making
terra-cotta and bricks .

In the vicinity of Rome, there was plenty of building stone tufa of varying degree of hardness; and
hard limestone from Tivoli, together with excellent sand and gravel.

But the most important material that helped to build huge gigantic buildings of Rome was the
lime concrete.

The lime concrete was formed by means of stones or brick rubble and mortar which had the
important ingredient pozzolona.

Substituted for sand and was mixed with lime to produce mortar of very good strength and has
the property of setting even under water.

The facing often covered with plaster or marble.

Huge quantities of white and coloured marble was obtained from distant quarries of all the parts
of Europe
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 CLIMATIC CONDITION
The north part of Italy has temperate climate but south is totally tropical and central is cordial and
cheerful.

These varying climatic conditions produced diversity of architectural features.

 RELIGIOUS CONDITION
Religion was a fusion of different cults but was largely influenced by Etruscans, the early settlers of
Italy.

In course of time, many of the Roman Gods acquired the same characters as those of Greeks.

The Greeks had no strong religious feelings. Worship of god was entire a matter of state policy.

Though temples were built, Romans paid more attention for the construction of public buildings.

Every house had an altar for family gods. Ancestor worship also considered as a part of religious
rites.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 SOCIAL CONDITION
The early settlers of Italy- Etruscans were migrated mostly from Lidia in Asia minor.

Until 6th Century B.C. Rome was under Etruscan kings of Tarquin dynasty.

But in 509 B.C, their domination collapsed and republic was established in Rome.

Romans were empire builders, and conquered many parts of the world.

They were pioneers of road construction. For them roads were primarily a military importance for
the movement of their army and chariots.

A road known as Appian way was about 570 km long.

Romans are also a skilled sportsman as is evident from the construction of stadiums and circuses.

Romans love for justice gave rise to the construction of Basilica (court of Justice).

Romans social life, customs are also clearly understood in the construction of ‘Amphi-theatre’
where they used to hold contests between men and animals.

Their love for luxury is evident from ‘Thermae’ – the palatial public baths of Imperial Rome.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 HISTORICAL CONDITION
The foundation of Rome is of uncertain date, but is generally taken as B.C. 750, and until B.C. 500
its development and destinies were in the hands of the Etruscans kings.

The Republic was established in Rome after the fall of last Etruscan king Tarquinius Super bus,
which followed engaged in many wars, conquering several Etruscan cities, but was defeated in
B.C. 390 by the Gauls, who continued for some time to hold the northern part of Italy.

About B.C. 343 began the Roman con-quest of Italy, which in about sixty years resulted in the
dominion of one city over many cities.

Then came wars with peoples outside Italy, and Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, was the first to be subdued.

The first Punic war (B.C. 264–241) against Carthage brought about the annexation of Sicily as the
first Roman province.

The second Punic war (B.C. 218–201) was the most severe struggle in which the Romans had
engaged ; for Hannibal, the great Carthaginian general, entered Italy from the north, defeated
the Roman armies, and maintained himself in Italy until recalled to meet a counter-attack of the
Romans, under Scipio, upon Carthage itself.

The third Punic war (B.C. 149–146) ended in the destruction of Carthage, which with its territory
became a Roman province in Africa. The conquest of Macedonia B.C. 168 and of Greece B.C..
146 added two more provinces to the Roman Empire, and also stimulated the importation of
Greek artists and art into Italy.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT
 HISTORICAL CONDITION
Greece, in its turn, formed a stepping-stone for the Romans to Western Asia, which was gradually
subdued till in B.C. 133 it also became a province of Rome.

With the conquests of Syria (B.C. 190) and Spain (B.C. 150) the Roman Empire extended from the
Euphrates to the Atlantic.

The prolonged and often desperate wars had a deleterious effect of breaking the system
government devised for a city state.

It gave rise to the succession of military dictatorships of which that of Julius Ceasar is the most
famous.

Julius ceasar conquered Goul in 58 B.C. and Britain in 55B.C. He brought immense prosperity to
Rome.

He reformed the calendar later known as Julian Calendar.

After the defeat of Pompy in 48 B.C Julius Ceasar became almost a monarchy, but was murdered
in 44 B.C. and social chaos created for some time.

The political power gradually became weak by social chaos, economic decline and crises, but
were averted by the Emperor Constantine.

He declared Christianity as state religion and shifted the capital from Rome to Byzantium. The
constant attack by barbarians from north, east of Rhine finally caused the fall of Roman Empire in
5th century A.D. and laid the foundation of feudal Europe.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – A.D.365)
 CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
The Romans adopted the columnar and trabeated style of the Greeks and developed also the
arch, vault, and dome of the Etruscans.

This combined use of column, beam, and arch is the

keynote of the Roman style in its earliest stages.

The Piers strengthened and faced by attached

half-columns support arches, which in their turn
carry the entablature.

Thus the Orders of architecture which, as used by the

Greeks, were essentially constructive were frequently
employed by the Romans as decorative features
which could be omitted and even at times lost their
original use, although the Romans also used them
constructively in temple colonnades and basilicas.

The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Orders of architecture

were used by the Greeks and the Romans added the
Tuscan and Composite making five in all.

Vitruvius, the Roman authority on architecture in the

time of Augustus, gives the proportions of the Tuscan, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Orders, but
does not mention the Composite Order, which was evolved later.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – A.D.365)
CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
Temples were the predominating buildings of the Greeks and were of one storey, but the complex
civilisation and varied needs of the Romans introduced other types and necessitated the use of
several storeys which were frequently ornamented.

Therm, temples, amphitheatres, aqueducts, bridges, tombs, and

basilicas all testify to the great constructive ability of the Romans,
whose majestic buildings are in accord with the grandeur of
Roman Imperial power.

The Romans adopted the Greek method of using large blocks

of stone without mortar during the Republic.

But their practical mind eventually hit upon greater economy of materials by the
use of concrete, a hard composition which consists of small fragments of stone,
such as tufa, peperino, marble, pumice-stone, or even broken bricks, mixed with lime.

This extended use of concrete originated a new constructive system which

was adapted with rare sagacity to diverse types of important buildings.

Roman walls, both of stone and concrete, are of special

character and must be described in detail.

Walls of " opus quadratum," i.e. rectangular blocks of stone,

with or without mortar joints but frequently secured with
dowels or cramps, still continued in use.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – A.D.365)
 CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
Concrete, both unfaced and faced, was largely employed,
(a) unfaced for foundations, and
(b) faced for walls.

Usage of Concrete throughout the Roman dominions, gave uniformity

and similarity to the buildings, whose character was thus largely
independent of local conditions.

The character of Roman architecture depended largely on the

extended use of vaulting inherited from the Etruscans and
standardized as a structural system.

Concrete vaults were erected which were never equaled

in magnitude till the introduction of steel for building in
the nineteenth century.

Walls of concrete were sheathed externally and internally with

marble, stone, brick, or mosaic, and these materials merely
formed an appropriate finish to the structure, thus differing
essentially from the homogeneous marble walls of Greek architecture.

Besides many-coloured marbles, cements and stuccoes were also frequently used for wall
surfaces, and the final coat was polished.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – A.D.365)
 CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
Mural paintings also were executed on prepared stucco, and were of different types, such as
fresco, tempera, varnish, and caustic painting.

Marble, alabaster, porphyry, and jasper, when applied to a thick cement backing, were usually
attached to the walls by iron or bronze cramps.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 PROPORTIONING OF CLASSICAL ORDERS ROMAN ORDERS
To the 3 orders namely Doric, Ionic and Corinthian, used by Greeks, Romans added the
composite and Tuscan orders thus making in all five orders of architecture.

They used orders frequently as decorative features although they also used them constructively in
temple colonnades.

Romans placed their orders on pedestal to get greater height.

Theses orders employed in combination of arches for the decoration of wall surfaces and were
often superimposed.

The orders were used for buildings of more than one storey, with different orders for each storey,
the robust order being used at the ground floor and slender at the second storey.

Name of Classical Height of column in Height of Entablature in

Orders terms of lower diameter terms of lower diameter
Greek Roman Greek Roman
Doric 7 8 2 2
Ionic 9 9 2 2¼
Corinthian 10 10 2¼ 2½
Composite - 10 - 2½
Tuscan - 7 - 1 1/3
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
This system of construction produced grandeur to the majestic buildings of Rome.
 EARLY TOWN PLANS TOWN PLANNING
The defensive circuit of the fortress marked the edges of the
new town

A new forum was laid out to one side of the central axis of
the town and its basilica was constructed on top of the
remains of the legionary bath house.

The towns public baths were placed on the sloping ground.

Outside the fortress defences were some of the industries set

up to supply the fortress continued into early civic period.
Plan of Roman towns in 75 - 150 AD

By late 2nd century, the town had grown beyond the area of
the old fortress.

Around 180A.D, considerably larger defensive circuit was

laid out, following the natural defence of the site and
therefore irregular in plan.

Some of the streets were extended or changed to serve the

larger area, but it is far from regular grid of streets covered
the entire walled area.

Plan of Roman towns in 150 - 400 AD

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 TOWN PLANNING
 CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF ROMAN TOWN
Roman colonial or camp plans were especially developed
for the military engineers.

The plans is simple to set out and the building blocks are
easy to measure.

In this case, the Grid iron planning is proved to be successful.

The roman planning has the principal streets rounding across

the length.

FORUM

The focal point of the city was its forum - An open

area bordered by colonnades with shops.

Functioned as the chief meeting place of the town.

Situated in the center of the city

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ARCH CONSTRUCTION
Voussoirs – Wedge shaped blocks
Keysone – central voussoirs

Arcade – Series of arches

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ARCH CONSTRUCTION

Vault – an arch extended in space

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ARCH CONSTRUCTION

Triumphal Arch – Arch of Titus Triumphal Columns – Column of Trajan

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 TYPICAL EXAMPLES
 ROMANS CONTRIBUTION TO ARCHITECTURE AND ENGINEERING
TEMPLES

FORUM

BASILICAS

PILLARS OF VICTORY

THERMAE

AMPHI THEATRES

CIRCUSES

TRIUMPHAL ARCHES

AQUEDUCTS

BRIDGES

ROADS

SEWERS

FOUNTAINS

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 TEMPLES TYPICAL EXAMPLES
Temples were both rectangular as well as circular.

In rectangular type the temples are usually twice as long as its width with a proto-type portico in
front.

Example of Rectangular temples: Temple of Mars, Venus, Saturn at Rome; Temple of Jupiter,
Temple of Bacchus at Baalbek, Temple of Diana at Nimes, etc.

Example of Circular temples: Temple of Vesta, the Pantheon at Rome etc.,

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE PANTHEON AT ROME TEMPLES
The Pantheon meaning "to every god" is a building in Rome, commissioned by Marcus Agrippa as
a temple to all the gods of Ancient Rome, and rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian in about 126 AD.

Marcus Agrippa built and dedicated the original Pantheon

during his third consulship (27 BC).

Located in the Campus Martius, at the time of its construction,

the area of the Pantheon was on the outskirts of Rome,
and the area had a rural appearance.

It had long been thought that current building was built by

Agrippa, with later alterations undertaken, and this was in
part due to the inscription on the front of the temple.

However, archaeological excavations have shown that the

Pantheon of Agrippa had been completely destroyed, and ("M·AGRIPPA·L·F·COS·TERTIVM·FECIT", standing for Latin:
Emperor Hadrian was probably responsible for rebuilding the translated to
"'Marcus Agrippa, son of Lucius, Consul for the third time, built this")
Pantheon on the site of Agrippa's original temple.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE PANTHEON AT ROME (contd) TEMPLES
This temple is circular in plan 44 m in dia with a colonnaded portico in front.

The Octa style portico is 33.5m wide and 18 m deep in the centre, which
forms the entrance to the circular temple.

The monolithic granite columns are of Corinthian Order, unfluted and 1.5m
In dia and 14 m high.

The column supports the entablature 3.35m high and a pediment containing
once the bronze relief representing battle of Titans and Other deities.

The bronze doors were once coated with gold.

Behind the portico are the niches where the large statues of Augustus and
Agrippa were erected.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE PANTHEON AT ROME (contd) TEMPLES

The Rotunda round building built by

the Emperor Hadrian in A.D. 120-124 is
circular with internal diameter as well
as height of 44m rests on a circular
foundation 4.5m deep

A rectangular structure links the

portico with the rotunda.

It has 8 exits, one of which forms the

entrance, three are semi-circular & 4
are rectangular in shape.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE PANTHEON AT ROME (contd) TEMPLES
The two monolithic marble columns 10.6m high in the side exits except the opposite the entrance.

The Pantheon is an outstanding example of Roman’s skillful construction

and the right use of the material for the right purposes.

The hemi-spherical dome is provided with coffers in five rows which not only
Provide ornamentation but also help in reducing its heavy weight.

The dome is 3 tiers high, the bottom consists of travertine and tufa stone,
Second tier of tufa and bricks and third tier of tufa and pumic stones.

The thickness of the dome varies from 6.4 metres (21 ft) at the base of the
dome to 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) around the oculus.

A circular unglazed opening of 8.23m dia is provided at the top of the dome
For lighting of the building which provides attractive and impressive effect.

Almost two thousand years after it was built, the Pantheon's dome is still the world's largest un
reinforced concrete dome.
The interior of the dome was possibly intended to symbolize the arched
vault of the heavens.

The oculus at the dome's apex and the entry door are the only sources of
light in the interior. Throughout the day, the light from the oculus moves
around this space in a sort of reverse sundial effect.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE PANTHEON AT ROME (contd) TEMPLES
The oculus also serves as a cooling and ventilation method.

During storms, a drainage system below the floor handles the

rain that falls through the oculus.

It is one of the best preserved of all Roman buildings.

It has been in continuous use throughout its history.

The Pantheon has undergone many changes both temporal

and spiritual.

But it is still used for the services of religion.

The Pantheon with its white pentelic marble colonnades,

bronze doors plated with gold, tympana containing bronze
reliefs, coffers covered inside the dome, stood as the finest
And magnificent monument in the days of Imperial Rome.

Since the 7th century, the Pantheon has been used as a

Roman Catholic church dedicated to "St. Mary and the Martyrs"
but informally known as "Santa Maria Rotunda.“

As the best-preserved example of an Ancient Roman monumental building, the Pantheon has been
enormously influential in Western architecture and it is held as a “Symbol of the highest
architectural excellence"
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORUM
The forum, corresponding to the agora in a Greek city, was a central open space used as a
meeting-place, market, or rendezvous for political demonstrations.

There were several forums in Rome, all very similar in plan.

All were designed to meet the requirements and with the

surrounding buildings they reflect not only the religion, law,
and commerce, but also the busy corporate life of the city

The " Forum Romanum," Rome, the oldest and most important
of all, was laid out in the valley between the seven hills of the
Imperial City, and was used in early times as a hippodrome,
and for contests which later took place in amphi theatres.

The chief public buildings were grouped around it, and its appearance in the heyday of ancient
Rome, adorned with pillars of victory and statues and surrounded by porticoes, colonnades,
temples, basilicas, and shops, must indeed have been imposing.

The Forum of Trajan, Rome (A.D. 98—117) was the most extensive,
and others were planned by Julius Caesar, Augustus, Vespasian,
and Nerva.

Besides these general forums, others, such as the " Forum Boarium,"
served as markets for special purposes.

Pompeii, and indeed any town of importance, followed the

example of Rome and had a forum as a centre of civic life.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 FORUM
The forums of Rome and of the Roman provinces are early instances of well-considered town-planning.

They were found even in the outskirts of the Empire, as at Palmyra, Samaria, Damascus, Antioch and
Bosra in Syria ; Pergamon in Asia Minor ; Timgad and Tebessa in North Africa ; in all of which are traces
of colonnaded streets to give shelter from the sun.

 THE FORUM ROMANUM

Temples - the public buildings - basilicas - administrative or state buildings
at the Forum.

In the first century BC, & first century AD, the Forum was the administrative
centre of the Roman Empire.

On the far western side of the Roman Forum the Tabularium was situated.
The Tabularium was the official state archive and was founded in 78 BC.

It marks the borderline between the Forum and the Capitol.

On the north-western edge of the Forum the Tullianum

was established. It was the state prison of Rome.

There were 9 temples and 3 Triumphal arches in Forum.

Augustus Caesar is said to have stated "I found Rome a city of brick, and left it a city of
marble". What is true is that Octavian continued the building projects of his predecessor and began
many of his own directly in the forum.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE THERMAE OF CARACALLA, ROME THERMAE
The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between A.D.212 and
A.D.216, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla.

The thermae were square in plan measuring 350m each way and built of 6m high.

The bath complex covered approximately 25 hectares. The bath building was 228 m long, 116 m
wide and 38.5 m estimated height, and could hold an estimated 16,000 bathers.

The entrance was on north-east sided with four large sized door ways leading to park like enclosures
which were used for wrestling and other games.

The huge central hall was the main feature around which other rooms were symmetrically arranged.

The central hall was 24m wide and 56m long covered with hemispherical intersecting concrete vault
in 3 compartments 33 m high resting on 8 massive masonry piers, fronted with granite column 12 m
high and 1.6 m in dia.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE THERMAE OF CARACALLA, ROME THERMAE
On one side of central hall was frigidarium containing swimming bath – 56m x 22 m, mostly open to
the sky.

On its opposite side was tepidarium or a warm-room through which was reached calidarium or hot
room, each one had a hemispherical dome and water in these rooms was heated by means of
wall flues.

The entire bath building was on a 6 meter (20 ft) high raised platform to allow for storage and
furnaces under the building.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE THERMAE OF CARACALLA, ROME THERMAE
A large open space was left at one end of the building, part of which was
used as a stadium, for foot racing.

Nearby large sized reservoirs in two storeys were built and fed by the
Marcian aqueduct to supply water required for baths, fountains and other
purposes.

The exterior of thermae were plain in stucco but the interiors were lavishly
decorated. Bright color mosaics were used of pavements, marine mosaics
for baths and room floors, colored marble stucco for walls and glass mosaics
for vaults.

There were janitors to guard the doors, staff attendants,

nail cutters, barbers and innumerable slaves to make
bathing a luxurious relaxation.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 AMPHI THEATRES
The amphi-theatres were used to train warriors and also to hold contests between men and
animals to serve the popular amusement.

This clearly throws light on the mighty strength of character which

enabled the Romans to conquer and bring many parts of the world
under their domination.

Amphi theatres were planned on elliptical shape with rising tiers of seats.

 THE COLOSSEUM, ROME

The Colosseum, or the Coliseum or Flavian Amphitheater, is an elliptical amphitheatre measuring
about 190m x 155m in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire.

It is considered one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Occupying a site just east of the Roman Forum, its construction started between 70 and 72 AD
under the emperor Vespasian and was completed in 80 AD under Titus with further modifications
being made during Domitian’s reign (81–96).

Capable of seating 50,000 spectators, the Colosseum was used for gladiatorial contests and public
spectacles such as mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles,
and dramas based on Classical mythology.

The external façade, about 48m high was divided in four storeys, each one had 80 external arch
openings. The entrance was from ground floor to various tiers of seats.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
  THE COLOSSEUM, ROME AMPHI THEATRES
The main arena was oval shaped measuring 87m x 55m enclosed
by a wall 4.5m high.

Behind it was a podium with imperial throne for Emperor and seats
for Generals, Vestal virgins, senators and other officials of state.

Beyond the podium, an auditorium was constructed on a rising

platform with seat in four divisions, all of which were reached by
stairs from the surrounding corridors placed at regular intervals
between the radiating vaults.

Romans used the skilful combination of materials according to the purpose to which they were required.

Lava was used for firm foundation, tufa and bricks for walls, pumic stone for huge vaults in order to
reduce their weight whereas marble was used for columns and seats.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE COLOSSEUM, ROME AMPHI THEATRES
They also used the orders skillfully, in the four storeys, the robust Doric order in the first storey 12.4 m
high, then slender Ionic in the second storey 11.8m high and ornate Corinthian Order in the third
storey 12 m high while corinthian plasters in the topmost storey 11.8m high.

The columns spaced at 6.8m centre to centre were superimposed produced with its grand effect
awe and admiration.

The structure was enormously thick and weighty. The radiating concrete vaults were hidden support
and formed the indestructible foundation of the four storeys.

Thus the entire gigantic edifice based on a unique set of highly developed technique of great
strength was very difficult to destroy.

It was therefore rightly said “ when falls the Colosseum, Rome shall fall”

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 THE COLOSSEUM, ROME AMPHI THEATRES
The building ceased to be used for entertainment in the early medieval era.

It was later reused for such purposes as housing, workshops, quarters for a religious order, a fortress, a
quarry, and a Christian shrine.

Although in the 21st century it stays partially ruined because of damage caused by devastating
earthquakes and stone-robbers, the Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Imperial Rome.

It is one of Rome's most popular tourist attractions and still has close connections with the Roman
Catholic Church, as each Good Friday the Pope leads a torch lit "Way of the Cross" procession that
starts in the area around the Colosseum.

The Colosseum is also depicted on the Italian version of the five-cent euro coin.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 CIRCUSES
The circuses were used for horse and chariot racing and were derived from hippo-drome of the
Greeks.
Chariot racing was very much popular.
 CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ROME
The circus Maximus Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and
largest Chariot Racing Stadium in ancient Rome.

It was built in 605 B.C by king Tarquin and rebuilt and enlarged by Julius Caesar.

It measured 610m long and 198m wide and accommodated about 2,50,000 spectators.

The race ground was divided into two tracks by spina

in the centre, which was decorated with obelisks
brought from Egypt by Augustus.

The outer area was surrounded by three tiers of seats

supported on concrete walls.

At one end of the arena, twelve carceres or stall for

horses and chariots were provided.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 CIRCUS MAXIMUS, ROME CIRCUSES

ENTRANCE:
• The main entrance was through an entrance arch in the center of the apsidal end
• The entrance arch has 3 arches, the central one being higher then the arches in the sides
SEATING:
• The seating in the Circus were in 3 tiers with a separate pavilion for the aristocrats and the
Emperor
• The space beneath the seating was used for commercial purpose in the form of shops
and other services in the circumferential passageways- a typical detail in all theatres in
Rome
EXTERIORS:
• The exterior of the circus is in 3 tiers
• The lower tier consists of arcades
• The upper tiers contain square openings alternating with blank walls decorated with
pilasters
• The topmost tier inside has a continuous row of colonnade

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 BASILICAS
The name Basilica comes from Greek word meaning royal.

These basilicas are known as halls of Justice.

These were also used for commercial services.

The usual plan is rectangular twice as long as its width with apsidal ends.
 PILLARS OF VICTORY
These were monumental columns erected in honor of the Emperors and
Generals to commemorate the victorious events.

 TRIUMPHAL ARCHES
These were monumental arches erected in honor of the
Emperors and Generals to commemorate the
victorious events.
 AQUEDUCTS
Roman paid more attention to water supply schemes.

Large quantities of water were required for palaces,

thermae, fountains and large population of Rome.

Water was collected from springs and rivers and carried partly by tunnels and
partly by channels supported on walls or arches to a reservoir outside the city.

The water was supplied to the city of Rome by 9 aqueducts.

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 BRIDGES
The Roman bridges were simple and solid in construction.

Early bridges were constructed with timber but later they used stones.

With the use of lime concrete very huge spans were achieved

 ROADS
They constructed a network of roads radiating from the Rome giving rise to the legend
“all roads lead to Rome”.

They built their roads straight like an arrow with no regards to topography.

A road known as Appian way built in 312 B.C was about 570 km long..
 SEWERS
The Romans also paid attention to keep the capital clean by providing sewer lines to drain out the
sewage water.

The great sewer of Rome efficiently drained out sewage water from Forum, and other public buildings.

It used to be visible where it emptied into the Tiber River.

 FOUNTAINS
The fountains were the important features of Rome. They generally occupied in the main squares
of the Imperial Rome though many fountains were provided in the private house gardens.

These fountains displaying the gushing and falling waters increased the charm and beauty of the
capital Rome.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 ROMAN ARCHITECTURE (300 B.C. – A.D.365)

These majestic buildings took many more laborious years to complete that finally brought
grandeur and glory to the Imperial City Rome.

“Rome Was Not Built In A Day.”

ROMAN ARCHITECTURE