roman architecture
TRANSCRIPT
Roman Imperial Art:Architecture
Reading:Stokstad, 168-177
Range:200 BCE-400 CERoman Republican, Roman Imperial
Terms/Concepts:axial, aqueduct, arch, arcade, vault, keystone, barrel vault, groin vault, voussoirs, spandrels, engaged column, doric, ionic, corinthian, acanthus, basilica, calderium, frigidarium, tepidarium, bread and circuses, palestra.
Key Monuments: Temple, perhaps dedicated to
Portunus. Roman Republic, Late second century BCE.
Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Imperial Roman, Late first century BCE.
Flavian Amphitheater (the Coliseum). Imperial Roman, 70-80 CE.
Apollodorus of Damascus. Forum of Trajan, Imperial Roman, c. 112 CE.
Baths of Caracalla, Rome, Imperial Roman, c.211 CE.
★Rome is known fundamentally as an urban civilization
Model of the City of Imperial Rome
Mosaic of the Goddess Roma, 1st-2nd Century CE
Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.
Seen from rear.
Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.
Temple (perhaps dedicated to Portunus) In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.
Reconstruction of an Etruscan temple, according to description by Vitruvius.
Iktinos and Kallikrates. The Parthenon (seen from northwest). Athens, Greece. 447-438 BCE.
Reconstruction of an Etruscan temple, according to description by Vitruvius.
Iktinos and Kallikrates. The Parthenon Athens, Greece, 447-438 BCE.
Temple, perhaps dedicated to Portunus, In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late 2nd century BCE
Nîmes
Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.
• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source
• Aqueduct: An artificial channel for transporting water from a distant source
Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.
Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.
Pont du Gard, Nîmes (France). Late first century BCE.
• Voussoir: A wedge-shaped block used in the construction of an arch
• The central voussoir is the keystone
The distribution of weight on an arcade.
Flavian Ampitheater 72-80 CE
Titus 79-80 CEVespasian 69-79 CE
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.
Engaged columns
★Engaged columns only give the impression of support. The arcades could support themselves.
Groin Vault
Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Interior Vaults, Rome, 72-80 BCE.
Diagram of an arch Diagram of a barrel vault
Vaults supported the seats and substructure of the Coliseum.
Diagram of a barrel vault Diagram of a groin vault
Groin vaults are two crossed barrel vaults.
Flavian Amphitheater (Colosseum) Reconstruction, Rome, 72-80 BCE.
Inaugural festivities by Emperor Titus: 100 days, in which 9,000 animals and 2,000 gladiators were killed.
Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.
Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.
Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE
Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE
Musicians and Costumed Performers
Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE
Gladiator vs. Gladiator
Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE
Gladiator vs. Beast
Gladiatorial Entertainments, “Zliten Mosaic”, Dar Buc Ammera Villa, Zliten, Libya, c. before 80 CE
Beast vs. Beast
Flavian Amphitheater (Coliseum), Rome, 72-80 BCE.
★ 80 exits to accommodate 50,000 spectators
Forum of Trajan
Trajan 98-117 CE
Dacia
Rome
Forum of Trajan
Apollodorus of Damascus. Forum of Trajan, (reconstruction), Dedicated in 112 CE.
Temple to the Divine Trajan
Column of Trajan
Libr
arie
s
Basi
lica
Ulp
ia
M a r k e t s
Longitudinal Axis
Apollodorus of Damascus, Forum of Trajan (Model), c. 117 CE.
Apollodorus of Damascus, Entrance to the Basilica Ulpia, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.
Apollodorus of Damascus, Basilica Ulpia, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.
Apollodorus of Damascus, Markets, Forum of Trajan, c. 117 CE.
*Merchants’ Stalls
*Taverns/Food Stalls
*Communal Space
The Pantheon
Hadrian 117-138 CE
The Pantheon
Pantheon
★ Temple dedicated to all the gods (pan=all and theion=gods)
pediment
porch
dome
cylindrical drum
The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.
Temple, perhaps dedicated to Portunus. In the Cattle Market, Rome. Late second century BCE.
The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.
Oculus
Coffer
The Pantheon, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.
★ 143 feet
★60 feet
★ 20 feet
The Pantheon, Interior, Rome, c. 118-125 CE.
★Niches once held the statues of gods, but were replaced by saints in 609 by Pope Boniface IV.
The Baths of Caracalla
Caracalla c. 211-217 CE
The Baths of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
Calderium, The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
Mosaics, The Baths of Caracalla, Rome, c. 211 CE
Critical Thinking Questions
1. What is the importance of construction to Roman emperorship and empire-building?
2. What were some of the major structural and material innovations of Roman engineers?
3. What are some key differences between Roman temples and Greek temples?
4. What does the term “bread and circuses” mean? How does this connect to architecture?