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Roman Architecture Mini Guide

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Roman Architecture Mini Guide ROMAN ARCHITECTURE GUIDE AMPHITHEATRE THEATRE CIRCUS The Ancient Rome civilization grew from a small village in Rome to an Empire domi- Theatres were nating vast territories around the Mediter- similar to Amphitheatres ranean Sea in Europe, North Africa and Asia. Amphitheatres but had a semicircular form, which enhances the The Roman circus was a large open-air venue were open air venues with raised seating which natural acoustics. They were used for theatrical used for chariot & horse races as well as com- Roman Architecture covers the period from were used for event such as gladiator combats. representation, concerts and orations. memoration performances. 509 BCE to the 4th Century CE. However, most of the structures, that can be admired What you may see: remains that look like What you may see: similar to Amphitheatres What you may see: an extremely large and today dates from around 100 CE or later. concentric stairs ; a downward hill which forms a circular or an oval basin ; Remains of arches or remains; raised flat area used as a stage with a high elongated field ; encircling walls or remains of back wall what look like stairs (seating area) ; a central When looking at Roman ruins, it’s not always passages ; strong walls pointing toward the center (scaenae frons) thin and elongated structure (the spina). easy to recognize what you are looking at & of the basin ; a flat central area. supported by to know how grandiose such structure was. In that case, think of the columns. What it looked like : Colosseum in Rome! With this mini guide, it is a little bit easier! What it The top drawing shows you what a structure looked like : might look today. The bottom one shows you what it would have looked like centuries ago. INFRASTRUCTURE AQUEDUCT Romans left us impressive infrastructure works. Romans built aqueduct With the invention of the Roman concrete, they to bring water were able to create new daring structures. from distant ROMAN sources to cities Roman roads and even ‘army highways’ connected to supply public ARCHITECTURE most of the Empire. baths, latrines, MINI GUIDE fountains, etc. Designed by Miss Coco Bridges were built, which many are still used for Road Trips Around The World today. What you may see: a single or double row of arches ; located near or inside a city ; does Water management was important to Romans not necessarily cross a river, Love architecture? and they created aqueducts to carry water from unlike a bridge. afar, dams and cisterns to store such water as well Visit RTatW to find more mini guides sewage systems to dispose of waste water. What it looked www.RoadTripsaroundtheWorld.com Roman cities were protected by defensive walls, like : some of which are still existing. Roman civil-engineering work can still be found all over Europe. THERMAE TEMPLE TRIUMPHAL ARCH Roman baths were found in all cities and were Roman temples were among the most important What temples looked like : A triumphal arch was an archway with one or used for bathing, exercising and socializing. and richest buildings in the Roman culture. more arched passageways, often designed to Emphasis was on the front of the building which span a road. It was designed to commemorate What you may see: looked very much like Greek temples. the victories of a triumphator. In most cases, the only Temples were often rectangular but various A Triumphal Arch would remains are circular kinds of temples were also built. have 1, 2 or 3 archways, the hypocaust The inner chamber or cella, was usually a single and stoud freely or can which was the room with a statue of the deity venerated and a now be part of a wall. central heating system ; place to receive offerings. The foundations Public religious ceremonies took place outdoors. What you may see: A free standing arch or of some of the walls of the building. several arches ; decorative columns ; part of a What you may see: a row of free standing co- Most temples were rectangular but some were entablature. What it looked like : A richly decorated and lumns on a raised wall ; round: complex building with multiple rooms and the remains of a raised multiple baths. podium ; single staircase ; walls ; columns with a What it triangular pediment looked like: above ; a colonnade screen ; the walls of the cella. BASILICA FORUM MACELLUM The Roman basilica was a rectangular public The Roman Forum was Ancient Rome's showpiece center, a grandiose district of temples, A macellum was an indoor market, located in building with a large central open space. Basi- basilicas and vibrant public spaces. It served as a marketplace and was usually located at a usually square building. Shops or Tabernae licas served as court-house, council chamber or very near the intersection of the main North-South and East-West streets (the Cardo were arranged around a courtyard which had a and meeting hall. They did not have religious Maximus and the Decumanus Maximus). central tholos (a round structure, usually built functions & were always part of the Forum. upon a couple of steps, with a ring of columns supporting a domed roof). Macellums could TRIUMPHAL COLUMNS have upper stories where additional shops or Triumphal columns were erected to comme- storage could be found. morated victorious battles. Typically stood on a COLUMNS based and were crowned with a victory symbol like a statue. Some were huge (over 30m – 100 Columns were used in many different ways in feet). Roman architecture. Attached to load bearing wall, standing DECORATIVE ELEMENTS alone, topped by a statue Statues of all sorts were standing on large pe- or not. Grouped in a destals and fountains could also be found. colonnade and joined by their entablature, Statues and other decorative elements were to create a covered or painted in various bright colors. Roman archi- open space. tecture was colourful inside and outside. .
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