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Rome

FRIGIDARIUM

Baths of Caracalla Rome 212-216 The thermae or baths were a social center of Roman life. Used daily as a place to bathe and refresh the body, they also contained swimming pools, parks, stadiums for sports, libraries, lecture rooms, and occasionally small theatres. This is part of the frigidarium, the largest space in the bath and probably unroofed...

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Theatre At Orange

c. 50 In the Roman theatre the orchestra is a place to sit, instead of a performing area as the Greeks had used it. The stage grows in importance and is brought into direct contact with the audience. The auditorium is a semicircle, often partially supported by a hill underneath as well as concrete vaulting. Corridors under the tiers were used in ca...

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Detail, LINTEL ARCH

Colosseum Substructure Rome 70-82 Horizontal lintel arches supported the heavy amphitheatre columns which were underground. These arches were made with wedge-shaped blocks or voussoirs....

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TABULARIUM

Forum Romanum Rome 78 B.C. The Tabularium or Hall of Records on the west end of the forum housed the state archives. The side of the building has an arcade with tall arches which are framed by pilasters. This type of facade became common by the first century B.C....

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TEMPLE OF VESTA

On the Tiber Rome 1st century B.C. More directly influenced by Greek architecture, this circular temple has marble Corinthian columns nearly thirty-five feet high. Originally the roof was probably covered with bronze tiles....

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PANTHEON

Rome c. 118-128 Its interior space is awesome. Proportioned like a circle within a square, a hemispherical dome sits on a cylindrical drum. The diameter of the dome is 141 feet and it rises 141 feet from the floor to the top of the ceiling....

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PALAESTRA

Baths of Caracalla Rome 212-216 The palaestra is a large circular room for wrestling and other gymnastic activities....

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THEATRE AT TAORMINA

Sicily Built on a hillside by the Greeks in the third century B.C., the theatre at Taormina was remodeled and decorated by the Romans. New entrances were added, also a scaenae frons and the versurae or side buildings which connected the stage to the auditorium....

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VAULTED WALKWAY

Colosseum Rome 70-82 The large cross-vaulted ambulatory on the second level. Covered stairways and ramps also were used to get to seats....

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OPUS RETICULATUM

From Hadrian's Villa Tivoli Early 2nd century The Romans discovered concrete and with this material developed entirely new ways of building. Concrete is sturdy, inexpensive, and quick and easy to use. Invariably the concrete is faced. In this example it is faced with opus reticulatum. Stones are pounded into the cement and at the joints they run i...

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