Download The Roman Architecture

The Roman Architecture
Vol. I, pp. 138-162
400 a.C. ca., Lupa capitolina, bronzo etrusco
The Periods
21st April 753 BC
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According to the tradition, Romulus founded the town of Rome on the Palatine Hill.
Rome was later inhabited by the Latins, the tribe living in Latium.
753 – 509 BC
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The rule of the seven kings
In this period Rome conquers various regions of Italy.
Political power is held by the king helped by the Senate
The Senate is made up of
patricians (noble men and descendants of landowners)
plebeians (poor but free people lacking political power)
slaves
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509 BC Overthrow of Tarquin ( the last of the seven kings) and the foundation of the
Republic
509 – 27 BC The Republic
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The Republican government will last until the foundation of the Empire by Augustus in
27 BC
27 BC –476 AD The Empire
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It was the largest empire in western civilisation
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The Town Planning
The town was like a military camp:
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square plan
divided into 4 blocks by two main streets: “cardo” and “decumanus”
the farming lands were also divided into regular blocks (“centuriae”) by
parallel and perpendicular lines
Territorio nei pressi di Padova
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Pavia
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Arches
The Romans were great builders. Their
conception of space was different from the
Greeks:
– Greeks: columns and architrave with canopy
covering (triliptic system)
– Romans: vaulted arch (supports merged with
covers)
Arches and Vaults: laterally pushed with
thick walls, able to cover large areas.
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Vaults
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The Walls
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The Architecture
Public Architecture
Religious Architecture
Private Architecture
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Public Architecture
The Romans constructed numerous public works
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Strade
Ponti
Acquedotti
Fognature
Archivi
Magazzini
Mercati
Terme
Basiliche
Roads
Bridges
Aqueducts
City Sewer Systems
Archives
Storehouses
Markets
Thermae
Basilicas
They created a role model which was later used all over the empire.
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Public Architecture
roads
approx. 3m wide;
covered with stone slabs;
sided by drainage gutters.
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Public Architecture
bridges
great importance was given to the brideges during Roman times;
the Council of “Pontifices” was in charge of their construction.
Verona (ricostruito)
Rimini (14-21 d.C.)
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Public Architecture
aqueducts
between 4th cent. BC and 3rd cent. AD 10 bridges were built to provide
for the water needs of the population.
Roma, Acquedotto Claudio, 38-52 d.C.
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Public Architecture
City Sewer Systems - Archives – Storehouses - Markets
Cloaca Massima 4th-3rd sec. B.C.
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Public Architecture
thermae
from the Greek “thermai” ( hot source),
they existed during the Republican period.
The type was fully defined by Trajan’s Baths
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Public Architecture
basilicas
located close to the “forum”.
here the legal proceedings, meetings and business negotiations took place.
basilicas were made up of:
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a large rectangular hall divided into naves by tiers of columns (Maxentius’ was 80m long)
the entrance was opened on one of the main sides
on the opposing side was the apse, rectangular or semi-circular where the magistrate’s chair was
placed.
wooden trusses or cross vault cover
plain exteriors and elaborated interiors
Roma, Basilica di Massenzio, 307-313
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Roma, Tempio della triade capitolina, 509 a.C.
Religious Architecture - Temples
The first great temple was built in
509 after the overthrow of Tarquin
Trivalent model similar to Etruscan
examples
other examples were inspired by the
Greeks
Roma, Tempio di Ercole vincitore (detto di Vesta), II sec. a.C.
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Roma, Tempio della Fortuna Virile, II-I sec. a.C.
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Religious Architecture - Temples
Pantheon 118-128 d.C.
It was only under the Empire that this kind of
temple evolved.
The Pantheon was dedicated to all gods
(“pan”=all “ theos”= god).
The building stood in the centre of an open
space characterised by a circular plan,
entrance with Corinthian pronao,
hemispherical dome lightened by lacunars.
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Leisure Architecture - Theaters
with steps resting on walls rather than a hill;
used for drama performances
Roma, Teatro di Marcello, 13 a.C.
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Leisure Architecture - Amphitheaters
circular or elliptical
used for shows that lasted days
Anfiteatro Flavio (Colosseo), 70-80 d.C.
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Residential Architecture
The Villa
Villa di Boscoreale (Pompei), I c. B.C.
Villa di Settebassi, Roma, post 139
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Villa Laurentinum, (Plinio il Giovane), Roma II c.
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Roma, Pantheon, 118-128
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