Roman Architecture Flashcards
Where did Roman architecture originate from?
- Took inspiration from the Greeks but expanded on it
- Influenced by foreign construction techniques, they learnt from everywhere they conquered (Europe, the North Coast of Africa and the Middle East.
What were the elements that highlight the start of urban planning?
- Roman roads: example of their straight lines/straightness
- Urban design: Hadrian’s Wall (also acts as defensive architecture)
- Urban planning: Vindolanda (Roman fort near Cambridge)
What system did the Roman use for town planning?
a grid system
What is cardo?
the grid line/street that runs north-south
What is decamanus?
the grid line/street that runs east-west
What is an agora?
Agora: public open spaces used as a meeting point/assembelies/markets or area for military camps.
How many times was Rome fortified?
As the Roman Empire expanded fortification of Roman cities became increasingly important. Rome fortified 7 times with 7 distinct set of walls delineating city’s continued expansion.
What was the Forum?
Forum is the location of the basilica (the centere of business and legal activities), the senate and the temple.
What were some common features of the Greek Temple?
- accessible from all angles
What were some common features of the Roman Temple?
- one set of stairs
- uni directional
- facing the forum
- odd number of columns
What was the basilica?
centre of business and legal activities
Why did Romans usually have an odd number of columns in their temples?
So there was a clarity of how to get in (unidirectional).
What were some of the structural innovations used by the Romans?
- arches
- vaults
- dome (Romans introduced larger dome)
- entatis
What are the two types of vault?
barrel & groin
How do arches work?
Arches work by using compressive stress pushing the forces downwards and outwards.
What is the difference between a barrel and groin vault?
The barrel vault which is a ceiling or roof made up of a series of arches (think extrusion) and the groin vault which is formed by the perpendicular intersection of two barrel vaults.
Where did the dome come from?
The dome is a hemispherical structure evolved from the arch, arch rotated = dome.
Where where domes first used?
Domes were first used in huts and tombs in the ancient Middle East, India and the Mediterranean. However the romans introduced a larger scale dome which can be seen in buildings such as the Pantheon in Rome.
Who was one of the key figures who documented innovations?
The Romans were the first to document innovations:
- Vitruvius
- Leonardo da Vinci
What is the main difference between the Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre?
The biggest difference between Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre is the shape: greek = semi circular, roman = circular
What does amphitheatre mean?
‘theatre in the round’, amphi is Greek for around.
What is another difference between the Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre in terms of topography?
Another difference is that Greek theatres are built into the topography. Whereas Roman amphitheaters create the same topography within the structure (built on flat ground).
What is perhaps the most famous Roman amphitheatre in Rome?
the Colosseum
What was the capacity of the Colosseum in Rome?
50,000
