The Romans as Engineers How does technological change transform architectural structures? How do technological advances allow the Roman Empire to expand? How does concrete allow the Roman Empire to replicate its values throughout a far-flung empire?

Etruscans The Etruscans gave the Romans: the arch the vault advances in land-drainage, irrigation, and sewer design the atrium house the rectangular temple plan Greeks The Greeks gave the Romans: the gridiron town plan the peristyle form (columns all around) But the Romans invented concrete. The Romans built upon the engineering developments of the Greeks and Etruscans (central Italy, BCE).

Why do the keystone and voussoir matter? Why are these two terms so significant? Why is wood necessary? What are the limitations?

How does practical reality of thrust affect architectural design? thrust– a force orthogonal to the main load ence/wierd/exp/the-potato-arch/

Big Bad Concrete A Roman Innovation

Big Ideas Recipe= small gravel, coarse sand, hot lime, and water (and sometimes foreign objects such as blood, fats, milk, ash, horse hair, etc.) Concrete was extremely portable (unlike stone blocks)—concrete has a relatively light weight and is made of raw materials that are commonly found Building with concrete did not require highly-skilled masons like stone construction (blocks cut from quarries and recut to shape) The materials required were relatively inexpensive, compared to the cost of the arduous process of quarrying marble and other metamorphic rocks

Concrete allowed the Romans to cover spaces of a size unequaled until the advent of cast iron in the 19 th century. Concrete was especially invaluable for vaulting: the stone semi- circular barrel vault and cross-vault which the Romans developed were heavy, cumbersome and difficult to build; concrete, poured into shape, suited the curves and awkward junctions which arise in vaulting. Roman concrete vaults at the Baths of Caracalla, Rome

When two barrel-vaulted spaces intersect each other at the same level, the result is a groin vault or cross vault. If the vault is “pointed” and has a “rib” on the top, then the it is referred to as a rib vault.

rib vault

The Pantheon Rome CE This enormous dome has been made possible by concrete!

Concrete revolutionized construction methods in that it allowed the constructor to create rather than extract. Craftsmen were able to create forms by molding the concrete, rather than excavate the form by carving away the excess stone. Casting Concrete

Structures made of concrete and brick could be faced with veneers of marble rather than built entirely from solid marble or another type of stone, like granite.

Roman Architecture could be spread across its vast empire because of concrete’s portability Roman Architecture in Tunisia, Northern Africa.

An example of a building made with concrete and “cut” stone construction.

Concrete in Everyday Life Concrete was used to create aqueducts and roads(5,300 miles of roads) that spanned across the Roman Empire. Roman techniques are still implemented today when constructing roads and aqueducts.

Roads and Aqueducts Since the Romans had such a massive empire, a vast and sophisticated network of roads, bridges, and aqueducts were built. Roads helped to efficiently move the armies, promote commerce, and increase the speed of transport and communications. Aqueducts helped to deliver and channel water from a distant, safe and plentiful water source to urban centers. Roman roads and aqueducts were highly durable and practical because of the use of concrete construction. Connect to the Inca Empire which also had thousands of miles of roads. Messages could be carried between Cuzco and the edges of the empire in about a week.

Pont du Gard Late 1 st Century Nimes, France Since Roman concrete construction allowed for roads and bridges to be extremely durable, many of them continue to last to today. With only a few repairs, Roman aqueducts built about two thousand years ago can function again.

The aqueduct at Pont du Gard is a powerful reminder of Rome’s rapid spread and enduring impact. Entirely functional, the aqueduct conveys the balance, proportion, and rhythmic harmony of a great work of art and fits naturally into the landscape, a reflection of the Romans’ attitude toward the land.

The Colosseum Construction began under Vespasian in 72 CE and was completed under Titus in 80 CE.

Column of Trajan Rome or after 117 CE Overall height with base 125’ Column alone 97’ 8” The column is a continuous pictorial narrative of the Dacian campaign. 2,500 individual figures are carved into the column. In 1587 CE, the gilded bronze statue of Trajan was replaced with a statue of Saint Peter, as ordered by Pope Sixtus V. The natural and architectural elements in the scene are kept small to emphasize the important figures—later we will refer to this as medieval scale. vJg

Column of Trajan

Arch of Titus Rome c.82 C.E.

Arch of Constantine Rome c C.E.

Temple of Portunus Late 2 nd century BCE Forum Boarium, Rome

Maison Carree c. 20 BCE Nimes, France

The Pantheon CE the word Pantheon means “all the gods” so the Pantheon is a temple dedicated to all the gods from the street one sees a rather plain temple front which disguises the giant rotunda behind it originally the entrance to the Pantheon was approached by stairs from a colonnaded square the Pantheon was completed between CE on the site of an earlier temple that had been erected in BCE to commemorate the defeat of Anthony and Cleopatra (this original temple burned in 110CE)

Pantheon Rome CE

the walls rise nearly seventy-five feet; they are twenty feet thick the walls support a bowl-shaped dome that is 143 feet in diameter and 143 feet from the floor to the summit: the effect that is created is one of a perfect circle

the oculus Pantheon Rome CE light is provided through a 29 foot oculus (an opening at the top of the dome in the center) the perfect geometry creates a sense of dislocation in the viewer; because the space is a perfect sphere, the eye has no logical place to rest but is restlessly driven across the curve of the dome; a visitor to the Pantheon feels almost dizzy or overwhelmed in the space the two tiers of architectural detail and marble veneer disguises the extensive buttressing and brickwork that supports the structure the coffers that line the interior of the dome are used to lighten its overall weight

the oculus

the dome Pantheon Rome CE

architectural drawings of the Pantheon

the floor Pantheon Rome CE

Basilicas A basilica is a large rectangular building, with a rounded extension called an apse at each end. They were used as general-purpose administrative structures, but their use could be adapted to a range of purposes: imperial audience chambers, army drill halls, schools. Their design provided a large interior space with easy access in and out. Much like a cathedral, they possessed a clerestory, nave, and separated side aisles. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2 nd century B.C.E.

Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine Finished 312 C.E. The Basilica Maxentius was the largest building in the Roman Forum. Construction began under Emperor Maxentius in 308 CE and was completed by Constantine after Maxentius’ defeat in 312 CE.

Floorplan for the Basilica Maxentius and Constantine completed 312 CE Note the nave, clerestory, and side aisles. This building was built using arches instead of columns to support the ceiling.

Portas Portas in a sense are over-sized arches which were used as entryways and exits to cities by the Greeks. Many cities had their cities surrounded by walls and portas were sometimes the only way in and out of those cities.

Porta Augusta Perugia, Italy

Forums and Marketplaces

Forums According to Stockstad, forums are recreational facilities (a Roman town center; the site of temples and administrative buildings--basilicas) and were used as a market or gathering area for the citizens. The forum was the center of civic life in Roman towns and cities, as the agora was in Greek life. Business was conducted in its basilicas and pavilions, religious duties performed in its temples, and speeches presented in its open square. A forum is also used as a place for assembly or public discussion.

Marketplaces The Trajan’s market was a complex of shops were the Romans would gather to purchase products and conduct business with other merchants. Built between 107 and 110 C.E., Trajan’s Market is the most famous marketplace that existed. The market was designed by the emperor Trajan’s favorite architect, Apollodorus of Damascus.

Apollodorus of Damascus Trajan Market Rome, Italy A.D.

Apollodorus of Damascus Trajan’s Market Rome, Italy A.D.

Apollodorus was integral in designing the famous Trajan’s Forum which bears the emperor’s name and borders the market.

What is sculpture used for? portraiture funerary portraits or memorials idealized examples of the human form tangible visualizations of gods or goddesses (or rulers who want people to think they are gods!)

Augustus of Primaporta early 1 st century idealization of a ruler imperial portraiture used for political propaganda

Ara Pacis, Rome 13-9 BCE marble

Imperial Procession, detail of a relief on the south side of the Ara Pacis

above: Imperial Procession, detail of a relief on the south side of the Ara Pacis

Allegory of Peace, relief on the east side of the Ara Pacis

peristyle garden, House of the Vetti, Pompeii Mid-1 st century CE

House of the Silver Wedding, Pompeii: view of the atrium from the tablinum

House of M. Frontus, Pompeii atrium

House of Publius Fannius--reconstructed

Phidias, Kallikrates and Iktinos Parthenon, Acropolis, Athens BCE Pantheon Rome CE

Augustus of Primaporta early 1 st century Polykleitos Spear Bearer (Doryphoros) c BCE

Coin with head of Alexander ca BCE Augustus of Primaporta early 1 st century