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Today we are talking about Ancient Rome
The Etruscans and Greeks were instrumental in shaping the arts of the Romans
Talking about Rome - you have to talk about the Etruscans.
They lived in the area of Tuscany,
which is how it got its name.
The Etruscans flourished between the eighth and first centuries BC and were famous for being religious, for their
metalworking, their love of music and banquets, and the independence they allowed their women.
Mining and commerce of metals was common and led to the expansion of the Etruscan influence in the Italian peninsula.
The Etruscans brought influences from the Orient and Greece; they were the predominant culture before the rise of the Roman Empire.
The Romans, with their greater military strength and unity, overcame the different peoples of Italy one by one,
but they learned many things from each.
Often when we see these images we think of Rome,
but it was really the Etruscan influence on the Romans.
The concept of the Arch that the Romans used was really first done by the Etruscans.
The Etruscans use the arch in limited ways because it did not fit in with the classic
architecture that existed or was being built at the time.
After the Romans took over the Etruscans, they learned their techniques for building and
incorporated the arch into the Roman architectural scheme.
The Height of Roman rule is known as the Pax Romana
Pax Romana (Roman Peace) from 30 B.C. until 180 AD
Rome was very peaceful and prosperous
This 200 year period of peace and stability allowed the Roman Empire to achieve new heights in technology, agriculture, science, and
the arts. The Roman Empire was a very civilized place during this time, and life was generally comfortable, and good.
During this time the area of
Roman rule expanded by about 2 million square miles.
Women had many rights, more if they were higher in society, which included: Owning property, Make their own wills
Take advantage of education, Attend public functions
and had influence in politics
Family life was very important to the Romans and so women were highly respected.
The end of Pax Romana is marked by the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Looking at their spatial relationships they were influenced by the Hellenistic times of the Greek Arts
Romans imported Greek scholars and craftsmen who directly influenced interior architecture and building decoration.
Romans often had large amounts of open space in the interior of their public buildings, their private homes were much more confined.
Roman floor plans were similar to Greeks in that they were both -oriented inward
planned around the atrium or megaron style -used light as an important design element
here you can see the Domus
The Domus is a single family house occupied by the upper class and was found in most major cities in Roman territories.
The word domestic originated from Domus.
usually flush with the street
shops (tabernea) on both sides of the doorway / vestibule
entry into the house from the street
Many parts include:
Vestibulum (vestibule)- (entryway, long, narrow covered)
Fauces (darkened, low ceiling directly behind vestibule)
Atrium (main reception area, lots of natural light)
Light and water from compulvium (ceiling)
Water caught in the impulvium
Tablinum (home office) – space between atrium and peristyle
There peristyle was a columned courtyard
(where the alters and statues to the gods were placed
The triclina
the dining rooms – had 3 couches each placed in geometric patterns
Cubiculum (bedrooms)
Roman art and architecture is a blending of Greek and Roman elements.
In art, Rome copied many Greek statues, but also produced a more realistic style of portrait art
instead of the idealized forms created by the Greeks
(all men did not look like greek statues, but that was their Ideal).
In architecture, Rome used Greek columns, but modified them to be more elaborate, as well as
using the arch and dome quite extensively, something the Greeks did not do.
An example of Roman use of arches and domes can be seen here, in the Pantheon.
The Pantheon is a circular building with a portico and huge Corinthian columns.
The large concrete dome on top has an oculus (opening).
The height and length of the dome are equal, both are 142’.
After more than 2000 years this is still the world’s largest unreinforced concrete dome.
The temple was built to honor all the Olympian Gods.
The name “Pantheon” is Greek and actually means “of all the Gods”.
Here you can see what remains of the city of Pompeii
Pompeii was a natural trading site that grew into a substantial city located in Rome.
The sudden eruption of the Volcano Vesuvius in 79 AD toppled many structures and covered the city in over 20 feet of cinder and ash.
It happened so fast that entire buildings and their contents were preserved intact below layers of pumice and volcanic ash.
For reasons not fully known, Pompeii was left essentially undisturbed until 1600 when workers digging
a canal to divert the Sarno River came upon ruins of ancient buildings.
and also in this slide you can see
basically the roadway and center stones in the road. What would happen is when they when rain water would come flooding in the city and
would flow down the streets and they would use the central stones as crossing points to get from one side to the other
In Pompeii there are many well preserved examples of the traditional single-family house,
the domus, with its characteristic arrangement of rooms around a central atrium.
In densely populated Ostia,
only the very wealthy could afford a domus;
By the end of the 1st century BC overpopulated cities gave rise to the insulae or apartments.
Here the middle and lower classes lived in three-to-six story tenement buildings.
6-8 apartments blocks could occupy 1 insulae and were designed around an open courtyard.
The ground floor of the insulae frequently housed commercial shops. These apartments outnumbered the Domus 25-1
and remained the typical housing type until the end of the Empire.
Ancient Rome is famous for its water and wastewater systems.
They were first to create a type of sewer system.
Rome's water supply system was one of the marvels of the ancient world.
Have you ever heard of the aqueducts?
Much is known and has been written about Rome's water supply. Much less has been
made of the impact that the water (and wastewater) system had on the Roman lifestyle
Most of Rome's dwellings were not supplied well with heat, light, and water.
The sanitary arrangements, if judged by modern standards, were inadequate.
The typical Roman must have lived almost entirely outside of his tenement house, in the streets, shops, latrines, baths, and arenas of the
city. The domus mainly served as a place to sleep and store possessions.
Romans, at first, turned to the Tiber River, local springs, and shallow wells for their drinking water; but water obtained from these sources
became polluted and inadequate for the city's growing population.
Because of this the aqueduct was built.
The first aqueduct was finished around the year 312 B.C.
The combined lengths of all the aqueducts of Rome are over 500 miles.
Only 29 miles are above ground.
Building underground allowed them to keep water free from disease.
The arches we often see in aqueducts help to keep the pitch for flowing water
the aqueducts are powered entirely by gravity.
This is an example of their amazing intellect, creative thinking and manpower
as all this was created without modern technology.
Roman architecture excelled because of the use of concrete, the arch, the vault, and the dome;
important buildings: the Basilica, the Colosseum, the Pantheon, public baths and theaters, and triumphal arches and columns,
like Trajan's Column. The Roman style emphasized: grandeur, magnificence, size, and solidity.
The Colosseum held games and ceremonies that lasted 100 days.
During this time more than 5000 wild animals were put to death as part of their entertainment.
Looking at the Colosseum then
Beside the Ampitheater stood The Colossus of Nero; which was giant statue of gilt bronze. It stood 30 meters high.
It was a representation of their Sun God.
Incorporating these statues implies the influence of the Greeks.
And you can also see what remains today of their magnificent Colosseum.
Inside the Colosseum consisted of an arena with a wooden floor covered in sand.
The stands were subdivided into 3 sections of steps,
then topped with a “loggia” that was the 4th section for standing citizens.
Each section was reserved based on the class of citizen.
The Colosseum could hold 70,000 people.
The Pantheon is a circular building with a portico in the front.
The portico consists of three sets of huge granite Corinthian columns
(eight in the first row and two rows of four behind)
under a pediment that opens into the rotunda,
under a coffered, concrete dome, with a central opening (oculus), aka - the Great Eye, open to the sky.
The coffered interior dome has been a model for many similar structures.
The great painter Raphael is buried here along with kings Vittorio Emmanuele II
and Umberto I.
Romans used the Greek’s building ideas such as Post and Lintel, and columns, but the Roman’s took the concept further and changed it
using it more for Theatrical or decorative purposes, unlike the Greeks, who used them for form and structural
The Romans used many Materials to create Decorative techniques. They used Terra Cotta, Brick and stone for major structures
Concrete is responsible for the increase in decoration in their interior spaces
Stucco work was dominant in Roman interiors
was used to simulate architectural features
to create architectural enrichment (lyres, cupids, swans)
for decorative reliefs applied to ceilings and walls
as a foundation for wall paintings
Lime Plaster -perspectives painted on wet plaster (frescoes)
tesserae (small pieces of various materials set in mortar to make mosaics
Tesselatum – floor mosaics
Opus Musivumm – wall mosaics
Walls were often treated with paint or could incorporate mosaics or plaster Four stages of Roman Interiors Wall decoration:
1)Incrustation (AKA Masonry style)
walls were treated as solid, emphasis on stucco
divided into 3 zones dado, middle, upper.
painted was used to imitate stone, marble.
These stones were typical in wealthy homes, so this style was used to project wealth.
Accentuates flatness of the walls.
2)Architectural (AKA Illusionistic style)
created illusions with paint and perspective rendering. three dimensional paintings
trompe l'oeil (means to fool the eye - make 2D seem 3D)
columns would be painted on the walls to appear as if they were real.
Instead of stone, they painted landscapes,
and would portray a window open to an outdoor setting.
3)Ornate (AKA ornamental style)
the emphasis on ornamental representation in architecture
early figurative paintings had soft colors, no strong accents and clearly drawn figures with an open space around them
Later during this period the spaces were filled with action
The wall was still divided into 3 sections but at the top of the dado (chair rail)
an additional horizontal band that had painted Egyptian motifs could be seen.
They would also paint frames around these images.
4)Intricate
these compositions emphasized space, light and airy scenes - like the backdrop you would see in a theater production.
This had greater attention to three dimensional rendering of the human body, creating more realism.
The walls were still divided into 3 sections but here the dado was now divided into 3 horizontal bands
and these bands were divided into segments for paintings.
Stucco moldings were used and a frieze might have figures, beasts, or flowers molded to it.
There was a clear division between the ceiling and wall
which was enhanced with stucco cornice molding crowning the wall (hense crown molding).
Ceilings were painted as well, using a variety of geometric formats and alternating between curvilinear interlace
or geometric patterns. Or they could also be carved out of concrete
Floors, finished in mosaic tiles, were simpler in design given the coarse nature of the material
lozenges, squares, or octagons were created. On occasion you may see a representational design, like the duck.
Evidence from reliefs, wall paintings, sarcophagi, and marble and bronze parts increases our knowledge of Roman furniture.
Romans relied heavily on the Greek prototypes for their inspirations – although Roman furniture is more ornate
Romans used: wood, metal and stone to make furniture
Bronze most widely used metal
To join furniture Romans used tenons, dowels, nails and glue
Methods of ornamentation were – carving, inlay, veneer, painting, plating and turning
Throne, chairs, couches and stools were the most common pieces of furniture.
sella curulis was a stool that symbolized honor and higher authority,
this was used for the high magistrates or by the emperor, and was made mostly of bronze.
Wicker-work chairs were also created with high, rounded backs. Other chairs were based upon the Greek klismos chair, wicker work chairs
Wicker-work chairs were also created with high, rounded backs. Other chairs were based upon the Greek klismos chair, wicker work chairs
but the Romans version was heavier.
The most common stool was the double reversed curve (X form), seen here.
The lectus, or couch, or bed,
was perhaps the most important item of Roman style furniture.
Used for sleeping, sitting, relaxing and eating.
In some of the bedrooms of Pompeii the frame seems to be missing
when like this the mattress was laid on a support built up from the floor.
The couches used as sleeping beds seem to have been larger than those used for sofas,
and they were so high that stools or even steps were necessary to reach them.
As a sofa the Roman lectus was used in libraries for reading and writing
the student supported himself on his left arm and held the book
or writing with the right hand. In Roman dining rooms the lectus had a permanent place.
(Used for dining arranging 3 into right angles)
Sketch of a Roman Litter
The litter consists of an ordinary couch, where four posts carrying an arched canopy and a pair of poles have been added.
Above the canopy is a rod where curtains were fastened by rings.
The occupant could hide himself from view by drawing these curtains closed. Carried by slaves,
the litter was used in the city more by women.
Commonly used in the country and on long journeys by the wealthy
luxurious litters became fashionable in the empire.
Romans made transportable tables that had trestal supports, tripods and single central supports. The Trestal table was used by the
Greeks and Romans, but more often by the Romans. The heads of swan, horses, lions, ducks, elephants
were used to decorate the fulcra.
And here you can see all the Glory that once was a typical view into the streets of Ancient Rome.
Today little is left of their magnificence.
That concludes our bried history of Ancient Rome
Next time we will be talking about The Middle Ages