Premium Essay

How Does Roman Architecture Influence Today

Submitted By
Words 1124
Pages 5
Many aspects of Roman civilization have made such an immense impact in modern society. These aspects include government and architecture. Roman government had a Senate, two Consuls, and an Assembly of Centuries. In the United States, there is an executive, legislative, and judicial branch. Roman architecture used building techniques like the aqueducts, bridges, roads, and public buildings. Specifically, I will focus on Roman architecture in the 21st century. I want to know how Roman architecture influenced today’s structures, which is why I chose this topic. My essential question is “How does Roman architecture influence today’s structures?” Roman architecture influences today’s structures by its forms, designs, and materials. However, there …show more content…
They used marble, concrete, tufa, travertine, mortar, brick, and tile in their construction projects. The types of marble they used were Carrara/Luna, Parian, Numidian, Phrygian, porphyry, and Carystian. They imported Carrara/Luna marble from Tuscany, Parian marble from Paros in Athens, Numidian marble, which had a yellow color, from North Africa, Phrygian marble, which had a purple color, from central Turkey, red porphyry from Egypt, and Carystian marble, which had a green color, from Euboea. Concrete was created by mixing water, mortar made of lime, sand, stones, rubble, and volcanic Italian sand called “pozzolana”. The mortar that they used was made up of lime, water, and sand in reasonable proportions. After pozzolana was discovered, the Romans substituted the sand used in mortar with pozzolana because it made the mortar stronger, more durable, and gave it the ability to set underwater. Tufa was a native Italian volcanic stone, which was used long before concrete was utilized in construction. Later on, travertine was starting to be used as a substitute for marble due to its color and for its durability. Brick and tile usually covered the concrete to give it an attractive look. Today, however, not all of the materials are used in construction. The materials used today are brick, tile, concrete, and marble. Brick is used in constructing houses, concrete is used to create sidewalks, tile is used in creating beautiful mosaics that can be seen in places like museums and art galleries, and marble is used in constructing important government buildings, like the White House, the Capitol Building, and

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Santa Sabina Research Paper

...basilica. A basilica was used as a Roman law court, but in the Santa Sabina, was the floor plan. The basilica doesn't have a transept, which is unusual, but the transept didn't come until later. The Santa Sabina also has Roman columns, an example of Spolia. There is also a Nave and clerestory windows. The columns supporting the ceiling give you a better view of the altar, in the apse. The design helps the purpose, religion, by giving it a more church like appeal: open space, easy viewing of the priest, and clerestory windows give off direct sunlight. Short Answer #2: How is the dome of the Hagia Sophia supported? The dome, during construction, suffered multiple collapses until Anthemius and Isidore came up...

Words: 477 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Influence of the Greeks to the Romans

...determines your destiny.” The Romans inherited a cornucopia of knowledge from the Greeks and Hellenistic cultures in the Mediterranean, such as architecture, strategies of war, politics and the humanities to name a few. However what the Romans had that the Greeks didn’t was extreme self-discipline and organizational skills and when they opened their minds and allowed themselves to be less dogmatic, more artistic and more inclusive they were able to conquer the world. Since we have limited space in which to make our point, we will use religion, philosophy, politics and art in which to illustrate the magnitude of the influence of the Greeks and the Hellenistic cultures on the Romans. The Hellenistic times were a period of questioning our purpose in this world, why things happen, and what transpires after death. Consequently philosophers from many perspectives became popular and presented people with answers and a multitude of options that were being derived from all the Hellenistic societies surrounding the Romans. The political systems inherited from the Greeks became the inspiration for the Roman Empire’s republic and has become the cornerstone of democracies around the world today. Greek and Hellenistic art became the largest influence on every single aspect of Roman life, including their weapons, fashion and home decor. Professor Weber clearly gives the impression that the Romans “conspicuous consumption” was not a positive after effect of the Roman conquests because it changed...

Words: 1964 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Ancient Greek Architecture

...Ancient Greek Architecture Ancient Greek Theater Architecture Many aspects of ancient Greek theaters have long been studied and debated. Much of the information about these theaters is based on speculation due to the fact that so little of them still exist today. This lack of remnants especially applies to the architecture of the early Greek Theaters. However, through archeological finds and years of studying the people, the plays, and the architecture of the time, we are able to make many conclusions about these early structures. Greek Theaters are classified into three categories: The early Athenian Theaters, Hellenistic Theaters, and Graeco-Roman Theaters. Like most new inventions or creations, the initial theaters built by the Athenians were very simple. In the fifth century B.C., it became popular to build theaters on the slope of a large hill, or an acropolis, the most famous, being in Athens. These early theaters could be divided into three parts. The theater consisted of the theatron (or auditorium), the orchestra, and the skene (or scene building) (Betancourt). The Greeks would eventually perfect a technique that would fit as many spectators into the theatron as possible. At first the spectators sat on the ground until wooden bleachers were installed. After it was discovered that the wooden bleachers were prone to collapsing, permanent stone seating was built. The architects created concentric tiers of seats that followed the circular shape of the orchestra and...

Words: 2170 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Ancient Greek Architecture

...Ancient Greek Theater Architecture Many aspects of ancient Greek theaters have long been studied and debated. Much of the information about these theaters is based on speculation due to the fact that so little of them still exist today. This lack of remnants especially applies to the architecture of the early Greek Theaters. However, through archeological finds and years of studying the people, the plays, and the architecture of the time, we are able to make many conclusions about these early structures. Greek Theaters are classified into three categories: The early Athenian Theaters, Hellenistic Theaters, and Graeco-Roman Theaters. Like most new inventions or creations, the initial theaters built by the Athenians were very simple. In the fifth century B.C., it became popular to build theaters on the slope of a large hill, or an acropolis, the most famous, being in Athens. These early theaters could be divided into three parts. The theater consisted of the theatron (or auditorium), the orchestra, and the skene (or scene building) (Betancourt). The Greeks would eventually perfect a technique that would fit as many spectators into the theatron as possible. At first the spectators sat on the ground until wooden bleachers were installed. After it was discovered that the wooden bleachers were prone to collapsing, permanent stone seating was built. The architects created concentric tiers of seats that followed the circular shape of the orchestra and hugged the rising ground of a hillside...

Words: 2167 - Pages: 9

Premium Essay

Gothic Revival and All of Its Glory

...of its Glory Architecture, just like fashion, set trends that change as time goes by. The revolution of style occurs to become concurrent to the fast pacing growth of technology throughout the world. At present, the style that governs and favored upon by most architects is that of contemporary or of modern design. Everywhere you look, one can see buildings made of glass and steel with forms that exhibits simplicity and openness. But it was not always that way, before the increasing popularity of modern architecture, a style characterized by its rejection of the classical approach, became apparent in today’s time, there was a prevailing architectural movement during the 19th century called Gothic Revival that encompasses all the other neoclassical styles in that period. Gothic Revival that is also known as Victorian Gothic or neo-Gothic architecture got its name from the medieval Gothic Architecture it was influenced to. Back in the Medieval era, the style wasn’t referred to as ‘Gothic’ yet, it was only during the period of the Renaissance that the term became commonly used by the people, which was started by Italian architect, historian and writer Giorgio Vasari, deemed all buildings of the middle Ages to be that of having a rude and barbaric quality because it does not conform to the traditional designs of classical Greek and Roman, and also thought of as having an association with the savage Goths, the people who were responsible for the fall of the Roman Empire and the emergence...

Words: 2012 - Pages: 9

Free Essay

Time Traveling, Art Historian

...I have had the greatest adventure traveling back in time visiting a few periods in history and I want to share my experiences with everyone. The first period I visited was the Egyptian Civilization, particularly the period of The Great Pyramids. After that I traveled to central Italy for a look at the Roman Civilization wanting to learn about the Etruscans and see the Tomb of the Reliefs. Finally I traveled to Milan during the Italian Renaissance to see the painting of The Last Supper by Leonardo de Vinci. Egypt is bustling during this period in time as the people are building The Great Pyramid for their Pharaoh and divine ruler Cheops. Cheops is the second Pharaoh of the fourth dynasty of Egypt and rules a unified country along with relatives and administrators. He is also the Pharaoh that commissioned the building of The Great Pyramid, which would become one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Great Pyramid is built as a tomb from which Cheops or his spirit will ascend to the heavens and the sun God RA, who is believed to be the father of all things. The Egyptians believed that their body goes on in an afterlife. To the Egyptians the afterlife is a culmination of their lives work. The Pharaohs strive for a good afterlife and all of the people of the Pharaoh’s dynasty strive for and work toward that same goal. Part of what makes this civilization and culture so productive is the way they work for the unified causes of pleasing the Gods and having a good afterlife...

Words: 1757 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

The Neo-Classicism Is an Architectural Moment

...The neo-classicism is an architectural moment that was flourished after the American and the French Revolution. In this period explorers study the past and distant civilizations for an understanding of other cultures; to find new ways how to create mechanical devices to facilitated transportations and commerce. Historian got a closer look to the dates in which important architectural events happened and also became aware of the accomplishment of the various western civilizations. Foremost among these were ancient Greece and Rome, architect will travel to this ruins to study and measure; and after published their findings. It was the century of change, colonial expansion, age of enlightenment, and technological revolution. Neo-classicism was a reaction against the Rococo style, this new language of architecture is evocative and picturesque, a recreation of distant and lost civilizations, framed within the Romantic sensibility that later influence modern architecture and took it to a new direction. The neo-Palladian in England was the first movement to study the revival of classic architecture from the past; its leader was Colen Campbell (1676-1729), a Scottish architect and editor of book “Vitruvius Britannicus”. He designs the Mereworth castle (1723) in kent, like a near replica of the Palladio’s design of Villa Rotonda, but in a larger scale. Campbell attached four Ionic porticos to a simple cube and crowned it with a pyramidal roof and dome. Mereworth also has an incorporated...

Words: 1969 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Assigment 10 a

...1) The Classic period is from about 500 to 350 b.C. In this period nearly all possible cultural expressions flourished: philosophy, politics, literature, music, painting, sculpture and architecture. 2) The Hellenistic period emerged, approximately, 323-30BC. Beginning after the conquests of Alexander the Great, the period experienced prosperity and progress in the decorative and visual arts, exploration, literature, sculpture, theatre, architecture, music, mathematics, and science. The Hellenistic era experienced an age of eclecticism, a new awakening of the diverse knowledge and theories present in Greek culture. Instead of contemplating and debating ideals, logic, extinguished emotion, or consummate beauty, people would explore and analyze reality. 3)The Romans painted directly on the walls of their rooms, and also on portable panels. In Third and Fourth Style wall paintings, we can even see imitations of portable paintings - these are paintings of paintings, as it were. Domestic interiors were claustrophobic - windowless and dark - so the Romans used painted decoration to visually open up and lighten their living spaces. Technical elements of Roman painting include the fresco technique; brightly colored backgrounds; division of the wall into multiple rectangular areas; multi-point perspective; and effects 4)Naturalism in art refers to the depiction of realistic objects in a natural setting. The Realism movement of the 19th century advocated naturalism in reaction...

Words: 3154 - Pages: 13

Premium Essay

Ancient Greek Instruments Research Paper

...Music 360 Research Paper: Ancient Greek Instruments and Performance Practice The ancient Greeks have always been knows from their innovations. They revolutionized agriculture, architecture, education, and music (to name just a few of the advances they made). The philosophers and educators made music one of the main focuses in education, and with this focus came progress. The musical instruments that were made were both unique and new to the world. From new stringed instruments to winds to instruments that use water the music of ancient Greece was truly something new to the world. Unfortunately, not much about the performance practices is known due to the effects of war, time, and most of the music was passed down through word of mouth....

Words: 1890 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Tessellations: Mathematical Art

...Tessellations: Mathematical Art San Juanita Cramer Southern New Hampshire University The Heart of Mathematics Professor Anca Parrish Abstract This paper discusses the historical background of tessellations, the mathematics of tessellations, and the applications of tessellations in the real world. Tessellations are found everywhere. M.C. Escher is the father of tessellations and his style and examples are discussed as well as the Islamic tessellations. There is an overview of the mathematics that is involved in tessellations and the polygons that can be tessellated and those that can’t. Finally, tessellations are used in real world applications. Examples are given of tessellated buildings and tessellations found in nature. Tessellations: Mathematical Art What is a term used for the tiling a surface without gaps or overlaps? The term is Tessellation. The Math Forum states that “ a tessellation is created when a shape is repeated over and over again covering a plane without any gaps or overlaps” (“What is a Tessellation?”, n.d) Early cultures used tessellations to cover the floors and ceilings of buildings, many of its artistic elements can be found in many early cultures (Hoopes-Myers, 2010). Tessellations are also found in the nature. A perfect example of nature’s tessellation is the honeycomb of the honeybee; there are no gaps or overlaps in its hexagonal shapes. In Ireland, a volcanic episode created tessellations in the landscape of The Giant’s Causeway (“Giant’s...

Words: 2820 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Paul Goldberger's Why Architecture Matters

...But the visibility is nothing shy of vague. Paul Goldberger, an architecture critic for the New Yorker, published the book: “Why Architecture Matters”...

Words: 1281 - Pages: 6

Free Essay

I Dunno

...Revitalizing Filipino Architecture Thru Museum Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION A. The Problem and Its Setting a. Background of the Study Various cultural influences are here in our country, there’s the Chinese, Indian, Islamic, Spanish and even American traditions left their trademarks on the Filipino culture that plays a part on country’s architecture. Different traditions, motifs and even culture are merged with our identity. Identity that had struggled for centuries by Filipino especially in designing and architecture. Many of us are wondering with these questions: Does Philippine Architecture really exist? Is there Filipino architecture?People said that our architecture is an adaptation of Asian architecture. Our very own bahay -kubo, our mountain region dwellings are said to be similar with the other countries. Architecture, as an art, It is “subject to social, political or cultural influences”. It reflects the values of the society. we should provide an opportunity of more accommodating for the presentation, promotion and development of this art. The aim of this study is to give us the information about the architectural background of our country, not to prove that, but to give the facts and knowledge of our architecture. b. Statement of the Problem Major problem: Filipino architecture is not that recognized. Sub-problems:  Non existence of architectural museum in our country.  Several people are asking about the country’s architecture.  Only arch’l students...

Words: 4239 - Pages: 17

Free Essay

Serbian History

...Identification. The name Yugoslavia previously designated six republics (Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzogovia, Croatia, and Slovenia), but now includes just Serbia and Montenegro. The word means "land of the southern Slavs." Montenegro, which means "black mountain," takes its name from its rugged terrain. Within Serbia there are several national cultures. In addition to the dominant Serb tradition, there is a large Hungarian population in the northern province of Vojvodina, where Hungarian is the common language and the culture is highly influenced by Hungary (which borders the province to the north). In southern Serbia, the province of Kosovo is primarily Albanian, and has an Islamic culture that bears many remnants of the earlier Turkish conquest. Location and Geography. Serbia is a landlocked territory in the Balkan Peninsula of Eastern Europe, bordering Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Albania. Montenegro is to the west of Serbia, also bordering Bosnia and Herzogovina, Albania, and the Adriatic Sea. Serbia covers 34,136 square miles (88,412 square kilometers); Montenegro has an area of 5,299 square miles (13,724 square kilometers). Together they are slightly smaller than the state of Kentucky. The terrain varies widely. In the north there are fertile plains that produce most of Serbia's crops, as well as marshlands along the Sava and Danube Rivers. At the northern border, the Danube River runs along the Iron...

Words: 6477 - Pages: 26

Free Essay

Learning Material

...ARTS TEACHERS’ GUIDE Grade 9 ARTS Teacher’s Guide Unit I WESTERN CLASSICAL ART TRADITIONS GRADE 9 Unit 1 ARTS TEACHERS’ GUIDE GRADE 9 Unit 1 WESTERN CLASSICAL ART TRADITIONS LEARNING AREA STANDARD The learner demonstrates an understanding of basic concepts and processes in music and art through appreciation, analysis and performance for his/her self-development, celebration of his/her Filipino cultural identity and diversity, and expansion of his/her world vision. key - stage STANDARD The learner demonstrates understanding of salient features of music and arts of the Philippines and the world, through appreciation, analysis, and performance, for self-development, the celebration of Filipino cultural identity and diversity, and the expansion of one’s world vision. grade level STANDARD The learner demonstrates understanding of salient features of Western music and the arts from different historical periods, through appreciation, analysis, and performance for self-development, the celebration of Filipino cultural identity and diversity, and the expansion of one’s world vision. CONTENT STANDARDs The Learner:  demonstrates understanding of art elements and processes by synthesizing and applying prior knowledge and skills  demonstrates understanding that the arts are integral to the development of organizations, spiritual belief, historical events, scientific discoveries, natural disasters/ occurrences and other external phenomenon ...

Words: 32535 - Pages: 131

Free Essay

Culture Kenya vs France

...Comparing and Contrasting France Verses Kenya awd Introduction Kenya is located approximately on the map as 2N, 38E. (Latitude, Longitude.) Kenya became independent in 1963, and only had three presidents since. The current population is estimated as 30, 339,770. The official language is Swahili. It has a host of cultural practices and beliefs. France is a country in Western Europe. It is famous for its wine and cheese. People in France also enjoy croissants and different kinds of bread but baguette is the most popular. They also like truffles; a black, warty fungus that grow in the roots of oak and hazelnut trees. Truffles are really expensive and they use trained pigs to find them. The study compares these two countries France and Kenya within the setting of International Management practices. Comparing and Contrasting France Verses Kenya Kenya is located in East Africa and borders Somalia to the northeast, Ethiopia to the north, Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, Tanzania to the south, and the Indian Ocean to the east. The country straddles the equator, covering a total of 224,961 square miles (582,600 square kilometers; roughly twice the size of the state of Nevada). Kenya has wide white-sand beaches on the coast. Inland plains cover three-quarters of the country; they are mostly bush, covered in underbrush. In the west are the highlands where the altitude rises from three thousand to ten thousand feet. Nairobi, Kenya's largest city and capital, is...

Words: 2502 - Pages: 11