2. MAIN FEATURES
It was conceived to represent the interest of the State and its ruling classes.
It sought proportion and measure.
3. It used brick and stone and newly discovered concrete.
It used Greek-inspired architecture but also used arches, vaults and domes.
4.
5. TEMPLE
Roman and Greek temples looked alike from the outside.
They could be circular or rectangular and built on a podium, which was a raised platform.
A special case is the Pantheon in Rome.
Maison Carrée, Nimes
Temple of Hercules, Rome
6. THEATRE
Theatres are very similar to the Greek ones.
As great engineers, the Romans did not need the slope of a hill to build them.
It has got three main parts:
Scaena Orchestra Cavea
7. AMPHITHEATRE
Its shape resembles that of two theatres joined together, hence its name.
They were used for events such as
gladiator combats,
venationes (animal slayings)
executions.
Its two main parts are
Arena Cavea
8. CIRCUS
It was a building for horse and chariot races and equestrian shows.
Its three main parts are
Cavea Arena Spina
9. THERMAE
Thermae were large bath complexes with a large variety of facilities such as libraries,
gymnasiums, gardens...
The bath area was formed by caldarium, tepidarium and frigidarium.
10. BASILICA
It was a large roofed hall erected for transacting business and legal matters.
Later, when Christianity became more and more important it was used for religious purposes.
Model of the Basilica of Maxentius, Rome.
11. ARCHES AND COLUMNS
They commemorate some important military victory.
Arches have between one and three archways with some memorial inscription on
the top.
The most important columns were Trajan's and Marcus Aurelius'.
They are said to be “the first comic strips of History”.
Arch of Benevento Column of Trajan.Rome
