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2. Model of Rome

3. ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
As with sculpture, the Romans
borrowed heavily from two
cultures that they conquered –
the Etruscans and the Greeks.
The Romans 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.
MODEL OF AN ETRUSCAN TEMPLE
Later they absorbed Greek and
Phoenician influence, apparent
in many aspects closely related to
architecture
A ROMAN TEMPLE, FORTUNA VIRILIS

4. ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
Elements of Roman architecture show very significant
Greek influence.
However, Roman functional needs sometimes differed,
resulting in interesting innovations.
The Romans were less attached to “ideal” forms and
extended Greek ideas to make them more functional
ROMAN PHILOSOPHY
"We believe that lightning is caused by clouds colliding,
whereas they believe that clouds collide in order to create
lightning. Since they attribute everything to gods, they are
led to believe not that events have a meaning because
they have happened, but that they happen in order to
express a meaning."

5. Greek technology
POST & LINTEL
CONSTRUCTION
LINTEL
P
P
O
O
S
S
T
T

6. POST & LINTEL
DRAWBACK
LINTEL
P
P
O
O
S
S
T
T
thick
narrow
thick

7. Something new under the sun …
Roman ARCHitecture
Arches – strength
through compression

8. ORIGINS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

Romans needed
interior space for
worship, whereas
the Greeks
worshipped outside.

Their solution was to
extend the walls
outward, creating
engaged
columns, while
maintaining the
same basic shape.
THE MAISON CAREE @
NIMES

9. ROMAN INNOVATIONS
1. COLUMNS
To the original Greek orders, the
Romans added two.
TUSCAN
SIMPLIFIED DORIC HAVING UNFLUTED COLUMN
AND A PLAIN BASE, CAPITAL AND SHAFT HAVING
NO DECORATION OTHER THAN MOLDINGS
COMPOSITE
IT COMBINED ELEMENTS OF BOTH THE
IONIC AND CORINTHIAN ORDERS.
CORINTHIAN ORDER IS MODIFIED BY
SUPERIMPOSING FOUR DIAGONALLY SET IONIC
VOULTS ON A BELL OF CORINTHIAN ACANTHUS
LEAVES.

10. 2. CONCRETE
K
K
This allowed not only bases, but also walls to be
constructed of mainly concrete or concrete and
rubble.
K
Facings could be made of more expensive stone
or inexpensive brick.
K
USE OF BRICK ON OUTER
FACING AND FILLING OF
CONCRETE RUBBLE
The discovery of slow-drying concrete, made
with pozzolana sand created a revolution in
architectural design.
The result was strong structures that could be
formed in any desirable shape
DOME OF THE
PANTHEON

11. 3. ARCH & VAULT
The Romans first adopted the arch from the Greeks, and
implemented it in their own building.
An arch is a very strong shape as no single spot holds all the
weight and is still used in architecture today.
The Romans used arches to support the things they built.
They built victory arches, buildings and aqueducts.

12. Barrel or
“Tunnel” Vault
K
A vault having semicircular cross-section
K
Windows can be placed at any point.
K
These vaults require buttressing to
counter-act the downward thrust of
weight.

13. Groin vault
K
Also called a cross vault.
K
A compound vault formed by by the
perpendicular intersection of two vaults
forming arched diagonal arrises called
groins.
K
Needs less buttressing.
BASILICA NOVA

14. Multi Groin Vaults
K A series of groin vaults can have open
lateral arches that form Clerestories.
K Windows that allow light into the
interior of churches.
K These concrete windows
were fireproof

15. 4. dome
K A dome is a vaulted
structure having a
circular plan and usually
the form of a portion of a
sphere, so constructed as
to exert an equal thrust
in all directions
K Romans used domes to
span and cover very
large open spaces.
K They used it in many
public buildings like
basilicas, the pantheon
etc.

16. CYLINDRICAL DOME
K With the dome, the
Romans could surpass
earlier cultures by
their ability to span
space.
K Light enters through
the oculus on top.

17. Roman buildings
Massive Building
– THE TEMPLE OF FORTUNA
PRIMIGENIA
 The Temple of
Fortuna Primigenia
was a massive
structure, made
possible by concrete
construction.

18. Roman buildings
Massive Building
 Roman baths were

the recreation centers
of Roman cities,
incorporating pools,
exercise facilities and
even libraries.
They could serve
hundreds or
thousands at a time.
– BATHS OF CARACALLA

19. Roman buildings
Public entertainment – THE ROMAN COLOSSEUM
Brings together the violence and
the achievements of Roman society
Home of gladiatorial
contests…man vs. man, man vs.
animal, animal vs. animal
Seating designed for comfort with
an expandable covering over the
top
Plumbing which could wash away
the blood or create an „inland sea‟
on which to have mock sea battles

20. The Colosseum- a blend of Greek and
Roman architecture
 The arches are



supported by central
columns.
The columns on the
first floor are Doric.
The columns on the
second floor are Ionic.
The columns on the
third floor are
Corinthian.

21. plan
Section
A special fact about the Coliseum
is that it was originally built with a
huge removable canopy to protect
the spectators from the elements.

23. Roman buildings
Public entertainment – AMPHITHEATRE AT NIMES
SEATS ABOUT 20,000
Theatres and arenas were built to hold
multiple thousands of people and were
engineered so as to allow quick and
effective entry and exit.

24. Roman buildings
WORSHIP – THE PANTHEON
The temple to the
Roman gods built
in 126 AD was
called
The Pantheon.

25. Occulus
142 ft.
Portico
142 ft.
COLUMNS: 39 FT. TALL, 5 FT. THICK
PLAN
SECTION

26. SECTIONAL VIEW

27. INTERIOR VIEWS
Engineering
marvel
Concrete!

28. The magnificent interior space of the Pantheon
was achieved by:
Employing a dome over a drum.
Coffering the dome to reduce weight.
Placing an occulus to allow light to enter

29. later used as
church
Tuscan order of columns
(with corinthian capitals)
Missing pedimental
sculpture
(would have been like
Parthenon)

31. Roman buildings
Public water supply – THE AQUEDUCTS
There wasn‟t enough water in the
city of Rome.
The Romans brought water in
from the surrounding countryside.
The water was brought in by
tubes called aqueducts.
Cities themselves were plumbed,
providing private water for the
rich and for baths and communal
supplies for poorer
neighbourhoods.
PONT DU GARD, FRANCE
PIPES AND
PLUMBING

32. Where did the water go?
 The water was transported in concrete
tunnels.
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.
The channel was lined with concrete.
The Romans invented concrete.

33. Roman buildings
PUBLIC BUILDINGS – THE BASILICA
Basilica were first built to house
audience facilities for government
officials.
When Christianity became the state
religion, this kind of building was
adapted to Christian worship.
A large nave is flanked by side aisles
behind a row of supporting piers.
An Apse draws attention in the direction
of the altar.

34. Roman innovation
Transport system – THE ROADS
 The need to move
legions and trade
goods in all weather
led to the
development of the
best roads in the
world (to the 19th
century).

35. SECTION OF THE
ROAD
VIA APPIA
All roads lead to Rome!

36. CONCLUSION
 The Romans were
brilliant engineers.
 Their innovations
form the basis of
much of our civil
engineering today.