2ND Century B.C. to 4th Century A.D. 300 B.C. A.D.

365

GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

WORLD MAP

Location of ITALY and the ROMAN EMPIRE

ETRUSCAN INFLUENCE
750 100 B.C.

Map of the Roman Empire at it's Greatest Extent

GREECE complex & indented coast-lines innumerable islands of the Archipelago has isolated little valleys

ITALY : has a long coast-line of the Italian Peninsula : few harbors & few islands along her shores : mountainous

The central and commanding position of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea enabled Rome to act as an intermediary in spreading art and civilization over Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa. In their Empire-building the Romans proceeded logically : 1. they conquered first by war, dominated by force of character, 2. ruled by laws and civilized by arts and letters. The Romans depended for the extension of their power, not on colonization, but on conquest.

GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE

There was an abundance of marble, terra-cotta, stone, and brick, all of which they used, even for important buildings. In the neighborhood of Rome there was : travertine, a hard limestone from Tivoli tufa, a volcanic substance of the hills of Rome peperino, a stone of volcanic origin from Mount Albano lava from volcanic eruptions sand and gravel Domes,vaults & walls faced with brick, stone, alabaster, porphyry and other marbles. Roman architecture was naturally variously influenced by the materials found in the widely differing localities; but concrete, together with brick and stone casing was the favorite material, helped to give uniformity of style to Roman architecture throughout the Empire.

* Concrete, the favorite building material formed of pozzolana & lime

CLIMATIC INFLUENCE

 North Italy has the climate of the temperate region of Europe. Central Italy is sunny and genial.

South Italy is almost tropical.

This variety of climatic conditions is sufficient to account for diversity of architectural features and treatment in the peninsula itself, while the differing climates of the various Roman provinces from England to North Africa, and from Syria to Spain, produced local modifications in details, though Roman architectural character was so pronounced and assertive as to leave little choice in general design.

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE

 The religion of ancient Rome was part of the constitution of the State. The Emperor ultimately received divine honors rather than the gods. The principal buildings are not only temples, as in Greece, but also public buildings which were the material expression of Roman rule and Imperial power. Every house, whether palace, villa, or " domus," had an altar to the Lares or family gods, and ancestor worship was a recognized part of religious rites. Vesta, goddess of the hearth, was exalted to a high position in the Roman pantheon of gods, and vestal virgins, attached to the temples of Vesta, were of greater importance than the ordinary priests of sacrifice.

Emperor Pontifex Maximus

Vesta

SOCIAL INFLUENCE

 Italy was inhabited by many races. In early times Etruria in the centre of Italy was occupied by the Etruscans, probably an Aryan people and were great builders.

The Greeks had colonies in the south.

The early form of government in Italy resembled that of Greece, and towns or districts were joined together in leagues. The government of Rome was at an early period carried on by chosen kings (B.C. 750500), but about B.C. 500 Rome became a Republic.

 The "Building Acts" of Caius Octavius "Augustus and of his successors show the controlling influence of the State on architecture. The social life of the Romans is clearly revealed in their architecturethere were thermae for games and bathing, circuses for races, amphitheatres for gladiatorial contests, theatres for dramas, basilicas for law-suits, State temples for religion, and the " domus " for the family life, while the Forum was everywhere the centre of public life and national commerce. The patria potestas, or supreme power of the father, was the foundation-stone of family life, and out of their obedience to authority, whether to the head of the household, or to censors in the State, the Romans developed their capacity as lawmakers, and through this one characteristic they have left a special mark on the world's history. Roman women were held in high respect, family life was protected, and the Temple of Vesta, the most sacred spot in Rome, has recorded for all time the sacredness attached by the Romans to their family hearth.

HISTORICAL INFLUENCE

PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT: 1. ETRUSCAN notable for the use of the true & radiating arch, they were the earliest civilization and great builders. They invented the TUSCAN CAPITAL. Their temples were oriented at the South. ROMAN adopted the columnar & trabeated style of the Greeks & developed the Arch, Vault, & Dome of the Etruscans.

2.

The foundation of Rome is of uncertain date, but is generally taken as B.C. 750, and until B.C. 500 its development and destinies were in the hands of the early kings. The Empire reached its height in A.D. 116 The barbarian attacks led to that weakening of authority which resulted in the decline & final fall of the Roman Empire. In A.D. 365 the Roman Empire was divided into East and West with two Emperors, and the year A.D. 475 marks the end of the Western Roman Empire by the election of Odoacer as the first King of Italy.

ETRUSCAN & ROMAN ARCHITECTURE

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER:
1. 2. 3. Vastness & Magnificence Ostentation & Ornateness Grandeur

Different Types of Vaults Developed by the Romans:

1. Semi-circular / wagon-headed / Barrel vault / Tunnel Vault

2. Cross Vault

3. Hemispherical Dome

Combination of Ionic & Corinthian Capitals

Column Capitals Developed by the Romans Composite Tuscan

Counterpart of Doric Capital

Classical Orders
Composite Order

Classical Orders
Tuscan Order

Roman Concrete Walls

1. Opus Quadratum Made of rectangular blocks of stone w/ or w/o mortar joints but frequently secured w/ dowels and cramps. 2. Opus Incertum Made up of small stones laid in a loose pattern roughly assembling the polygonal work.

Roman Concrete Walls

3. Opus Recticulatum Fine joints were in diagonal lines like the mesh of a net.

4. Opus Testaceum Triangular bricks (plan) specially made for facing the walls.

Roman Concrete Walls

5. Opus Mixtum
Consisted of bands of bricks, introduced at intervals in the ordinary brick facing or alteration of rectangular blocks w/ small squared stone bricks.

End of Lecture