Roman Architecture
Roman architecture implemented many characteristics of Ancient Greek architecture. The Romans showed the influence of their engineering skills and secular monuments, while Greek architecture exhibited the influence of their gods and ideas of physical perfection. The use of arches, the dome and concrete permitted the ancient Romans to attain extraordinary achievements in the construction of imposing structures for public use. While showing the magnificence of the Greeks and their practical application, as well as their creativity, the Romans established architectural features that remain to this day.
As the Roman population grew larger, the buildings they used for meetings and markets had to expand. This presented a problem with the Greek use of columns. The Greeks used the "post and lintel" system for designing a building. It is simply the idea of standing two columns vertically and placing a beam across them; a simple and easy assembly, yet not a durable one. Since the building needed to be so large to accommodate the large crowds, it called for more columns to hold it up. This made the Romans turn to engineers, and thus the arch was created. The use of arches enabled the weight of the structure to be evenly spread out, as well as pushing the weight down toward the ground. This prevented many structures, like the Colosseum, from disintegrating under its mass. The arches supported so much weight; architects could take away columns that, before, were crucial.
The Colosseum is an enormous oval amphitheater in the center of Rome, making it literally and symbolically the heart of Rome. It was commissioned by the emperor Vespasian and constructed of concrete and stone. It could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000...
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...reeks, the Romans improved greatly in the way they planned and enhanced those designs. They made many new innovations in architecture, produced revolutionary designs and building materials leaving an immense impact on architecture that can still be seen today.
Works Cited
Cartwright, Mark. "Roman Architecture." Roman Architecture. N.p., 5 Oct. 2013. Web. 1 Apr. 2014.
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Sear, Frank. Roman Architecture. London: Routledge, 1998. Print.
Thousands of years ago, Greek and Roman architects created rectangular-shaped buildings supported by huge, marble columns. For example, the Parthenon has forty six outer columns and twenty three inner columns. All of these columns come at a price. There is less space in the building and the views through the building are obstructed by the columns. It was not until about 100 A.D that that the Romans did a little experiment with a new concept, arches. These Roman scientists discovered that when you put them together, they form a circular dome. This concept caught on quickly as many ancient architects began to build “domes”. They found that making a dome created more space because there were no columns involved. Without the columns, the arches provided unobstructed space that is more appealing to those u...
Rome’s most famous landmark, Colosseum is a large Amphitheatre that could hold up to 50,000 people seated, which is located in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum was used as a royal treat, entertainment where gladiators would fight with wild beast in front of people, animal hunt, theatre performances and public executions for public entertainment and also the King himself. Most of the public event was held at Colosseum. The Roman Colosseum was built between 69 to 79 CE by the Vespasian emperor.
“Many European cities still bear reminders of the power of ancient Rome, and throughout the western world the influence of Roman power is still manifest.” “As the Roman Empire expanded Roman architects struggled to achieve two overriding aims: to demonstrate the grandeur and power of Rome, while also improving the life of their fellow citizens.” They held the Greeks in high regard for both their sculpture and architecture, learned stonework and pyramid architecture from the Egyptians, and absorbed important techniques from the Etruscans. To that end, the Romans perfected three architectural elements: concrete, the arch, and the vault. These three elements helped lighten the load carried by Roman structures while maintaining overall durability.
From the Egyptians to Romans, architecture achievements of the ancient world have left a huge impression on todays modern world. They all have left a tremendous impression on modern civilizations. There are numerous architectural monuments to write about. In this essay I will be discussing about the Pantheon and Colosseum, the famous architectural buildings of the Roman Civilization. I will discuss the history, significance, and analyze the qualities of the architecture.
The Greeks are best known for their ingenuity and intellectual thought, the Romans are best known for their conquest and strength. So were the Romans responsible for their great advances in architecture? No, they took what they need from the Greeks that they conquered and enslaved. Not only did they steal the Greek's architectural designs but they stole their gods, stories/plays, alphabet, medicine, and even their sports. To say that the Greeks influenced the Romans is to but it lightly. The Romans were envious of the Greeks they wanted to be like them, Robert Edger explains how Rome is thought to have been originated by a Trojan hero "The Aeneas story, perhaps invented by later mythmakers, pleased the Romans because it linked their history with that of the Greeks, whose culture they thought more sophisticated than their own." (Edger 131). The Romans stole the Greek's culture and their life style.
The Colosseum, one of Rome’s most famous structures, is located east of the Roman Forum in Piazza del Colosseo in Rome, Italy. As a gift to the Roman people, Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty commissioned the Colosseum around AD 70-72. Titus, Emperor Vespasian’s son and successor, opened it officially in AD 80. The Colosseum is able to hold roughly 50,000 spectators, making it the largest amphitheater in Rome. The Colosseum is a symbol of how advanced Romans were in architecture and building. This monument represents strength, power, cruelty and violence. Thousands of people, most commonly criminals and professional fighters, even animals, have been killed inside the walls of the Colosseum.
The Colosseum, located just east of the Roman Forum, commissioned in A.D. 72-80 by Emperor Vespasian. Vespasian was a part of the Flavian dynasty and had the massive amphitheater constructed as a gift to the Roman people. The structure is made of concrete, travertine, tufa, brick, and marble and is approximately 615 x 510 ft. Titus Vespasian’s son opened the Colosseum in A.D. 80 and it was officially known as the Flavian Amphitheater. Similar to our modern day sports arena, the Colosseum was built mainly for public entertainment and when it opened Titus gave his people the biggest show they had ever seen. The event lasted one hundred days and was filled with gladiatorial combats, wild animal fights, and hunts.
The engineering discoveries of ancient Rome have played a key role in the history of architecture and engineering. Many of Rome’s roadways, bridges, and aqueducts have been in use from the first century until the twentieth century. Many American buildings have used the Roman dome. Several major structures from early Rome still stand, including the Collosseum. These remnants of feats of Roman engineering stand as a monument to the ability of ancient Roman builders.
Architecture in modern day America has been heavily influenced by architecture in Ancient Greece.Architecture in ancient Greece was beautiful and unique. However, we still see remnants of ancient Greek architecture in our modern world today. There are many differences between architecture in ancient Greece and architecture in modern day America.We cannot deny that Greek architecture is unique and has impacted our lives today in big and small ways.
It was so much more advanced than any empire that came before this time. Romans took a lot of pride in their their buildings and architecture and many of the structures they used back then are still used today, like columns and arches. The Romans used columns and arches in structures like the colosseum and the Circus Maximus, both which were buildings where gladiatorial games or chariot races were held. These structures are still used today, for example, you can see these structures at one of the most famous buildings in the United States, the White House. The architecture from the roman era has impacted modern day by giving us structures to add into our cultures and to important buildings around our
Another difference in these civilizations is in the architecture of each region. The architecture of the Romans was also more advanced than that of the Greeks; they used concrete and placed emphasis on arches, vaulted ceilings, and domes while Greece emphasized balance and symmetry. Greek temples aimed at impressing by designing intricate, aesthetically pleasing outer views, while Roman architecture's goal was to impress by enclose a vast amount of space.
The Romans also excelled in the highly practical art, architecture. The Romans were the first people in antiquity to use concrete on a massive scale. By using concrete in their new architectural designs, the Romans were able to construct huge buildings, bigger than the Greeks ever could have dreamed of.
Throughout history, there have been several significant architectural movements. The last, and perhaps most enduring movement is that of Classic Greece. Although for centuries, the architecture of ancient Greece has been admired, mimicked, and replicated, its beginnings are somewhat surprising to one unfamiliar with the history of the region. It is important to understand the history and mechanics of Classic Greek architecture in order to fully appreciate its form, function, and beauty. “Ancient Greek architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The formulas they invented as early as the sixth century B.C. have influenced the architecture of the past two millennia” (metmuseum.org).
The Colosseum is one of the most well-known structures in Rome, Italy. The Colosseum was built almost two thousand years ago to host games for gladiators. The Colosseum provided for entertainment for the Romans, a form of punishment for those who did not obey the laws, and a place of great architectural beauty.
While houses, and stoas did have columns they were certainly not as ornate as columns on temples like the Parthenon. So to an ancient Greek the column would have been primarily associated with monumental temples. However, in Rome the collm j was used in a number of different buildings from, basilicas, to baths, to the emperor’s palace. The use of columns as decorations also began in Roman times as seen in buildings like the colosseum. In much more recent times, elements from both Greek and Roman architecture have been combined and used on numerous important buildings. Some of the most obvious examples of this are courthouses, which often have a very striking columnar faced emulating that of Greek and Roman temples. So through the study of ancient architecture one can understand why this architectural style means today, as well as what it means