Guide to Roman Architecture

The famous Roman architect Vitruvius Pollio wrote in his Ten Books on Architecture that “In all matters, but particularly in architecture, there are these two points: the thing signified, and that which gives it its significance” (1.3). The impressive architectural achievements of the Roman Republic, and later Empire, are a testament to this insight. The following is an introduction to Roman architecture, a brief description of some striking examples, and profiles of a few architects about whom we have some knowledge today, all accompanied by links to resources that provide further information. These sections are intended for students and anyone with a casual interest in the subject.

Anyone who studies classical architecture will notice that the Greek and Roman traditions are virtually inseparable, except for a few Roman refinements. The Romans designed many of their great works by drawing upon the three Greek “orders,” which are better known as styles of columns:

  • Doric columns are fairly simple and have no discernible base. This surface of such columns is “fluted,” which means it has ridges down the side.
  • The Ionic order is noted for its spiral-shaped pattern (volutes) at the top (the “capital”), and columns in this style have a clear base.
  • Corinthian columns are an extremely decorative variation on the ionic column, known for especially intricate designs on its capital.

The Roman Colosseum, described below, combines all three of these styles: Doric columns on the ground floor, Ionic columns on the second floor, and Corinthian columns on the top floor. Besides borrowing directly from the Greeks, the Romans made two additional contributions to the column principle:

  • Tuscan columns, a simpler version of the Doric order with a smooth, instead of fluted, surface.
  • Composite, a more ornate version of the Corinthian that adds the characteristic volutes of the Ionic style.

This information comes from the Classical Orders of Architecture website, which provides detailed explanations of all five orders and PDFs with schematics.

Major Examples

Each kind of structure most associated with the Roman civilization, the bath house (thermae), the stadium, the aqueduct especially, is represented below. There are few comprehensive sites in English dedicated to the most famous baths:  the Baths of Trajan, Diocletian, and Caracalla.  Each entry is accompanied by a link to a resource that delve into more detail, especially where there is some emphasis on architecture.

  • The Colosseum, the largest and best-known example of amphitheater architecture from ancient times, is an elliptically-shaped building with four main tiers, each comprised of 80 arches.
  • The Aqueduct of Segovia can be found near the titular town in Spain. The aqueduct connects the town to the mountains, which are 15 kilometers away.
  • The Pantheon was originally a temple to the Roman gods, but was later converted to a site of Christian worship. The current Pantheon is the third structure to bear the name, as the first two burned down in 80 and 110 A.D. The building is noted for its concrete dome, an architectural marvel.
  • The Basilica of Maxentius was a public building, comparable to a courthouse or town hall, found in the Roman Forum and built during the empire’s decline. This particular basilica is distinguished by its use of arches.
  • The Roman Baths, found in Bath, England, is today a major tourist destination and has seen additions and attempts at preservation over the course of several centuries. The original Roman baths are located below the current street level, and even these were preceded by baths built by the Celts centuries beforehand.
  • Circus Maximus was originally thought to have been built around the 500s B.C. before Rome was even an empire, and was famous for chariot races. Successive additions were made by emperors over the next few centuries until the circus burned down some time around the Great Fire of Rome in the first century A.D.
  • Trajan’s Column was a monument to the emperor of the same name, his statue appearing at the pinnacle. The column itself was 100 feet tall and covered in pictorial representations of Roman accomplishments.

Major Architects

Very little is known about the architects who designed most of the Roman structures with which we are familiar. One exception is Apollodorus of Damascus who was responsible for many of the works created in the name of Emperor Trajan, including the Forum of Trajan. According to ancient sources, Apollodurs was executed for insulting the Emperor Hadrian, although this account is disputed by modern scholars.

Another exception is Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, who was likely educated in Greece, and to whom no surviving monument is credited. Instead, his Ten Books on Architecture, available in Latin and English from Tufts University’s Perseus Project, is the only primary text on architecture that survives from antiquity. His bio is provided by the Pegasos database of authors.

Other architects of whom brief references are mentioned or who have written works on architecture that exist in fragments are Rabirius, the architect of the Flavian Palace of the Emperor Domitan; Cyrus, who is mentioned by the famous orator, Cicero, and who worked for him; and Hyginus Gromaticus, who wrote a popular work on land surveying during the reign of Emperor Trajan. These shreds of information come from the Ancient Library, which is a compilation of reference books written in the 1800s.

Resources

There are few websites dedicated solely to a specific topic in Roman architecture, with the exception of legendary works. However, there are a great many devoted to the subject in general. Some of the best introductory resources for information seekers who need a brief, accessible primer, include History for Kids: Roman Architecture and the Essential Humanities: Roman Architecture page (including its section on Classical Orders).

More in-depth, academic resources include the series of 24 lectures from Yale professor, Diana E. E. Keliner entitled Academic Earth: Roman Architecture and Roman Art and Architecture by Professor Natalie Kampen of Columbia University.

Great Buildings: Ancient Roman Architecture is a comprehensive survey of notable ruins with images, and Rome Reborn: A Digital Model of Ancient Rome is project that created a 3D model of the entire city, which can be viewed as a series of images or videos.

Image credit: Jimmy Engelbrecht and found in Wikimedia Commons.