The document details the features of Roman architecture, emphasizing the influence of Greek and Etruscan styles while highlighting advancements like the arch and vault. Important architectural examples include the Colosseum, Pantheon, and Maison Carrée, showcasing unique construction techniques and materials used by the Romans. Additionally, it covers tools employed in construction, Roman roads, and public baths as significant aspects of Roman architectural heritage.

1. Features of Roman Architecture
Presented by Group 1

3. Introduction:
❖ The ancient Roman style is reproductive from the Greek and Etruscan
architecture.
❖ Although the Romans have borrowed much of the Greek style , they
have used their own knowledge to improve the arch and vault for the
architectural community.
Some of the main architecture Of Roman Empire:
• The Colosseum
• The Pantheon
• Castel Sant’Angelo
• Maison carree
• Alcantara Bridge
• Bath of Diocletian
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus

5. Building Materials and tools
❖ The Romans used many different tools to survey
the land and construct buildings.
Some of them are :
1. Axes 8. Saw blades
2. Saws 9. Folding rule
3. Calipers 10. Groma
4. Chisels
5. Hammers
6. Square
7. Trepan
Calipers
Groma

6. Arch
▪ The arch has been used since prehistoric times. Its is said that the
arch was invented by the Romans.
▪ Arch was used to provide extra structure for a building and was
constructed out of bricks, stone or concrete.
Triumphal arch
Medinaceli arch
Buttressing
● The square or rectangular blocks between each arch are
buttresses
● The buttresses make a column that pushes the weight to
the ground.

7. Columns
❖ Columns are really popular in Roman architecture. It was
mostly used for structural and at times decorative manners
❖ The basic column was made out of woods or stone and
mortar, while more decorative ones were hand carved

8. Wall and Floors
❖ Floors are in Roman architecture made of wooden structure and boards. For
comfort they cover floors with straws and then covered over in mortar.

9. Walls
Romans used some series of techniques, so they create different looking
walls.
1) Opus reticulatum- It consists of diamond shaped bricks of tuff. This
construction technique was used from the beginning of the 1st century BC.
2) Opus Incertum- In this techniques using irregularly shaped and randomly
placed uncut stones or fist-sized tuff blocks inserted in a core of opus
Caementicium.
Opus reticulatum
opus incertum

10. 3) Opus Mixtum: It can consist in a mix of opus reticulatum and at the angles and the sides of opus
latericium. Application of diamond shaped tufa blocks and bricks that are applied with mortar.
Opus Mixtum of Roman Empire

11. The Pantheon:
The Pantheon was in 113-125 AD.
o The greatest surviving circular temple of classical antiquity and
arguably the most important example of ancient art produced in
Rome, is the Pantheon.
o The engineering is elementary. The rotunda’s walls form the drum
from which the dome springs direct.
o The Pantheon has no windows.
● The Pantheon is truly one of the world’s most impressive buildings.
● The Corinthian temple façade of the French Pantheon (1790) Paris,
designed by Jacques Germain Soufflot is a direct copy of its ancestor In
Rome.
The Pantheon

12. Roman Colosseum:
❖ The Colosseum, was built in ancient Rome , it had an
area of 620 by 523 feet. That make it the largest
amphitheater of its time.
❖ The construction of the Colosseum, the largest and most
popular ancient Roman monument, began during the
reign of Emperor Vespasian in 72 AD.
❖ By the time it was finished by his son Titus in 80 AD
❖ It made by travertine stone, mortar, bricks, and iron
clamps.
❖ It contains arches, Columns, arcades and podiums.
❖ It can contain around 80000 people at a time
The Colosseum

13. Amphitheater, Nimes :
• When this famous amphitheater was built in the city of Nimes, the city was known by the name of
Nemausus.
• It's better known as the Arena of Nimes, this astoundingly large theater had a seating capacity of
around 24,000, effectively making it one of the biggest amphitheaters in Gaul.
• It was so large that during the Middle Ages, a small fortified palace was built within it.
• It is still used to host annual bullfights to this day.

14. Roman Roads
❖ Roman engineers were famous above all for their high-quality roads.
❖ The most famous Roman roads include: (in Italy), Via Appia (the Appian way), leading from
Rome to Apulia; Via Aurelia, from Rome to France; (in France) Via Agrippa, Via Aquitania and
Via Domitia; (in Spain and Portugal);Via Augusta, from Cadiz to the Pyrenees; (in Britain) Ermine
Street, Watling Street and Fosse Way.
Street of Pompeii

15. Public Bath
o Probably the most popular Roman buildings among all classes of citizen were the public bath
which by the end of republic, were a recognized feature of Roman life. The term balance usually
referred to smaller scale bath, while Thermae described larger, wealthier establishments.
o A public bath was built around three principal rooms, a warm one called the tepidarium, a hot
one called the caldarium, where slaves would rub their masters and a big cold bath called the
frigidarium to swim in.
Public Bath

16. Maison Carree:
❖ Maison Carree is the only temple constructed in the time of ancient
Rome that is completely preserved to this day.
❖ This marvel of Roman engineering was built around 16 BC in the city
of Nimes.
❖ It was built by Roman General Marcus Vipanius Agrippa in memory
of his two sons who died young.
❖ Since then, it has been used for various purposes such as a town hall,
stable, and storehouse.
❖ At present, it is a museum
The Maison Carree is a classic example of Vitruvian architecture as it is
nearly an exact replica of a Tuscan style Roman temple described in the
writings of the famous architect Vitruvius.

17. Library of Celsus:
❖ The building was commissioned in the 110s A.D.
❖ This amazing piece of Roman architecture was constructed on the
orders of Celsus’s son Galius Julius Aquila.
❖ It was also a popular repository for important documents.
❖ The Library of Celsus was the third-largest library in the Roman
world behind only Alexandria and Pergamum believed to have held
around twelve thousand scrolls.
Night view of Library of Celsus
Library of Celsus