Breanna Langford
Sandra L. Johnson
Due: 12/10/12
As my wise professor has stated, “The Romans were incredibly innovative architects and their architecture has influenced the world.” (Johnson) The best three architectural elements the Romans created where the arch, vault, and concrete. Not only did these three elements together look great together, but it added strength and stability while still being not too heavy. The greatest Roman contribution to architecture was Roman concrete. It wasn't just any concrete it had cement composed of water, lime, & volcanic ash sand. Another great contribution was the way they applied it and the tools they used. Using all their innovations they created many beautiful pieces of architecture that I
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was lucky enough to visit when I went to Italy. “The Pont du Gard is an ancient Roman aqueduct that crosses the Gardon River in the south of France.” (Wikipedia, 1) This bridge is part of the Nîmes aqueduct.One of the most important contributions to the world of architecture was the creation of the arch. Romans built arches with special concrete which would allow them to make the arch structured taller yet more stable. The first level is a road on the top third level contains a covered water aqueduct which would carry water down. The bridge had three tiers of arches the top being the smallest arches the bottom being the biggest. The most interesting part of the aqueduct is the pattern they put the arches in in-order to support the entire structure properly. The Pont du Gard is the highest/most preserved Roman aqueduct standing at about 160 feet high due to it being a bridge as well. It has three tiers of arches and the whole aqueduct slowly decreases in height by only 56 ft over its entire length, while the bridge descends by a little over 8 feet. This shows great precision that Roman engineers were able to achieve, using only basic technology. “The aqueduct carried about 44,000,000 gallons of water a day to the fountains, baths and homes of the citizens of Nîmes.” (Pal.Loswego, 1). It continued to be used possibly until the 6th century, where after years of poor maintenance they could only use it for its bridge. For hundreds lords and bishops maintained the bridge as a toll bridge so that they could levy tolls on travellers using it to cross the river. Today it is one of France's most popular tourist attractions and has attracted the attention of a succession of literary and artistic visitors. I hope to visit it some day. One of the most famous buildings in the world is the Coliseum in Rome, Italy. When I saw it in front of my own eyes I couldn’t believe how big it was. It happens to be the largest amphitheater (seated about 50,000 people) & served as a stage for popular Roman entertainment such as gladiator fights,public executions, and naval battles. This building is a Roman invention with hints of Greek culture. Romans took two half oval shaped theaters (Greek) and faced them together to make an oval shape (Roman) for a 360 aerial view (elliptical shape). All around the rim are a series of 80 arches as well as other repeated openings. The perfect rhythm of the arches spiraling around the building help serve as a ventilation and light resource for the building. On the inside of the Colosseum are ramps and quarters which were used to greatly move a crowd in and out. Romans happen to also be the first people to use the form of an arch to create a monument to commemorate victories in war. These were known as triumphal arches. They usually stood at the center of the city/forum/town square. The Arch of Titus stands near the entrance of the Roman forum (Rome, Italy) and is one of the first examples of the triumphal arch ever created. The core of the Arch of Titus is concrete while the exterior is marble. This piece consists of a single arch, attached around the edges are Corinthian columns. The structure and design of this monument is symmetrically balanced and has identical design on both sides. In 608 CE the Pantheon was used as a Christian church and was a burial place of only high sonority such as kings, queens, and great men of Italy. But the Pantheon was originally created as a temple to all Roman gods (used to name The five planets known at the time). If it weren't for this conversion during 608 CE, the building probably wouldn't have survived or been in tact for around 2000 years. At first sight and as I walked in, I couldn’t believe how old it was because the Pantheon was in such great condition. The Pantheon happens to be the best preserved building dating from ancient Roman times. It is known for its round design and huge dome. There happens to be Greek twists to the Roman innovation such as the decorative elements, the triangular pediment at the top & the porch (rectangular, not round) of the Pantheon. The Romans only put columns on the front face (unlike Greeks) & it was the first temple to combine concrete construction (Romans) with Greek decorative details. What I noted when I walked into the Pantheon was that unlike the outside, the inside mimics a spherical shape. It is the dome that sets the pantheon apart from all other buildings that came before it. The dome, with a circular shaped opening at the top (oculus), was symmetrically balanced with equal numbers of design elements on each side. Just like the Romans had used a special mixture of concrete for the Pont du Gard Aqueduct, it is believed that they used that for the construction of this dome because it allowed such a large space to be successful really cool enclosed under one vaulted, domed roof. My absolute favorite architecture I visited while in Italy, tying with the Coliseum, is the Trevi Fountain.
Unfortunately when I went to Italy the Trevi Fountain had a fence around it due to renovations but my breath was still taken away and I was still able to toss a coin in the fountain. It is said that if you throw a coin from your right hand over your left shoulder that you’ll return back to Rome one day (which I hope I do). 3,000 Euros are thrown into the Trevi Fountain each day and are collected every night to give to charity. What blew me away was all the detail each figure & design had chizzled in. The fountain carries a Baroque style which held an architectural concerns for color, light and shade. In the center of the Trevi Fountain is the Greek sea God, Oceanus, with two sea-horses and Tritons who are half men and half mermen (male mermaids). "The design of the trevi fountain is based on three architectural elements: a façade made of travertine; statues of carrara marble; a see reef also made of travertine." (Trevifountain.net, 1) The Trevi fountain is one of the largest fountains standing at 85 feet high and 65 feet wide. The Trevi fountain was built because of Roman tradition. Many aqueducts held beautiful fountains built at the end of them to symbolize a blessing for the water it held because it was said to be the purest.
I’ve always appreciated art but after taking this class I see it so differently & carry much more knowledge. I hope to revisit Italy some day so I can look at its art & architecture in a new way than I had previously. I guarantee it would be a whole different experience than
before.
It was so much more advanced than any empire that came before this time. Romans took a lot of pride in their their buildings and architecture and many of the structures they used back then are still used today, like columns and arches. The Romans used columns and arches in structures like the colosseum and the Circus Maximus, both which were buildings where gladiatorial games or chariot races were held. These structures are still used today, for example, you can see these structures at one of the most famous buildings in the United States, the White House. The architecture from the roman era has impacted modern day by giving us structures to add into our cultures and to important buildings around our
The ancient Romans were skilled engineers and have left lasting contributions in this field. The Romans built a great network of roads connecting cities throughout their empire. They also built aqueducts and bridges using arches for support. The Roman arch design was by far the most important innovation of their time. The arch, however, would have been useless without the discovery of concrete. The Romans had many other such discoveries that would make their engineering skills known throughout the world.
The Romans also excelled in the highly practical art, architecture. The Romans were the first people in antiquity to use concrete on a massive scale. By using concrete in their new architectural designs, the Romans were able to construct huge buildings, bigger than the Greeks ever could have dreamed of.
...eatures do not only add symbolic meaning to the fountain with the contrast in their mood and poses, but they also provide a symmetrical balance. Visitors to the Trevi Fountain will also see a statue of a woman in the niches on either side of Neptune. The left one carries a satchel full of fruit, representing abundance. The other one lets a snake drink water from her cup, represents salubrity. Together they are said to represent different aspects of the sea. The upper levels of the fountain show several long inscriptions. They are all written in Latin and celebrates the ones responsible for the construction. A traditional legend holds that if visitors throw a coin into the fountain, they are ensured a return to Rome. A modern interpretation is that throwing two coins into the water coins will lead to a new romance and three will ensure either a marriage or divorce.
The two ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were the best of the best during their time periods. Ancient Greece began around 2000 B.C. by the inhabitants known as the Mycenaean’s, followed by the Minoans. The Minoans built the foundation of Greece. The Roman Empire was founded around 753 B.C. by the two twins, Romulus and Remus. Romulus ended up killing Remus and built the city of Rome on one of seven rolling hills. Architecture was very important to both civilizations and they were always trying to out due the other. The architectural style of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was overall constructed and used differently.
“Many European cities still bear reminders of the power of ancient Rome, and throughout the western world the influence of Roman power is still manifest.” “As the Roman Empire expanded Roman architects struggled to achieve two overriding aims: to demonstrate the grandeur and power of Rome, while also improving the life of their fellow citizens.” They held the Greeks in high regard for both their sculpture and architecture, learned stonework and pyramid architecture from the Egyptians, and absorbed important techniques from the Etruscans. To that end, the Romans perfected three architectural elements: concrete, the arch, and the vault. These three elements helped lighten the load carried by Roman structures while maintaining overall durability.
The Roman Colosseum is one of the most familiar and notable constructions in the world. It was given the name The Colosseum during the middle ages. This wonderful construction remains standing nearly 2 century’s after it had been originally constructed. One of the noticeable thing behind the Colosseum's charm is its architectural design. In this report I will look at the history of the The Colosseum, how it constructed and what is happening to it today.
...ve strength is required.”(page 14) They also added flying buttresses for extra reinforcement. “Unlike contemporary concrete, it was not reinforced and required external buttressing.” (page 15) The Roman architecture could not be duplicated well until the 1800s. Their strong way of building was one of the most historical successes in the world of architecture.
Have you ever seen or visited the Capital building, Washington or amphitheater of Arlinton, Virginia or Cabin John bridge of Washington aqueduct? If an answer is yes, then have you ever think that how we come up with this type of buildings? These all buildings’ basic structures are based on the Greek and Roman cultures’ architecture. Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Roman culture was very inspired from the Greece culture and they had used very basic ideas to build buildings and temples, to portrait sculpture. They modernized and improved their architectures and sculptures in decorative way and made a separate image in the world.
The Romans have a huge influence in our modern culture architecture. The materials that the Romans used in their buildings were as durable as the Greeks. A great example of a building that was Rome inspired is the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Memorial Coliseum has been around since 1923 and has been used for several entertainment purposes. Most of the Roman architecture was made at a large-scale compared to the Greek architecture that were mainly focus on making a beautiful texture to their buildings. Roman art has also played a key role in modern culture. A variety of Roman sculptures and murals could be seen in LACMA. Romans have left a very symbolic artwork in this world and though seems like a very long time since their culture arise
From the reading, discuss the development of both concrete and the arch. Include the importance of each in the life of Rome and the results of their use.
Roman baths were made really nice and very amazing, they had tall beautiful building. They had high ceilings and the walls were decorated with marble and frescos. The floors were designed with very complicated big mosaics.
On the 25th July, I travelled to Rome to take in as many wonderful sights as possible, such as the Trevi Fountain, Rome’s most popular tourist attraction. Trevi Fountain was completed in 1762 and it was designed by Nicola Salvi. Trevi Fountain is the world famous Baroque fountain. It features a mythological sculptural composition of Neptune, god of the sea, flanked by two Tritons. On my journey towards the Trevi Fountain there were huge crowds of people, but even thoug...
Architects traveled to Rome and studied the remains and ruins of ancient Roman building, colosseums, and pantheons. Arches, pilaster, columns, pediments, domes, and entablatures were some of the elements that were inherited from classic Rome architecture. Architects were also influenced by the writing of Vitruvius.
...ovements on the arch and the dome. Also, they built roads, bridges, harbors, and aqueducts, which they were most famous for. Aqueducts were a revolutionary invention that carried water from the hills to the cities. Even today, the principal of the aqueducts enables many urban areas to have water. The lasting contributions of the Roman Empire have helped to shape modern living.