ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

CONTENTS

PRELUDE TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION

Etruscan Civilization
Etruscan Architecture

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

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

ROMAN ORDERS

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
 PRELUDE TO ROMAN CIVILIZATION
ETRUSCAN ARCHITECTURE
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 betterand 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 Romans 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. 264241) against Carthage brought about the annexation of Sicily as the
first Roman province.

The second Punic war (B.C. 218201) 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. 149146) 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, it 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.

With the use of concrete, decoration had little connection with

construction ; for concrete was a material which required a facing,
both for protection and decoration.

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 2
Corinthian 10 10 2 2
Composite - 10 - 2
Tuscan - 7 - 1 1/3
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
This system of construction produced grandeur to the majestic buildings of Rome.
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Inspirat Theatre of Temple of Temple of Etruscans Composed of
ion Marcellus at Fortuna Virilis, Castor and Contribution Ionic and
Rome at Rome Pollux at Rome The order is Corinthian orders
23 B.C by Julius 40 B.C. the 7 B.C. - A.D.6. it named after This order was
Caesar and temple is is rectangular in Tuscany in Italy used in
completed by rectangular in plan Triumphal arches
Augustus in 13 plan and located
B.C. near the banks
of river Tiber

Colum The column The column The column The column The column
n including base, including base, including base, including base, including base,
shaft and capital shaft and capital shaft and capital shaft and capital shaft and capital
is 8 dia high. is 9 dia high. is 10 dia high. is 7 dia high. is 10 dia high.
Base The base is The base is The base is The base which It has an base
semi dia high semi dia high. It semi dia high is semi dia high consists of
consists of has upper and consists of consists of plain square block,
simple square lower torus simple square square block and upper and lower
block and torus separated by block upper and simple torus torus separated
with convex scotia and fillet. lower torus by scotia and
profile. Above is separated by fillets.
a band of bead scotia and
molding and double bead.
fillet.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Shaft Circular in plan Circular in plan Circular in plan Circular in plan Circular in plan.
and diminishes and diminishes and diminishes Unfluted shaft. The shaft has 24
to to 2/3 the to 5/6 the dia at to 5/6 the dia at flutes separated
dia at top. top. top. by fillets.
The shaft is The shaft is The shaft is Fillets are 1/3 the
divided into 16 divided into 20 either plain or width of the
20 flutes with flutes separated fluted with 24 flutes.
sharp arrises. by fillets. flutes separated
The shaft ends Fillets are 1/3 by fillets.
in circular the width of the Fillets are 1/3
molding called flutes. the width of the
Astragal flutes.
decorated with
bead and real
molding
capital Semi dia high Semi dia high is Capital is 1 1/6 Semi dia high The capital is a
capital consists enriched in dia high. capital consists combination of
of abacus and between the The capital of square abacus Ionic capital and
echinus with a volutes with egg resembles the and ovolo acanthus leaves
necking and tongue inverted bell echinus. of Corinthian
between ornament and consisting of two capital.
annulets and reel and bead rows of The capital has
astragal. molding. acanthus two rows, each of
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
leaves. 8 acanthus
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Capital The roll is In between Leaves. The
carved with these acanthus upper part
leaves while leaves rise contains four
rosette is often stems of large volutes which
engraved in the acanthus support the
circle forming leaves. corners of the
the eye of the In the upper part abacus.
volute. in between the
There are larger leaves,
echinus and spring eight
shallow abacus. caulicoli, each
In some orders surmounted by
spiral scroll is on a calyz from
all four sides of which rise 16
the capital. volutes. 8 small
volutes roll in
The capital pair to the
projects one half centres of four
of the semi dia sides of the
of the column on abacus while
each side the 8 larger
ones support
also in pair back
to back the four
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
corners of the
abacus.
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Entabl 2 dia high 2 dia high 2 dia high 1 dia high 2 high dia
a-ture
Architr Semi dia high. 5/8 the dia in dia high dia high which dia high is
ave Taenia at top high is heavy consists of 3 are plain, there divided into two
with Regula and richly fascias being no fascias
below it with six decorated. separated by ornamentation. separated by
guttae under It has four to five ornament small moldings
each triglyph. raised slabs moldings.

Architrave does projecting one

not project above the other.
beyond the face The cyma
of the column reversa of the
but lies in the architrave is
same plane with decorated with
it. acanthus leaves
while the lower
slab contains
bead and reel
moldings
Frieze dia high and dia high. dia high. dia high which dia high.
contain triglyphs Flat and are plain, there Richly
and square continuous band being no ornamented by a
metopes. of sculpture ornamentation. continuous band
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Frieze The channels in Enriched with of sculptures.
the Triglyphs are acanthus scroll
rectangular at or human or
top . animal
The centre of sculptures
the triglyph
coincides with
that of the
corner column.
The metopes
contain
sculptures of
hunting, fighting
or animals like
bull-heads etc.
Cornic dia high and 7/8 dia high 1 dia high. dia high which 1 dia high
e contains either Projects equal Enriched with are plain, there supported by
the matules or to its ht. acanthus leaves being no dentils. The
the dentils and and with water ornamentation. corona is
accordingly it is The cymatium is spouts at regula enriched with
termed as decorated with interval in the moldings
mutular and acanthus leaves form of lions
denticular. and provided heads to drain
with water out rain water.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Cornic In mutular type, Spouts in the Dentils contains dia high which 1 dia high
e mutules or flat form of lions egg and dart are plain, there supported by
blocks similar to heads at regular mouldings. it is being no dentils. The
that of Greek interval to drain supported by ornamentation. corona is
Doric Order are out the rain series of beam- enriched with
provided and in water.The like brackets moldings
denticular type corona is called modillions
in place of usually large which is special
mutules, dentils and consists of feature of this
or small tooth 3 to 4 horizontal order. The lower
like blocks are slabs projected side of the
provided one above the modillion is
throughout other. It is covered with
below corona. supported by ornamental leaf.
The cornice dentils above The soffit of the
projects beyond which lies corona is
the frieze by 2 round mouldings ornamented
modules, with its containing egg between the
top fillet followed and tongue modillions with
by large cyma- ornament. The panels containg
recta and small cyma reversa rosettes. The
cyma-reversa. under the dentils projection of
is enriched with cornice is equal
leaf & tongue to its ht or 1 dia.
ornament.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
 COMPARISON OF ROMAN ORDERS
Items Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite
Inter- 2D 3D 2 2/3 D 2 2/3 D
columin
ation
Comme The Roman The Roman The Roman The mouldings The composite
nt Doric Order is Ionic Order is Corinthian Order are simple which Order is a fine
/summa the older of the overloaded with reflect richness consist of straight blending of the
ry Orders but heavy and bold of treatment, lines and circular Ionic and
was little used ornament. which go show arcs. Corinthian
by the The semi- the tendency The Order lacks Orders with an
Romans. circular towards over in refinement of exceeding rich &
mouldings lack ornamentation. other Roman decorative
in refinement. It was a favorite Orders. treatment.
Order of the
Romans, and
was largely
used in temples,
forums, baths
and basilicas.

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.

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

Ex 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 ("MAGRIPPALFCOSTERTIVMFECIT", 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.

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 Romans 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
The interior of the dome was possibly intended to symbolize the arched
reinforced concrete dome.
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 of Roman citizens,

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 amphitheatres.

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. 98117) 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 the 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 (33 ac).

The bath building was 228 mlong, 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.

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 spanish Arenas of today are designed on the lines of amphi-theatres.

THE COLOSSEUM, ROME
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, 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 Domitians reign (8196).

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 faade, 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.

The Circus measured "621 m in length and 118 m in width

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
 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
 Greek and Roman Architecture
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ROMAN ARCHITECTURE