Teacher's Guide for CALLIOPE ® Roman Engineering Feats November 2005

This guide was prepared by Cyndy Hall. Ms. Hall is a Southern California teacher, writer, and keyboard musician.

Words to Know/For Further Exploration:

Arch * * Column * Dome * Vault * Colossal * Destination * Quest * Prosperity * Predecessor * Spectacle * Venationes * Travertine * Squatters * Arcades * Saltpeter * Martyrdom * * Amphitheater * Pandemonium * Niches * Gilded * Gladiators * Velarium * Elliptical * Pilaster * Adjacent * Flavium *Colossus * Naumachiae * Subterranean * Aqueducts * Architraves * Pediments * Quicklime * Tufa * Sanctuary * Corbelled * Semicircular * Aldarium * Panthelon * Byzantine * Opus caementicium * Integral * Semidomes * Voussoirs * Keystone * Via Appia * Statumen * Rudus * Nucleus * Dorsum * Crepido * Margo * Semita *Umbones * Gomps hi * Nimes * Pont du Gard * Aqua Appia * Porta Maggiore * Piscine * Castellum * * Apodyterium * Palaestra * Strigilis *Tepidarium * Laconicum * Caldarium * Frigida rium * Hypocaust * Artufacts * Latrines * Forica * Maritima * Pozzolana * Horrea * Tormentia * Hand-catapult *Onager * Ballista * Carroballista * Scorpio * Differential * Calends * Stylus * Graphium * Pavimentum * Insulae

Using "Words to Know" as a starting point, ask students to keep a list of Latin words and their 'translation' to common English vocabulary.

Don't forget to try the "Colossal Puzzle" (page 11), "Build a Roman Arch" (pages 18-19), "Construct a Roman Road" (pages 22-23), "Build a Roman Catapult" (page 39), and "Fun With Words" (pages 42-43).

Invite members of your class to a great "Toga Party" using the party-planning suggestions on pages 46- 49.

While reading this issue:

1. Develop a large wall chart comparing ancient Roman architecture, design innovations and municipal systems with those of 21st century society. Include a column to note elements 21st century architects have 'borrowed' from their Roman counterparts. Ask students to include their own drawings on this wall display. 2. Use Internet or library resources to find scale drawings of Roman houses, bathhouses, and other buildings. Ask students to create drawings of their own homes and community buildings, and then discuss the comparisons and contrasts between the two.

Questions for Understanding:

"The Magnificent Colosseum" by Rosalie F. Baker (pages 4-6)

1. Why did the staged spectacles eventually lose popularity among the common people of ancient ? 2. Portions of the Colosseum fell during earthquakes in 492 and 508. What other factors contributed to the Colosseum's deterioration? 3. After Roman emperors stopped the staged spectacles, what happened to the Colosseum? Who used it - and why? 4. Using the Internet or library resources, find out more about efforts to preserve and protect the Colosseum.

"What a Structure?" by Charles F. Baker (pages 6-7)

1. Why did Roman architects stop using wood as the main building material for amphitheaters? 2. Using Internet or library resources, find drawings and other recreations of the great Colosseum. How does this giant amphitheater compare to 21st century football stadiums?

"There Will Be Awnings!" by Charles F. Baker (pages 8-10)

1. Why does author Charles F. Baker call the Amphitheatrum Flavium an "engineering marvel?" 2. Why would audiences like the Amphitheatrum Flavium's velariums? 3. Do modern stadium have some sort of velarium?

"What's in a Name?" by Rosalie F. Baker (page 9)

o Why was the Colosseum first named the Amphitheatrum Flavium?

"Mock Naval Battles" by Rosalie F. Baker (page 10)

o Was the Colosseum multipurpose? Why? How did the designers adapt the structure to different kinds of entertainment?

"Architecture Roman-Style" by Stephan Steingraeber (pages 12-17)

1. What is the main difference between Greek and Roman architecture? 2. "Built to last!" Author Stephan Steingraeber says that the invention of opus caementicium brought about huge changes in architecture. Why? Using the Internet or library resources, find out more about the early development of this modern building material. 3. Find examples of corbelled, semicircular, segmented, and round arches, vaults, and domes on school or community buildings. Use a digital or instant camera to take pictures for a classroom bulletin board or display. 4. Ask small groups of students to build clay models of each arch, labeling the distinctive features. Display these in the classroom. 5. Why do most architects consider the semi-circular arcus (arch) to be the 'true' structural arch form? 6. Roman architects used sections and combinations of arcus (arch) forms to construct _____? 7. The invention of opus caementicium helped Roman architects add domes and semidomes to buildings. Designing domes for buildings like the Pantheon required knowledge of geometry as well as architecture. Why?

"All Roads Lead to Rome" by Charles F. Baker (pages 20-21)

1. How did Roman pedestrians know where to safely cross an ancient Roman street? 2. Why were roads so important to the Roman Empire? 3. Listen to Respighi's Pines of Rome while constructing your own Roman road (using the information in the "Construct A Roman Road" activity on pages 22-23).

"Watering the Empire" by Anthony Hollingsworth (pages 24-28)

1. What architectural development made it possible for Roman architects to construct buildings and aqueducts as tall as the Pont du Gard? 2. The Roman government had a policy that all cities must have four distinct elements to be considered Roman. What were these elements - and why were they important? 3. "Watering the Empire" author Anthony Hollingsworth explains several ways in which Roman architects used new and ingenuous solutions to surmount problems with difficult terrain and long distances. Do modern architects use any of these same ideas? Are there examples within your own community? Invite a local architect or builder to class and discuss the links between ancient Roman and 21st century architecture. 4. How did Roman leaders insure enough water for every class of Roman citizen? 5. Use Internet or library resources to find out more about Roman architect Vitruvius and his instruction manual. 6. Find out more about your community's water supply by interviewing local or state government officials. What legacy did the Roman aqueduct designers pass on to 21st century water distribution systems?

"Keeping Clean" by Jackson Kuhl (pages 29-32)

1. After reading "Keeping Clean," compare the Roman system of bathing to Scandanavian saunas. 2. What is a hypocaust system? How does this system compare to 21st century heating techniques? 3. Roman bathhouses were also social gathering places. What other activities took place at large bathhouses? 4. In what ways did wealth, poverty, or social positions change a Roman citizen's bath experience? 5. Roman citizens understood the connection between good hygiene habits and good health. How did bathhouse architects and builders encourage good hygiene? 6. Use the Internet or library resources to find out more about the bathhouse in Aquae Sulis (Bath, England). Discuss the religious and supernatural connections. 7. Compare ancient Roman and 21stcentury spa design. What did 21st century architects 'borrow' from Roman bathhouse design?

"'Gotta Go!'" by Gloria W. Lannom (page 33) o Compare the Roman sewer system to 21st century municipal water and sewer systems. Use the Internet or Library resources to find out more, focusing on the design elements 21st century designers borrowed from their ancient ancestors.

"Caesarea Maritima" by Jarrett A. Lobell (pages 34-36)

1. Why did Herod rename Straton's Tower? 2. Use the Internet or library resources to locate Caesarea Maritima on a map. Why do you think Herod built a manmade harbor at that site? Was there additional geographic importance to the city's location? 3. Compare the size of Herod's manmade harbor (40 acres) to a modern football field, New York's Central Park, and other locations. Discuss the scope and difficulty of a project this large. What new building materials and techniques did Herod's engineers use to construct such a massive harbor? 4. Use Internet or library resources to find out more about pozzolana, comparing the Roman underwater concrete to 21st century materials.

"Catapulting to Victory" by Chaddie Kruger (pages 37-38)

1. What is torsion power? 2. Discuss other ways in which Roman engineers aided their military. Use Internet or library resources to trace the development of these inventions throughout military history. Are any still used today?

"Greco-Roman Clockwork" by Marina Debattista (pages 40-41)

1. Use Internet or library resources to learn more about the differential gear assembly used in the Antikythera mechanism. 2. Why would ancient Romans want to track the motion of planets? How would the Antikythera mechanism be used for worship? 3. How are differential gear assemblies used in 21st century technology? Ask a local engineer or master mechanic to show the class examples of differential gears in modern machinery, or ask a small group of students to use Internet and library resources to research this topic and report back to the class.