FORUM, TRIUMPHAL ARCHES, COLOSSEUM, THERMAE

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The Etruscans were an original people whose accomplishments left distinctive
imprints on Roman accomplishments left distinctive imprints on Roman civilization.

2. Roman Roads
Roman engineers were famous above all for their high quality roads.
In all, they laid more than 250,000 miles of roads, including over
50,000 miles of paved roads. At the height of the Roman empire, 29
major military highways radiated from its capital, Rome.
Lighthouses
As well as building roads to facilitate transport
and travel overland, Roman architects also
erected numerous lighthouses around the
Mediterranean and the western shores of the
Atlantic, to assist maritime navigation.
Tower of Hercules
Leonardo da Vinci in 1490, by
notes based on the work of the
Roman architect VITRUVIUS
Constantine the Great
Hercules Venus

3. 1.Opus Testaceum concrete, a type of
brick/tile-facing which became the most
widespread form across the empire.
The romans a building technique to make their next big invention: brick and
mortar masonry, a building technique in which small, fired bricks are held together
by mortar.
The other was concrete, a mixture of cement and gravel, which can be poured into
forms. Once dried, concrete was as strong and durable as stone.
Roman concrete was used extensively in the construction of roman architecture.
Making concrete quicklime was made by burning limestone (slaking), and adding
water to produce calcium hydroxide, sand was then mixed in. The mix hardened
forming calcium carbonate which bonded to the rough surface of the rocks.
2.Opus incertum concrete, the most
popular facing for ordinary concrete
walls, prior to the Imperial era.
using irregularly shaped and
randomly placed uncut stones or
fist-sized tuff blocks inserted in a
core of opus caementicium.

4. 3.Opus Reticulatum concrete, similar
to opus incertum but with pyramid-
shaped stones. The diamond-shaped
tufa blocks were placed with the
pointed ends into the cement core at
an angle of roughly 45 degrees, so
the square bases formed a diagonal
pattern, and the pattern of mortar
lines resembled a net.
The wall is in the opus
mixtum style which
combined layers of opus
testaceum (standard brick
facing)with opus
reticulatum (square-
based pyramid blocks set
in a diagonal pattern).
4.Opus Mixtum concrete, a combined
brick/stone facing, popular with later empire
architects during the Diocletian period.
5.Opus quadratum concrete, a type of ordinary stone
walling that was used to face important public buildings.

5. The character of roman architecture is largely dependent on the
use of vaulting as a standardized structural system.
The semicircular barrel vault was constructed by having a series
of brick arches, connected by tiles, thus forming compartments
into which, the concrete was poured.
The cross vault formed by the intersection of 2 semicircular vaults
of equal span was used over square spaces. The lines of
intersection are known as “groins”. Hemispherical domes were
used over circular spaces & semi-domes over exedras.
The room is dominated by support columns,
creating a cluttered appearance
The Roman Arch Vault
Barrel Vault Groin Vault Rib Vault

6. Aqueducts Another way to transport water over a valley is by
using arches, also known as arcades. Arches are the
most recognizable structures of the Roman aqueducts
These tiered arches had three levels of tiers
that reduce in size as the tiers get higher. The
tiers were stacked in order to maintain stability
Segovia, spain
The first Roman aqueduct was
built underground. The purpose
of building it underground
tunnel was to protect the water
supply from enemies and
prevent water pollution.
The Aqua Claudia in Roma

7. Arch of Constantine, (ad 312)
The monumental arch stands
approximately 20 meters high, 25 meters
wide, and 7 meters deep. Three portals
punctuate the exceptional width of the
arch, each flanked by partially engaged
Corinthian columns. The central opening
is approximately 12 meters high, above
which are identical inscribed marble
panels, one on each side
Triumphal Arches

8. ORDER

10. Forum and Markets of TrajanTraian's forum was symmetrically planned, with a
monumental entrance way from the Forum of Augustus
leading into the forum proper, a court 330 by 375 feet
defined by double colonnades and two semicircular
elements (hemicycles) set on a cross-axis

11. The Basilica Ulpia was an ancient Roman civic
building located in the Forum of Trajan. The
Basilica Ulpia separates the temple from the
main courtyard in the Forum of Trajan with
the Trajan's Column to the northwest
It was the largest in Rome measuring 117 by 55 meters (385 x 182 ft).
The Basilica Ulpia was composed of a great central nave with four side
aisles with clerestory windows to let light into the space divided by rows
of columns and two semicircular apses, one at each of the ends with
the entry to the basilica located on the longitudinal side. The columns
and the walls were of precious marbles; the 50 meter (164 ft) high roof
was covered by gilded bronze tiles.

12. Column of TrajanThe column was erected in 113 to commemorate
his victorious wars against the Dacians (101-106).
The column itself is made from fine-grained
Luna marble and stands to a height of 38.4
meters (c. 98 feet) atop a tall pedestal. The
shaft of the column is composed of 19 drums
of marble measuring c. 3.7 meters (11 feet)
in diameter, weighing a total of c. 1,110 tons.
The topmost drum weighs some 53 tons.
A spiral staircase of 185 steps leads to the viewing platform atop the
column. The helical sculptural frieze measures 190 meters in length (c. 625
feet) and wraps around the column 23 times. A total of 2,662 figures appear
in the 155 scenes of the frieze, with Trajan himself featured in 58 scenes.

13. FORUM
The Arch of Septimius Severus
The Arch of Septimius Severus at the northwest end of
the Roman Forum is a white marble triumphal
arch dedicated in 203 to commemorate the Parthian
victories of Emperor Septimius Severus
The Roman Forum, is a rectangular forum (plaza)
surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient
government buildings at the center of the city of Rome.

14. Colosseum - amphitheatre of the city of Rome
The Colossus of Nero
The Colosseum also known as the Flavian amphitheatre was built from
70–82 AD.
Amphitheatres are charecteristic of roman civilization & were built to
watch mortal combat. The biggest one built in Rome, called the
Colosseum, was capable of seating 80,000 spectators. It is a 4 storeyed
structure, 3 arcaded floors and attic, rising to a height of 48m.
It displays the typical roman order comprising
of the semicircular arched opening flanked by
columns on either side. It was used to watch
gladiatorial contests & public spectacles.

15. The Colosseum is elliptical in plan, 620’ by 513’, with 80 external arcaded openings in each floor. Those on the GF form the entrance
from which various tiers of seats were reached through a series of radiating staircases. The arena is oval, 287’ by 180’, surrounded by
a wall of 15’ height. Behind this was a gallery for senators, officers of the state & the throne for the Emperor. Above this rose the seats
for the spectators, with staircases & corridors beneath to give access. The seats were in 4 main divisions – the 2 lower tiers for those
of Equestrian rank & Roman citizens was separated by a high encircling wall from the topmost bank of seats, which were for the
women & plebian. They were reached by stairs from the surrounding corridors placed in between the radiating walls.

16. The external façade has the 3 lower floors pierced by arched openings
ornamented with attached columns of the Tuscan order in the GF, Ionic order
in the FF, and Corinthian order in the SF. The top attic floor has pilasters of the
Corinthian order with corbels in between to support the masts of the velarium.
Of the 545m long perimeter wall, only the north side wall is standing.
The colosseum had 80 entries at the GL, of which 76
were for the public, the north one was for the Emperor
& the remaining 3 axial entries were for the senators
and the elite. The longest length is 187.75m and its
width 155.60m, for a constant height of 50.75m.

17. Public Bath- Thermae of Caracalla
The Baths of Caracalla were built during the
time of Ancient Rome between 212-217 CE.
Caracalla’s Father, Septimius Severus
They usually consisted of 3 main parts – a great central structure which
contained the frigidarium, the tepidarium the calidarium, & sudatorium, a
large open space having a park & stadium and an outer ring of apartments
that had lecture rooms, shops and accommodation for the slaves

18. The inside was also decorated with mosaics,
frescos, and statues. The main buildings of
the Baths of Caracalla are arranged around
a central hall with a plaster for sports and
exercise on each side. Originally, the Baths
of the Caracalla were 228 meters long, 116
meters wide, and 38.5 meters tall, occupying
thirty acres and fitting 1,600 bathers
Roman baths (thermae) were primarily hygienic
facilities, but they also provided for exercise,
relaxation, and informal socializing. activities
more commonly associated with modern spas or
health clubs than with bathrooms.

19. It was constructed in the reign of the emperor Hadrian, who is believed
to be its architect. The entrance is an enormous portico with twenty
Corinthian columns that originally supported roof trusses.The cella is
circular, 142 feet and six inches in diameter and 142 feet high.
Temple- pantheon The greatest circular-plan Roman temple
is the Pantheon in Rome (1l8-28 CE ).
Its size, the boldness of its design, and the
technical accomplishment of its
construction make it a distinguished work.
The Pantheon, meaning the temple of the gods, was built as a
shrine to the 7 deities of the 7 planets, of the Roman religion.

20. Dome
A semi-circular arch rotated 360 degrees about the
axis of its centerline creates the shape of a dome.
The lower story is varied by niches, alternately semicircular
and rectangular around the circumference.
The dome is accomplished by five tiers of diminishing square
coffers, designed with exaggerated perspective to enhance the
sense of depth.
The light pouring in from the oculus increases the depth
increases the depth of the coffers of the dome and niches below
The cylindrical cella wall is visually divided in to two stories,
a ground-level Corinthian order of fluted columns and
pilasters supporting an attic story with rectangular openings
resembling windows set in a patterned marble wall.
The unfluted, monolithic columns of granite with capitals in
white marble are about 46’ -5” high & support an entablature
of 11’ height with the pediment above it. The 8 facade columns,
with others, forms a triple colonnade at the entrance. The
bottom half of the cella is a cylinder which supports a
hemispherical dome, with a circular opening (oculus) twenty-
seven feet in diameter at the top to let in light and air
Semicircular exedrae
Rectangular recess
Staircase
Niches for statue