1. Roman City Requirements:
TASK: To create a scaled Roman city plan shown from a bird’s eye
(overhead) view.
Your city must follow the rules below. Read and learn more about the items below on the
blog: http://vshstudioart.blogspot.com
1. 2 major, wide roads measuring 15’ in width– one running North to South (Cardo); the other East
to West (Decumanus). Label the streets with their Latin Names
2. At least 6 other roads, arranged in a grid format across the city, arranged in a rectilinear
fashion(streets at right angles, in the form of square grids) measuring 10’ in width each (you
may wish to add these on later on after you’ve developed more of your city)
PLEASE LABEL ALL BUILDINGS and BRIDGES WITH THEIR NAMES!
It is up to you to judge the sizes of buildings. Important public buildings are larger in
size like the Basilica; Theater or Ampitheater
3. Bridges over the River Thames for transport of goods measuring 15’ in width
4. Central forum through which the Cardo and Decumanus road intersect one another. Forum
must have:
a. Basilica - court of justice
b. A temple to Jupiter located at the North end of the Forum
c. A marketplace with stands for:
i. Fruits
ii. Vegetables
iii. Jewelry
iv. Clothing
v. Baked Goods
vi. Spices
vii. Silks
viii. Cosmetics and Perfumes

2. d. A small area for weighing and measuring goods purchased in the marketplace
e. Curia – area in which elected senators meet
f. Public Toilets
5. Workshops and Shops for: (note that some of these need stands in the marketplace too)
a. Blacksmiths
b. Pottery
c. Shoes
d. Weaving
e. Woodworking and Carpentry
f. Goldsmiths
g. Surgeons
e. Apothecary (person who deals with medicines)
f. Butcher
g. Baker
h. Candle maker
6. At least 1 other marketplace elsewhere in the city, preferably near your citizen’s homes
7. At least 2 fountains near important areas of the city
8. At least 1 temple (not including the one inside the Forum) to a Roman God or Goddess
9. Roman Bathhouse (thermae)
10. Barracks (housing) for soldiers
11. Theater for plays
12. Library
13. Amphitheater for entertainment; mock battles; spectacles; gladiator fights – make this round like
the Colosseum
14. Triumphal Arches along roads or Triumphal Columns to commemorate victories of Roman
generals and help navigate the city
15. Watchtowers at the end of major roads near city defensive walls for protection
16. Aqueduct outside city walls for transporting water into city
17. Town Houses for the wealthy citizens in the East End of the city
18. Apartment and Tenement Houses for less wealthy citizens in the West End of the city
19. At least 12 insula, the Roman equivalent of a city block. The insula is surrounded by roads on 4
sides and within each insula are different homes; shops and other buildings
20. Taverns
21. Inns (hotels)
22. Stables for horses
23 Optional – you may consider expanding your basilica into your Emperor’s palace as well
Your city plan must have the following information in addition to the structures above.
24. City walls surrounding the entire city – measuring 5 feet in thickness (Add these later on after you
have more of the city designed)
25. Farmland outside of city walls
26. Any empty areas filled with vegetation and/or trees
27. Compass Rose for where N-S-E-W are located
28. The name of the your Roman city written prominently on your scale city plan drawing
29. The scale of the drawing ¼”: 10’
30. All buildings; bridges and Cardo and Decumanus labeled