ROMAN

ARCHITECT
URE
2 important periods:
Etuscan or Etruscan (750 B C to
146 BC)
Roman (146 B C to 365 A D )
• Developed constitutional republic
•Farmers & soldiers, concerned with
efficiency and justice
• For 500 years Rome was ruled by
elected
leaders called consuls
•In 27 BC, Augustus crowned
•Used natural frontiers such as mountain ranges and
himself as the Emperor with total
rivers to define their empire. Otherwise they built
power.
fortified walls for protection.
• Succession of military
dictatorships of which • Latin was the official language

Julius Caesar’s was most • Applied roman system of laws

famous.
 GEOGR A PHY, G EOLOGY
A ND and commanding
• Italian peninsula: Central C L I MATEposition on
Mediterranean sea
• Temperate in the north
• Sunny in central Italy
• Almost tropical in south

ROMANS WERE GREAT BUILDERS

• City walls and Sewers
• Bridges
• Draining marshes,
controlling rivers and lakes
by using channels
• The use of concrete (300
A D to 400 AD): Stone or
brick rubble
with pozzolana, a thick
Characteristic features of Etruscan Architecture

•Till the 7th century BC there were no buildings of architectural significance.

• 6th century, under the influence of Greek and other traders from the eastern Mediterranean,
houses of the Greek, megaron type seem to have appeared, to be followed by larger houses
with internal courts or atria, of which opened the living rooms, for the richer members of the
community. (....................the megaron, a square room with four fluted columns in the centre
of which is an elevated hearth 4 meters in diameter...........................)

• Built largely of timber and mud brick.

• The houses had flat or sloping ceilings, sometimes coffered (a series of rectangular, square,
or octagon grids in three-dimension sunken or recessed panels) or elaborately carved,
carved doorframes, and coloured dados (decorated lower part of a wall).

• Roof and ceiling beams were given intermediate support in the larger structures
by columns which take a variety of forms, square, polygonal or circular in plan,
sometimes fluted and with a variety of capitals including crudely cut Doric and
Ionic.
•Etruscan temple- temple building set at the back of the enclosure facing the entrance and

had a blank rear wall. An open air altar was retained on the axis.

•Axial arrangement was emphasis by raising the building on podium.

•Columns usually employed to the front only.

Plan of a Typical Etruscan Temple
•One rectangular cella, usually.

•Building material used in temples – timber over the podium.

•Podium was built of timber, mud brick and terra cotta.

•Wide roofs in order to throw rainwater clear off the mud bricks.

•Columns and architraves are slender.

1. Podium (or base).
2. Entrance steps.
•Etruscan towns were a product of natural growth.
3. Columns/colonnade.
4. Porch.
•Etruscans were the earliest to introduce radiating arch.
5. Cella (three part).
•They invented the Tuscan order.
Characteristic features of Roman Architecture
• The Romans followed the columnar and trabeated style of Greeks and also
adopted Etruscans Arch and Vault.

• The early Romans used columns, arches and beams for their buildings.
• Columns were often superimposed.

• Use of lime mortar started in the Roman period.

• The concrete helped in a new construction system of extended use of vaulting.

• The character of Roman architecture is the capacity to span over large spans.

• The ribs were made from Roman bricks laid on edges.

• Centering or temporary wooden framework carried the ribs, the filling consisted of
alternate layers of lime concrete and flat tiles, till sufficient thickness was achieved.

• Various Vaults used by the Romans –

• Semi Circular vault or barrel vault, over rectangular structure.
• Cross-vault formed by intersection of 2 semi-circular structures.
• Cupolas or hemispherical dome used over circular structure.
•Arch, vault and domes were key to the Roman construction.

• Roman buildings were multi-storeyed –frequently ornamented by half attached columns

superimposed one above the other.

• Concrete vaults were often lightened by ‘coffers’ or recesses on the underside.

• Lime plaster was used in the exterior and marble stucco in the interior.

• Coloured marbles were avoided.

• Marble mosaic was used to some extent for composite walls, vaults and for floors.

• Plans were complex and utilitarian.

• Workmanship was coarse

1. ORDERS |
ELEMENTS
Romans initially followed the Greek order of columns: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian in many
structures.
They also came up with two columns of their own style, Tuscan and Composite.
Tuscan is an unfluted and simplified version of Doric order and composite is a combination of Ionic
and Corinthian columns.
Columns were initially used as support elements but later on, they were also used as elements of
decoration in various structures.
2. ARCH |
ELEMENTS

The Roman arch was the foundation of Rome's architectural mastery and
massive expanse of
building projects across the ancient world.
2. ARCADE |
ELEMENTS

An arcade is a succession of continuous arches, with

each arch supported by a colonnade of columns or
piers.
3. VAULT |
ELEMENTS

Vault, in building construction, a structural member consisting of an arrangement

of arches, usually forming a ceiling or roof.
Roman architects discovered that two barrel vaults that intersected at right angles formed a
groin vault, which,
 4. DOME |
ELEMENTS

Dome, in architecture, hemispherical structure evolved from the arch, usually forming a
ceiling or roof. The dome exerts thrusts all around its perimeter, and the earliest
monumental examples, such as the Roman Pantheon, required heavy supporting walls.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ROMAN
TEMPLES
The Roman temples were the result of the amalgamation of the Etruscan and Greek types, for they

resembled in many respects Greek examples, but their prostyle arrangement and the use of the

podium was derived from Etruscan temples.

The size of the cella was frequently increased, being usually the whole width of the temple.

The architraves were supported by the enclosing walls on the flanks, temples could also be built on a
large

scale.

The Roman temples were specially intended to be seen from the forum or open space upon which they

usually faced, the front being therefore made important by the deep portico and flight of steps.

No consideration was given to orientation.

Circular and polygonal temples were also used by the Romans.

PANTHE
ON
• Built by Hadrian in 120-124 A.D

• This temple is circular in plan 44m in diameter with a colonnaded portico in front.

• The porch is 33.5m x 18m

• Columns- made of Egyptian granite, unfluted, 14m height, dia from 1.5m at the
base to 1.3 at the top, have Corinthian capitals of white Pentelitic marble.

• Columns support an entablature (3.35m) and a pediment which may have a

bronze eagle relief.

• On the rear wall of the porch, at the entrance to the rotunda are two deep niches
which held statues.

• The bronze door was once coated with gold.

The walls of the rotunda are 20 feet (6 m) thick in
order to support the weight of the huge concrete
dome.
Imbedded in the walls are a series of brick arches, one
beside the other, to help support and stabilize the
overall structure.
The dome looks painted and the ceiling coffers contain
The large
columns,
made of a
yellowish
marble with
red veins
known as
"Giallo
Antico". The
original
condition of
the
Corinthian
capitals and
the fluted
columns is
amazing.

The wall
•Rotunda-

•Circular plan – 44m dia, rests on a circular foundation 4.5m deep.

•The walls -3 storey high, constructed of brick faced concrete, separated by stone cornices, originally
faced with marble and stucco.
•The exterior is divided into 3 storeys where as the interior is divided into only 2 parts.
•The internal lower wall has 8 recesses, alternatively square and round ended.
•There are two monolithic columns ,marble ,10.6 m high in front of the 6 recesses
•These columns are partly reeded at the bottom and partly fluted at the top and have Corinthian
capitals which supports the entablature.
•Above the next storey is the dome with a large central unglazed eye which is the only source of light.
•On its surface are 5 rows of square coffers of diminishing size -28 in a row.
•The coffers were probably covered with stucco with moulded edges, and they had large gilded bronze
rosettes in their centres,
•Interior –exercise in drama- diff lights-diff colours
•Construction -
•The cylindrical drums – 6m / 20 ft has many more voids than recesses
•These voids rise into the second storey behind the attic, and there are also hidden voids above them
and behind them.
•Drum consists of 3 tiers of relieving arches visible on the outside of the building
•Above the level of the highest external cornice, the dome is solid concrete, reducing finally to about
1.2m thick at the open eye.
Basilicas
•The word Basilica comes from Greek word meaning royal.

•These are known as the hall of justice. These were also used for commercial services.

•The usual plan is rectangular twice as long as it width with apsidal ends.

•It had trussed timber roof and was open at the sides to lower aisles behind the
colonnades.

•Light came through clerestories above the aisles.

•side galleries above aisles were also present in certain cases.

Basilica of Trajan, Rome
•The entrance for the basilica was through a portico from Trajan’d Forum.
•Adjoining it were Greek and Latin libraries with famous Trajan’s column 35
high in an open court between.
•The peristyled enclosure consisted of a central nave 56.5m wide and 118m
long with double aisles each 7.3m wide
•The basilica was about 40m high
•The columns of red granite with white marble Corinthian capitals supported
the galleries over the side aisles.
•At the apsidal ends were tribunals on raised dais around which were seats
for Praetor or judges and accessors and in-front was altar where sacrifice
was offered before transacting business.
Basilica of Pompeii, Rome
•Rectangular plan – 62 x 25m.
•No apse but a projecting tribune at the end.
•Tall Ionic columns ran round all sided internally.
•Probably supported a timber roof
Amphitheatres – were used to hold contest between men and
animals to serve popular amusement. They were planned on
elliptical shape with rising tiers of seats. As the name suggests
seating completely encompassed the central arena. E.g-
Colosseum at Rome
COLOSSE
UM
It is a Flavian amphitheater and
has been a witness to many
battles and events. It can
accommodate more than
50000 spectators.
It is the most renowned
example of
Roman Architecture.
The amphitheater
accommodates numerous
columns of different orders all
throughout the structure.
The columns in the first tier
are Ionic, the ones in the
•It is called so because of it size and proximity with colossal statue of Emperor Nero.

•It is also known as Flavin Ampi-theatre because it was built by Flavian Emperors.

•It was begun by the Emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D and finished by Emperor Domitian in 82 A.D

•It seats 50,000 people

•Elliptical plan -190m x 155m

•Each had 80 external arch openings

•The entrance was from the ground floor, same no as arches.

•Entrance planning was a concern.

•The entrance was from the ground floor to various tiers of seats. The main arena was oval-shaped -87m x 55m
enclosed by a wall 4.5m high

•Behind it was podium with imperial throne for emperor and seats for generals, vestal virgins, senators and other
officials of state.
•Beyond the podium, an auditorium was constructed on a rising platform with seats in four divisions
for about 50,000 spectators

•All of which were reached by stairs from the surrounding corridors placed at regular intervals
between radiating vaults.

•Lava was used for firm foundation

•Tufa and brick for wall

•Pumic stone for huge vault in order to reduce their weight whereas marble was used for columns
and seats

•Used of orders- robust Doric order in the first 12.40m high then slender and lighter ionic in the 2 nd
storey 11.8 m high

•Ornate Corinthian order in the 3rd storey 12m high while Corinthian plasters in the topmost
alternated by small square windows

•Columns placed centre to centre distance of 6.8 m

•Column above column, entablature over entablature

•Arches above arches

•The structure was enormously thick and weighty

•Honeycombed at regular intervals by empty shaft and to lighten it was ingeniously sub
divided by a web of infixed brick arches.

•The radiating concrete vaults were hidden support and formed the indestructible
foundation of the 4 storeys.
ROMAN
ARCH
Early Roman architecture borrowed heavily from Greek architecture. However, the
Romans quickly adapted their own styles and were soon inspiring the architecture of
many other countries.
One of the most important additions that the Romans brought to architecture is the
arch.
AQUEDUCT
Aqueducts – Water was collected from springs and rivers and carried partly by
tunnels and partly by channels supported on walls or arches to a reservoir outside
the city. The water was supplied to the city of Rome by a network of nine
aqueducts.

Using concrete, bricks, and the concept of the arch, Rome was able to provide many
of its citizens with water. Aqueducts (water bridges) were built throughout Rome,
their arch structures bringing water to areas far away from natural water supplies.
THERMAE
• Palatial public baths of Rome.
• Was built over a high platform.
• Consisted of heaters and service rooms
• Thermae consisted of central hall with main apartments on its cross axis such
as ‘tepidarium’ or ‘warm room, ‘calidarium’ or hot room each with hot-water
baths and ‘frigidarium’ containing unheated swimming baths
• The other rooms – dressing room, rooms for massage, palaestra – for exercise
were symmetrically arranged.
• At one end a large open space was left to be used as stadium around which
there were seats for spectators.
• Rooms in the periphery were meant for poets, philosophers and statesmen.
• Thermae provided for more than baths. They were like clubs – a place of
meeting and socialising.
 THERMAE OF CARCALLA
Aqueduct and The thermae was a
Reservoir
square plan, which was
a well composed
PLAN Study Libraries extension of Greek
Rooms gymnasium concept
Gymnasia
Calidarium

Tepidarium
Dressing Rooms Frigidarium

Main entrance
CIRCUS
Circus was used just as the hippodrome and was used for Chariot
racing.

Eg.- Circus Maximus, Rome

Was built in 605 B.C
Measures- approx 600m long and 200 m (ref Fletcher) wide and can occupy
2,50,000 spectators
It was just below the windows of the palace on the Palantine hill, hence the emperor
enjoyed the racing from his balcony.
The race ground was divided into 2 main tracks by a low central wall -spina in the
centre, which was decorate with obelisks brought from Egypt.
The outer area was surrounded by 3 tiers of wooden seats supported on concrete
vaults.
At one end of the arena 12 carceres or stalls for horses and chariots were provided.
External facade was divided into 3 storeys of marble arcades.
The race was of 7 laps – 3.6
BRIDGES
Bridges were simple and solid in construction. Early bridges were constructed with
timber but later they used stones. With the use of lime concrete very huge spans were
achieved.

ROADS
Romans constructed a network of roads. They built their roads straight like an arrow
with no regard to topography. The foundation and base course consisted of large broken
stones in lime concrete with a wearing course of dressed large stone blocks set in lime
mortar.
FOUNTAIN
The fountains were the important features of Rome. They were generally
occupied in the main squares and private house gardens. The fountains were
gracefully designed with great variety in coloured marble, either as basin or
spouting jets, or sometimes gushing water form fish or such object supported by
the bronze statues of nymphs, etc.

FORUM
Situated usually at the intersection of two main streets around which law courts
and public buildings were placed. It was used as an open air assembly or a
market or for political discussion. It was the index of high civic life and clear
indication of well laid out town planning. Eg – Forum of Ceaser, Forum of Trajan
Corresponds to the Greek Agora but, planning of the Roman Forum is more
formal. It is a formal rectangle while the agora is irregular shaped.
HYPOCAUST
A hypocaust is a system of central heating in a building that produces and circulates
hot air below the floor of a room, and may also warm the walls with a series of pipes
through which the hot air passes.
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