ROMAN

ARCHITECTURE
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
The architecture of the ancient Roman people

ANCIENT ROMAN
ROME
A city in the central part of Italy which according to tradition
was founded by Romulus and Remus in 758 B.C.

The ancient capital of Roman Empire and site of Vatican City,

the seat authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

She Wolf of the

Capitol City Rome
Characterized by
- massive brick and concrete construction employing such
features as the semicircular arch, the barrel and groin vaults
and the dome.

- a simplicity and grandeur of massing

often combine with elaborate detailing

- the elaboration of the Greek orders as purely decorative

motifs for the adornment of façade and the interior

- the use of marble linings, mosaics and molded stucco in

the interiors.
ETRUSCAN ACHITECTURE

The architecture of Etruscan people in west-central Italy

from the 8th to the 3rd centuries B.C. before the rise of
Rome.

Its construction methods, especially that of the true stone

arch, influenced later Roman Architecture.
Geographical Influence
It has a commanding position in the Mediterranean Sea
which enabled to act as an intermediary in spreading art
and civilization over Western Asia and North Africa.
Geological Influence
Concrete was the chief building
materials, which made up of stone
or brick rubble and mortar of
which the important ingredient
was “pozzolana.”

There are ample supplies of

marbles, terra-cotta, stone, bricks,
sand, gravel and timber.
Climatic Influence
It has variety of climatic conditions in three regions: North,
Central and South Italy.

Religious Influence
Religion became a part of the constitution of the state.
They venerated more their emperors than their gods.

Social and Political Influence

Important Emperors who patronize architecture in Rome.
 Nero
Vespasian
Trajan
Hadrian
Septimius
Severus
Caracalla
Diocletian
Emperor Caracalla
Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus Augustus (188-217)
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
- commonly known as Vitruvius,
- a Roman author, architect, civil engineer and military engineer during
the 1st century BC,
- known for his multi-volume work entitled De architectura
Historical Influence
Periods of Development:
1. ETRUSCAN - notable for the use of
the true & radiating arch, they were
the earliest civilization and great
builders, invented the Tuscan capital,
their temples were oriented at the
south.

2. ROMAN - Adopted the columnar

and trabeated style of the Greeks
and developed the arch, vault and
dome of the Etruscan.
Architectural Character

1. Vastness and Magnificence

2. Ostentation and Ornateness

Romans use ARCH in structural innovations

ARCH STRUCTURAL YSTEM
Different Vaults Developed by the Romans
1. Semi-circular/ Wagon-headed/ Barrel vault
2. Cross vault
3. Hemispherical Dome

Roman Concrete Walls

1. Opus Quadratum
2. Opus Incertum
3. Opus Reticulatum
4. Opus Testaceum
5. Opus Mixtum
1. Opus Quadratum
made up of rectangular blocks of stone with or without
mortar joints but frequently secured with dowels or
cramps.

OPUS QUADRATUM
2. Opus Incertum
made up of small stones aid in a loose pattern
roughly assembling the polygonal work.

OPUS INCERTUM
 3. Opus
Reticulatum
fine joints were
in diagonal lines
like the meshes
of a net

OPUS RETICULATUM
 4. Opus Testaceum
Triangular bricks(plan)
especially made for facing
the wall

OPUS TESTACEUM
5. Opus Mixtum
Consisted of bands of “tufa” introduced at
intervals in the ordinary brick facing or alteration
of rectangular blocks with small squared stone
blocks.

OPUS MIXTUM
Capitals by Romans

COMPOSITE

One of the five classical orders,

popular especially since beginning of the Renaissance
but invented by the ancient Romans,
in which the Corinthian order is modified by
superimposing four diagonally set Ionic volutes on
a bell of Corinthian acanthus leaves.
COMPOSITE ORDER
COMPOSITE CAPITAL
Capitals by Romans

TUSCAN

A Classical order of Roman origin,

basically a simplified Roman Doric characterized by an
unfluted column and a plain base,
capital and entablature having no decoration other than
moldings.
TUSCAN ORDER
TUSCAN ORDER
Doric Ionic Corinthian Tuscan Composite

CLASSICAL ORDERS
Roman Architecture

FORUM

Open space used as a meeting place, market

or rendezvous for political demonstrations.

- Forum of Romanum, Rome

(oldest and most important)
- Forum of Trajan, Rome (largest)
FORUM OF ROMANUM
FORUM OF TRAJAN
Roman Architecture

RECTANGULAR TEMPLES

Used Pseudo-peripteral (half column attached to the

naos wall, raised on a podium, and raised towards
the south.

- Temple of Fortuna Virilis

- Temples of Diana, Jupiter, Saturn
- Temple of Vespasian
TEMPLE OF FORTUNA VIRILIS
Roman Architecture

CIRCULAR AND POLYGONAL TEMPLE

Derived from the Greek temples and Etruscan which

became the prototype of the Christian baptistery.

- Temple of Vesta, Rome (sacred shrine)

- The Pantheon, Rome
(most famous and perfect preservation,
converted into Christian church named
Sta. Maria Rotonda)
TEMPLE OF VESTA, ROME
PANTHEON, ROME
Roman Architecture

BASILICAS

Halls of Justice or Assembly hall

- Trajan Basilica, Rome

- Basilica of Constantine, Rome (Basilica Maxentius or
Nova)
TRAJAN BASILICA, ROME
BASILICA OF CONSTANTINE, ROME
Roman Architecture

THERMAE

A palatial public bath with three main parts.

1. Main building central structure with chief apartments.

2. Xystus or public park with avenues of trees
3. Outer ring of apartments
- Thermae Caracalla, Rome
- Thermae of Titus, Rome
Roman Architecture

BALNEUM

Private bath in Roman palaces and houses containing the ff:

Calidarium Tepidarium Frigidarium

-Hadrian Villa summer bath

ROMAN BATH
HADRIAN BATH
Roman Architecture

THEATERS OR ODEION
Built by means of concrete vaulting and
supporting tiers of seats
- Theater of Marcellus, Rome

COLOSSEUM
For gladiators combats and elliptical in plan
- The Colosseum, Rome
(known as “Flavian Amphitheater”)
THEATER OF MARCELLUS
COLOSSEUM
Roman Architecture

TRIUMPHAL ARCHES

Erected to commemorate victorious campaign.

- Arch of Titus, Rome

- Arch of Constantine, Rome
- Arch of Tiberius, Orange
TRIUMPHAL ARCH
ARCH OF TITUS
TRIUMPHAL ARCH/ ARCH OF CONSTANTINE
TRIUMPHAL ARCH/ ARCH OF TIBERIUS
Roman Architecture

PILLARS OF VICTORY OR
MONUMENTAL COLUMNS

Erected to record triumphs of victorious generals

-Trajan Column, Rome

TRAJAN PILLAR
Roman Architecture

PALACES
Emperors house
- Palaces of Emperors, Rome
- Golden House of Nero, Rome
- Palace of Diocletian (often called “city in a house”)
PALACE OF DIOCLETIAN
GOLDEN HOUSE OF NERO
Roman Architecture

AQUEDUCTS

Use for water supply, carried on arches in several tiers

- Aqua Marcia, Rome
- Aqua Claudia, Rome
AQUEDUCT/ AQUA MARCIA
AQUEDUCT/ AQUA CLAUDIA
Roman Architecture

BRIDGES OR PONS

Simple, solid, practical construction design to resist the

rush of water.

- Pons Sublicius
- Pons Mulvius
- Bridge of Augustus
PONS SUBLICIUS
PONS MULVIUS
ROADS
Cardo & Decumanus
Roman Architecture

FOUNTAINS
Striking features of ancient and modern Rome

Two types:
1. Lacus or Locus
Designed similar to a large basin of water
2. Salientes
similar to large basin of water with spouting jets.
LACUS CURTIUS SALIENTES
Roman Architecture

ROMAN HOUSE
1. Domus or private house
2. Villa or country house
3. Insula or apartment block
ROMAN INSULA
PRIVATE HOUSE
ROMAN VILLA
HOUSE PLAN
COLOSSEUM