Breanna Langford
Sandra L. Johnson
Due: 12/10/12
As my wise professor has stated, “The Romans were incredibly innovative architects and their architecture has influenced the world.” (Johnson) The best three architectural elements the Romans created where the arch, vault, and concrete. Not only did these three elements together look great together, but it added strength and stability while still being not too heavy. The greatest Roman contribution to architecture was Roman concrete. It wasn't just any concrete it had cement composed of water, lime, & volcanic ash sand. Another great contribution was the way they applied it and the tools they used. Using all their innovations they created many beautiful pieces of architecture that I
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Unfortunately when I went to Italy the Trevi Fountain had a fence around it due to renovations but my breath was still taken away and I was still able to toss a coin in the fountain. It is said that if you throw a coin from your right hand over your left shoulder that you’ll return back to Rome one day (which I hope I do). 3,000 Euros are thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day and are collected every night to give to charity. What blew me away was all the detail each figure & design had chizzled in. The fountain carries a Baroque style which held an architectural concerns for color, light and shade. In the center of the Trevi Fountain is the Greek sea God, Oceanus, with two sea-horses and Tritons who are half men and half mermen (male mermaids). "The design of the trevi fountain is based on three architectural elements: a façade made of travertine; statues of carrara marble; a see reef also made of travertine." (Trevifountain.net, 1) The Trevi fountain is one of the largest fountains standing at 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. The Trevi fountain was built because of Roman tradition. Many aqueducts held beautiful fountains built at the end of them to symbolize a blessing for the water it held because it was said to be the purest.
I’ve always appreciated art but after taking this class I see it so differently & carry much more knowledge. I hope to revisit Italy some day so I can look at its art & architecture in a new way than I had previously. I guarantee it would be a whole different experience than
“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.
The Roman Empire rose to power in about 27 B.C. and lasted until 410. During this time, Roman influence reached its height and Rome established a lasting legacy in the history of western civilization. One aspect of the Roman legacy is their architectural achievements. Roman engineering and architecture stand out as some of the most marvelously sophisticated for the time, with the variety of structures they built and the means of construction. Roman architecture went through a golden age beginning in 27 B.C. and lasting until about 180 A.D. when the Empire began to decline. During this golden age, the Romans built coliseums, an intricate road network, aqueducts, and bathhouses. Many examples of these structures still stand today, a testament to Roman architecture genius.
...eatures do not only add symbolic meaning to the fountain with the contrast in their mood and poses, but they also provide a symmetrical balance. Visitors to the Trevi Fountain will also see a statue of a woman in the niches on either side of Neptune. The left one carries a satchel full of fruit, representing abundance. The other one lets a snake drink water from her cup, represents salubrity. Together they are said to represent different aspects of the sea. The upper levels of the fountain show several long inscriptions. They are all written in Latin and celebrates the ones responsible for the construction. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. A modern interpretation is that throwing two coins into the water coins will lead to a new romance and three will ensure either a marriage or divorce.
Have you ever felt insignificant while standing in front of a monumental building that you have seen in small images of your history book? No one could imagine the atmosphere and physical beauty inside the most beautiful structures in the world, the Pantheon and the Florence cathedral. While sitting at the fountain in front of the Pantheon, one can see the huge columns rising towards the entablature and the walls curving behind to form a cylinder. Although the exterior of the pantheon could look majestic, the interior is just as breathtaking. The first thing someone does when they enter the Pantheon is to look up at the coffered dome and the oculus. The important feature that seemed impossible to have been built during the time that the Pantheon
Lord Byron once stated, “While stands the Colosseum, Rome shall stand;/ When falls the Colosseum, Rome shall fall;/ And when Rome falls- the World.” The Colosseum not only depicted the incredible architectural skill of the Romans, but also their superiority to others across the globe. Influencing most of the culture and traditions that has been integrated into our modern society, the Roman Empire is a stimulating model of how a single cultural group could shift the architectural world forever. Although inspired by the Greeks, the Roman style is entirely independent and distinct from all others; the Colosseum is only one of many of their historical masterpieces.
The ancient Romans were skilled engineers and have left lasting contributions in this field. The Romans built a great network of roads connecting cities throughout their empire. They also built aqueducts and bridges using arches for support. The Roman arch design was by far the most important innovation of their time. The arch, however, would have been useless without the discovery of concrete. The Romans had many other such discoveries that would make their engineering skills known throughout the world.
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
Roman baths were made really nice and very amazing, they had tall beautiful building. They had high ceilings and the walls were decorated with marble and frescos. The floors were designed with very complicated big mosaics.
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.
The two ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were the best of the best during their time periods. Ancient Greece began around 2000 B.C. by the inhabitants known as the Mycenaean’s, followed by the Minoans. The Minoans built the foundation of Greece. The Roman Empire was founded around 753 B.C. by the two twins, Romulus and Remus. Romulus ended up killing Remus and built the city of Rome on one of seven rolling hills. Architecture was very important to both civilizations and they were always trying to out due the other. The architectural style of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was overall constructed and used differently.
From the reading, discuss the development of both concrete and the arch. Include the importance of each in the life of Rome and the results of their use.
Architects traveled to Rome and studied the remains and ruins of ancient Roman building, colosseums, and pantheons. Arches, pilaster, columns, pediments, domes, and entablatures were some of the elements that were inherited from classic Rome architecture. Architects were also influenced by the writing of Vitruvius.
On the 25th July, I travelled to Rome to take in as many wonderful sights as possible, such as the Trevi Fountain, Rome’s most popular tourist attraction. Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 and it was designed by Nicola Salvi. Trevi Fountain is the world famous Baroque fountain. It features a mythological sculptural composition of Neptune, god of the sea, flanked by two Tritons. On my journey towards the Trevi Fountain there were huge crowds of people, but even thoug...
Have you ever seen or visited the Capital building, Washington or amphitheater of Arlinton, Virginia or Cabin John bridge of Washington aqueduct? If an answer is yes, then have you ever think that how we come up with this type of buildings? These all buildings’ basic structures are based on the Greek and Roman cultures’ architecture. Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Roman culture was very inspired from the Greece culture and they had used very basic ideas to build buildings and temples, to portrait sculpture. They modernized and improved their architectures and sculptures in decorative way and made a separate image in the world.
...ovements on the arch and the dome. Also, they built roads, bridges, harbors, and aqueducts, which they were most famous for. Aqueducts were a revolutionary invention that carried water from the hills to the cities. Even today, the principal of the aqueducts enables many urban areas to have water. The lasting contributions of the Roman Empire have helped to shape modern living.