EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE: 3200 B.C to First Century A.D.

Examples of Egyptian Architecture:

Geographical: Nile River – trade route to Eastern and
Western. Tomb Architecture
Type A: Mastaba
Geological: Stone is abundant. Poor in metals. Copper rectangular, flat topped
gained from Sinai Peninsula. Tin was imported for making funerary mound, with
bronze. battered (sloping) sides,
Houses- large sun dried bricks. covering a burial ground.

Climate: Spring and Summer. Type B: Royal Pyramids

Simplicity of design. massive funerary structure of stone or brick with a square
Hieroglyphics are pictorial representation of religious base and four sloping triangular sides meeting at the
rituals, historic events and daily pursuits. apex.
Roof was not an important consideration.
Pyramid of Giza- finest, buildt by
Historical and Social: Egyptian Civilization. SENEFRU.
Omnipotent government- Pharaoh- God Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren
Craftsmanship was very highly developed. and Mykeniros.

Religious: Monothestic in theory but polytheistic in Type C: Rock-Hewm Tombs

practice- worship only one but in many ways. A type serving for the nobility rather than loyalty.
Ex: The Great Temple of Abu-Sinbel
Osiris- God of the dead. Isis- his wife
Horus- Sky God Temples
Hathor- Goddess of Love Type A: Mortuary Temples- For ministrations to deified
Set- Dread God of Evil pharaohs.
Serapis- Bull-God
Types B: Cult Temples- For the popular worship of the
Pyramids- preservation of the dead. ancient and mysterious gods.
Dwelling house- temporary lodging.
Tomb- permanent abode The Great Temple of Ammon,
Karnak, Thebes
Architectural Character: readily available materials like The grandest of all Egyptian
reeds, papyrus and palm breached ribs, plastered over temples, was not built upon
with clay. one complete plan but owes
its size, disposition and
Gorge cornice- flat reed-and-mud magnificence to the work of many kings.
roofs
Mud bricks- about 356 mm or 14” The Great Temple of Abu-Sinbel
long, 178 mm or 7” wide and 102 Is one of the rock-hewn temples
mm or 4” thick. at this place commanded by
Batter- one of the principal characteristics of the Egyptian the indefatigable Rameses II.
Architecture.
Temple of Khons
Egyptian monumental architecture, which is essentially a A cult temple, characterized by
columnar and trabeated style. entrance pylons.

Sphinxes or mythical monsters each with the body of a Obelisks

lion & head of a man, hawk, ram or a woman. Originating in the sacred symbol
of the sun god Heliopolis. Are huge
Pylon- monumental gateway to monoliths square on plan and tapering
an Egyptian temple consisting with to an electrumcapped pyramidion at
slanting walls flanking the the summit. They have a height of nine
entrance portal. or ten times the diameter of the base
and the four sides are cut with
hieroglyphics.
GREEK ARCHITECTURE: 3000 to 30 B.C. Architectural Character: 650 to 30 B.C.
Hellenic Period. 650 to 323 B.C. o
Geographical: Island of Crete Greek architecture was essentially columnar and
Aegean Culture trabeated.
The mountains of inland Greece separated the
inhabitants into groups of clans, and thus raise the rivalry Greek architecture sometimes has been called a
which characterizes the Greek states, whether in peace “carpentry in marble”
or war.
Dado the portion of a pedestal between
Geological: situated along Aegean and Mediterranean its base and cornice. A term also applied
Seas. Athens as its capital and surrounded by Macedon to the lower portion of walls when
at the North, the island of Crete and Sicily at the South, decorated separately.
Mycia, Lydia, Caria and Lycia at the East and Thesally at
the West. Coffers found in ceilings, are sunken
panels, caissons or lacunaria formed
Climate: rigorous cold and relaxing heat. inn ceilings, vaults or domes.
The administration of Justice, dramatic representations
and most public ceremonies took place in the open air. Several important refinements were practiced in Greek
The hot summer sun and sudden winter showers, together architecture to correct optical illusions.
with the Greek love of conversation, possibly explains the
porticoes and colonnades which were such important In the Parthenon, vertical features were inclined inwards
features. towards the top to correct the appearance of falling
outwards; thus the axes of the angle
Historical and Social: columns lean inwards 60 mm and the axes
of the columns if produced, would meet at
Religious: Worships of natural phenomena a distance of 2.4 km. above the stylobate.
Religion of the “Aegeans”- nature worship. Mysteries of
masculine force were represented by the sacred Bull, Entasis a swelling or curving outwards
symbolized by the “horns of consecration”, and the shield along the outline of a column shaft,
and the sacrificial double also had mystical virtues. The designed to counteract the optical illusion
supreme deity was the fertility or mother-goddess, Rhea, which gives a shaft bounded by straight
priestesses rather than priests conducted the religious lines the appearance of curving inwards.
rites. Worship centered on sacrificial altars, in open-air
enclosures, caves, small chapels or household shrines. The Orders- Doric-Ionic- Corinthian (Developed by Hellenic
religious ceremonies of the Aegean have included Greeks was only to attain its full identity in the hands of
sacred games and ritual dances. the Romans).

Greek Religion- was also a worship of natural Etruscans developed the Tuscan, inspired by the Doric
phenomena and highly developed. The gods were and a simpler and cruder version of it.
personification of particular elements or were defied
heroes and its town or district has its own local Composite a Roman contribution which did not differ
preferences, ceremonies and traditions. There was no greatly from the Corinthian and which, like it was an
regular priesthood. The priests and priestesses were not offshoot from the Ionic.
members of an exclusive class but led the normal
community life. The principal Greek deities, with their
attributes and Roman names are as follow:
Hellenistic Period. 323 to 30 B.C. churos enacted the action of the drama and around it,
This period provided much of the decorative inspiration of greater than a semi-circle, was organized the
some of Roman building types. arrangement of the seating.

Trabeated a style of architecture Public Buildings

in Greek in which the beam forms AGORA, Athens: or town square was the center of social
the constructive feature. and business life.
Exedrae or exedra, a recess or STOA, a long colonnaded building, served many
alcove with raised seat where the purposes
PRYTANEION, served as senate house for the chief
disputation of the learned took
dignitaries of the city associated with the cult of Hestia
place.
goddess of the hearth.
Voussoirs the truncated wedge
BOULEUTERION, or council house was covered meeting
shape blocks forming an arch.
place for the democratically elected councils. Assembly
halls, for citizens in general, were similar, but needed to
Temenos- Highest part, as it Delphi.
be larger.
Acropolis- Upper city, where the principal sacred
ODEION, a kindred type to the theatre, was buildings in
buildings might stand, both for dignity and safety.
which musician performed their works for the approval of
the public and competed for prizes.
Propylaea or entrance gateways marked the approach
STADIUM, was the foot racecourse in cities where games
to the sacred enclosure in many cities such as Athens,
were celebrated, and had a length of about 183 m (600
Epidauros, Eleusis and Priene.
ft.) between banks of seats founded on convenient
natural ground or on the spoil from excavation of flat
PROPYLAEA, ATHENS, erected
sites. The starting end was straight, the other semi-circular.
under Pericles by the architect
HIPPODROME, was a similar though longer type of
Mnesicles.
building for horse and chariot racing and was the
prototype of the Roman Circus.
Pinacotheca a picture gallery
PALAESTRA, was a wrestling school, but the term is usually
or a building to contain
used interchangeably with Gymnasium, a place for
painted pictures.
physical exercises of all kinds.
NAVAL BUILDINGS, included ship-sheds and stores.
ACROPOLIS, ATHENS, is the
TOMBS, Nereid Monument, (Xanthos) typifies Ionian
supreme example, foremost
sculptural luxuriance and the use in Greek Asia Minor of a
among world famous building
temple form of tomb, elevated on a high podium.
sites.
Podium a continuous pedestal; also the enclosing
platform of the arena of an amphitheatre.
Temples were the chief class of buildings in the Hellenic
SARCOPHAGUS, Cnidos; taken from a
period. They generally stood upon a crepidoma or three
tomb chamber, of the ornamental
or more steps.
treatment given to a stone coffin hewn
out of one block of marble and with
Crepidoma the steps forming the base of a columned
sculptures of a late period.
Greek temple.
Mausoleum, Halicarnassos; the most
Pediment a triangular piece of wall above the
famous of all tombs and one of the
entablature enclosed by raking cornices.
seven wonders of the world, was
Antefixae ornamental blocks fixed vertically at regular
erected to King Mausolos by his
intervals along the lower edge of a roof, to cover the
widow, Artemisia, and from it derived the term
ends of tiles.
“Masoleum” applied to monumental tombs.
The DORIAN GREEKS developed the “pastas” house,
Theatres- The Greek theatre, an open-air structure, was
being a long shallow room, crossing the house from side
generally hollowed out if the slope of a hillside.
to side and partly open on the South towards the court,
whilst serving too for access to the main inner rooms to
Auditorium or (cavea) in tiers of stone seats arranged in a
the North.
horseshoe shape around the circular paved space
Caryatid sculptured female figures used as columns or
(orchestra) used by the chorus, and the stage
supports.
(skene) for actors. The skene was a structure, tangential
Canephora sculptured female figures bearing baskets on
to the orchestra, affording a backing for simple stage
their heads.
décor. The orchestra was the focal point, for on it the
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE: 300 B.C. to A.D. developed their capacity as lawmakers. Based on
slavery and aristocratic in origin, the Roman system
Geographical: The Romans were not a seafaring people lacked a strong middle class.
like the Greeks and depended for the extension of their - Roman women were held in high
power not on colonization, but on conquest. respect, family life was protected and
The Roman Empire was not only confined geographically the Temple of Vesta. The most sacred
to Italy, but included all those parts of Europe, North spot in Rome, has recorded for all time
Africa and Western Asia which constituted the then- the sacredness attached by the Romans
known world. to their family hearth.

Geological: the Romans could procure suitable earths for Religious: Since Romans were originally a mixed people,
the making of Terra-Cotta and brick, the latter very their polytheistic religion was the fusion of several cults,
extensively used, even for important buildings. but owed most to the Etruscans who involved a
In the neighborhood of Rome, building stones included scrupulous attention to ritual, to conformity, and to the
Tufa, of varying degrees of hardness, from calcareous will of the gods in a fatalistic acceptance of their
deposits in Rome itself and immediate vicinity; domination. In the course of time, many of the chef
Peperino, a stone of volcanic origin from Mount Albano; Roman gods acquired similar attributes to those of the
travertine, a hard limestone of fine quality from Trivoli; Greeks, but retained their lain names and rites.
lava from volcanic eruptions; besides excellent sand and
gravel. The building materials however which led to great Architectural Character:
structural innovations’ was concrete, formed of stone or Etruscan Architecture. 750 to 100 B.C.
brick rubble and a mortar of which the important The Etruscans- West-Central Italy, were great builders.
ingredient was pozzolana, a volcanic earth, found in
thick strata in and around Rome and in the Region of - radiating arch
Naples. - invention of a new order of Architecture called
the TUSCAN.
Climate: North Italy has the climate of the temperature -Etruscan towns were fortified with powerful stone walls,
region of Europe; Central Italy is genial and sunny, while several feet thick, which were alternatively of the
the south is almost tropical. cyclopean type, like that of the Aegean’s; of polygonal
works, or of fine squared and bonded masonry laid in
Historical and Social: alternate times more than two feet high. No mortar was
-Rome was little more than an insignificant hill town in used.
South Etruria. -Tombs which were existing in great numbers were
- It was under Etruscan domination and ruled by Etruscan located outside the city walls on special necropolis sites
Kings. taking the form of great conical tumuli, with stone burial
- The declaration and development of a constitutional chambers concealed within their earthen mounds. The
republic and civil service are indicative of Roman majority were underground, cut in the soffit tufa rock and
characteristics. stimulating of interior of the contemporary house.
-Julius Caesar gave rise to a succession of military
dictatorships. Atrium- Type of house
-The social life of the Romans is clearly revealed in their Dwellings- were of sun-dried brick, covered with terra-
architecture. cotta-tiled wooden roofs.
Thernae for bathing and games, Columns- were sheated with terra-cotta walls and
circuses for races, columns were of stone throughout, as at all times were
amphitheatres for gladiatorial contests, the high platforms or “POPIUMS” of which the temples
theatres for drama. stood. Temples were invariably frontal and usually faced
basilicas for lawsuits state south.
Temples for religion
Apartment house or the “DOMUS” for family life Podium a continuous pedestal, also the enclosing
Forum was everywhere the center of public life and platform of the arena of an amphitheatre.
national commerce. Etruscan Sarcophagi both ordinary
burial and cremation were
-The “Patria-Potestas” or supreme power of the father, practiced in Etruria. The
was the foundation stone of family life, and out of their receptacles grew increasingly
obedience to authority, whether to the head of the large, until in the 4th century B.C.
household, or to the censors in the state, the Roman Sacrcopahgi of stone, alabaster
and terra-cotta were used in very large numbers.

Cloaca Maxima In Rome was Roman walls, both of stone and concrete are of special
constructed as an open drain character.
for the valleys between the hills
of Rome. Walls of Opus Quadratum.
Rectangular blocks of stone with or
without mortar joints but frequently
Arch of Augustus In Perugia built of large secured with dowels or cramps still
blocks of travertine stones without mortar. continued in used stones 2 x 2 x 4 Roman feet in
dimensions.

Temple of Juno Suspita In Walls of Opus Incertum. Stones

Lanuvium, the plan has three became quite small and on the wall
cells for three deities and a front faces appeared in a loose pattern
portico with two rows of four roughly resembling the polygonal
columns, widely sp aced and work.
approached by walled-in steps.
Walls of Opus Testaceum. Brick facing,
Etruscan Tomb Also called superceded the reticulate work
Corneto-Tarquinia of many rock- became the hall mark of the imperial
cut tombs at Etruscan Tarquinia, period in Italy.
near the present cornet. Some
twenty three are especially Walls of Opus Mixtum. Final type, an alternation of course
renowned for their vivid wall- of brickwork and small, squared stone blocks.
paintings, which retain a
remarkable freshness. The entrance leads to an outer Concrete vaults had the advantage over stone is that
they could be accommodated to complicated plan
chamber, with a rock roof carved in imitation of forms without involving difficult and laborious stone
rafters slipping to a smaller inner chamber at a lower cutting. The vaults were supported on “timber centering”
level. or temporary wooden framework until the concrete has
set.
Necropolis Cerveteri Is one of the
most remarkable burial sites. The Concrete a composite material which consists essentially
tombs are laid out systematically of binding medium within which are embedded particles
along paved streets, like a town or fragments of aggregates.
for the living.
Vault an arch covering in stone or brick over any building.
Roman Architecture. 300 B.C. to A.D. 365 The various vaults used in Roman Buildings were as
The Romans adopted the columnar and trabeated style follows:
of the Greeks. a. Roman Waggon Vault. Also known
-This combined use of column, beam and arch is the as Barrel or Tunnel Vault.
keynote of the Roman style in its earliest stage. In the
colosseum, piers strengthened and faced by attached b. Roman Waggon Vault with intersecting Vault Groins are
half column support arches, which in their turn carry the line of intersection of cross vaults.
entablature. In the aqueducts, the arch was supported
on piers without the facing column. Thus the orders of c. Cross Vault. Formed by the
architecture Greeks used in constructively) were used by intersection of two semi-circular vaults
Romans as decorative features which could be omitted. of equal span.

Composite combines the prominent volutes of the Ionic d. Hemispherical Domes or cupolas were
with the acanthus of the Corinthian on its capital and is used over circular structures and semi-
thus the most decorative. The shaft may be fluted or domes for exedrae.
plain.
 might be placed in the upper walls between the two
In these vaulting forms, concrete was the important levels. The entrance was either at the side or at one end.
factor for it was economical of skilled labor and had -The tribunal, opposite the entrance, was on a raised Dais
much cohesion than vaults made up of separate stone generally in a semi-circular apse, and sometimes
units. Yet it remained necessary to buttress the oblique separated from the main building by a screen of columns
sideways thrusts exerted against the walls by the or by a low balustrade. Ranged around the apse where
enormously heavy concrete vaults which at the crown, seats for assessors with a raised seat at the center for the
were either 4 to 8 ft. thick. In complex buildings, the praetor and in front were the altar where the sacrifice
thrusts of one vault were balanced against those of was offered before transacting business. The roof is
another. The Romans concealed their buttresses with a generally of wood, which the Roman knowledge of the
masking wall. Buttress, a mass of masonry built against a principles of the roof truss permitted them to use over
wall to resist the pressure of an arch or vault. large spaces, when required. Basilicas usually presented
a simple and unadorned exterior; they are sometimes
Three principal types of buttresses were used. without walls at the side.
a. The hemicycle or niche, the best of all buttresses for
retaining earth. Dais a raised platform.
b. The Ordinary or “Gothic” type of “Spur” buttress Nave central aisle as opposed to side aisles
c. The principle of the Pinnacle, placed on tops of of a church
buttresses to help with their weight drive the oblique Apse the circular or multi-angular
thrusts more steeply down to earth. termination of a church sanctuary

Rectangular Temples. Roman temples are an Thermae. Palatial public baths of Imperial Rome, portray
amalgamation of Etruscan and Greek types; the typical even in their ruin, the manners and customs of the
prostyle portico and podium were derived from Etruscan pleasure-loving populace, and are as characteristics of
Temples. The most characteristic is pseudo-peripheral, Roman civilization as are the amphitheatres. The
which instead of side colonnades has half columns thermae were not only designed for luxurious bathing, but
attached to the walls with a prostyle portico in front. were resorted to for news and gossip, and served like a
Compared with buildings erected for public relaxation. modern club as rendezvous of social life besides being
Temples quite clearly evidence the Roman ability to used for lectures and athletic sports, and indeed entered
cover large spaces without the aid of intermediate largely into the daily life of the Imperial City. A small
supports There was no attempt at orientation, as in the entrance fee was charged. The thermae were under the
Greek Temples which regularly faced east or the Etruscan management of the “aediles”. There were also
south. Balneatores to take the entrance money, and janitors to
guard the doors, with a staff of attendants, including
Circular and Polygonal Temples. Temple of Vesta, Rome: anointers, manicurists, barbers, shampooers, besides
in the Forum Romanum, was the most sacred shrine in the stokers, lamplighters and hundreds of slaves to make the
Imperial City, and here under the custody of the vestal process of bathing a luxurious relaxation. The thermae
virgins the sacred fire was kept slight which signified the were generally raised on a high platform within an
home hearth as the center and as source of Roman life enclosing wall and underneath were the furnaces and
and power. rooms connected with the services of the establishment,
which usually consists of three main parts.
Pantheon at Rome, the
finest of all illustrations of a. Main Building a dominant central hall, about which all
Roman construction, other rooms were symmetrically arranged. Having on
embodies every form of its cross axis the three chief apartments of the whole
Roman buttresses. Thermae.

Basilicas. Which were halls of Justice and Commercial 1. Tepidarium or warm room
exchanges indicate clearly, by their central position the 2. Frigidarium containing an unheated swimming bath.
importance of law and business in old Rome. 3. Laconicum or Sudatorium or dry sweating room with
apodyteria or dressing room and unctuaria or for oils.
-The usual plan of a basilica was a rectangular twice as
long as its width. b. Large Open Space a park-like enclosure surrounding
-Either two or four rows of columns form the “NAVE” and the central structure, planted with trees and ornamented
two or four aisles ran the whole length, and there were with statues and fountains. Part of it was used as a
sometimes galleries over the aisles. So that the windows stadium, for foot raising with raised seats at the side for
spectators.
c. Outer Ring of Apartments. These included lecture 4. Corinthian Pilasters with corbels between to support
rooms and exedrae for philosophers, poet statesman, the masts of the velarium which was drawn across the
while colonnades, a feature of all open spaces in Rome, auditorium for the top storeys.
served as protection from the sun. A large reservoir fed * Velarium a great awning drawn over Roman theatres &
by a special aqueduct supplied all the water needed for amphitheatres to protect
bath apartments, fountain and miscellaneous purposes. spectators from the sun.
* Mast a tall span or hollow metal
Theatres. Roman theatres were not only hollowed out of structure rising vertically to
a hill side but they were also built up by means of support the sails or awnings.
concrete vaulting, supporting tiers of seats, under which
were the connecting corridors used for retreat in case of Circuses. The Roman circus, for horse and chariot racing,
sudden showers. was derived from the Greek hippodrome. Chariot racing
was enormously popular, and vast sums were spent upon
Amphitheatres. Amphitheatres are characteristically the training and selection of men and horses. Famous
Roman buildings found in ever important settlement and charioteers were the idols of the day and though risking
are good exponents of the character and life of the life and limb, reaped rich rewards. Four-horse chariots
Romans, who preferred displays of mortal combats, were usual, but up to ten horses are also used. The teams
considered to be good training for a nation of warriors, to complete with each other. Heavy betting gave intensity
the tame mimicry of the stage. to the popular interest. The Circus Maximus, Rome has a
dimension of 609.6 m. or 2,000 ft. in length and 198.12 m.
Gladiatorial combats had their origin in funeral religious or 650 ft. in width.
rites connected with human sacrifices to the names of
the dead. Tombs. The Romans practiced both forms of burial,
cremation and interment, and thus sarcophagi for the
The Coloseum, Rome. A vast ashes are sometimes found in the same tomb chamber.
ellipse 189 m. x 156.5 m. with During the 1st three centuries of the Christian era, the
80 external arcaded body of nearly every emperor was burnt on a
openings on each storey, magnificent pyre, from which an eagle is released to
those on the ground floor symbolize his escaping soul.
forming entrances from
which the various tiers of In the 2nd century, when cremation became less usual,
seats were reached. The arena proper is an oval 87.47 m. wealthy citizens were embalmed or their death placed in
x 54.86 m. surrounded by a wall 4.57 m. high, behind massive and costly sarcophagi. Roman law forbade
which was the podium, with the imperial throne and seats burial inside city confines and tombs lined the main roads
for the officers of the state. radiating from the town gates. The Roman had five
classes of burial places;
Behind the podium rose the auditorium seats for some
50,000 spectators, with corridors and stairs beneath, while b. Coemeteria Also called subterranean vaults
dens for the wild beasts were under the lowest tier, on a contained Columbaria and Loculi. Columbaria is so
level with the arena. called because of their resemblance to pigeon-
holes, were niches formed in the rock to receive a
The component parts of the concrete vary; vase containing the ashes of the deceased and with
1. Lava was used for solid foundations. the name inscribed thereon. Loculi or recesses for
2. Tufa and Brick for the supporting walls the corpses were sealed with a front slab inscribed
3. Pumice stone for the vaults to reduce their weight with the name. Sarcophagi, often beautifully carved
4. Travertine blocks, set without mortar and held together with figures and festoons are surmounted by lids like
with metal cramps were used in the façade roofs terminating in scrolls, were also placed in the
5. Marble was employed for the columns, seats and vaults. Later these vaults were called catacombs
ornament.
c. Monumental Tombs Most typical Roman class,
The external façade, 48 m. high is divided into four descended from the Etruscan Tumuli, with their
storeys. embracing ring of stones or rock. They consisted of
1. The lower are pierced with arches & attached three- large cylindrical blocks, often on a quadrangular
quarter columns of Quasi Doric order for the 1st storey. podium, topped with a conical crown of earth or
2. Quasi Ionic for the 2nd storey stone.
3. Quasi Corinthian for the 3rd storey
The Mausoleum of Augustus was a huge cylinder 88.39 m. Town Gateways and Archways
or 290 feet in diameter, faced in travertine, supporting a Three main types:
mound of earth, 44.20 m. or 145 feet high from the 1. Those forming part of the protective wall circuit usually
ground, planted with evergreen trees and surmounted by simple, but sometimes elaborated into commemorative
a bronze effigy of Augustus. monuments.
2. Ornamental portals to forums, market places or other
Triumphal Arches. These are erected to emperors and large enclosures.
generals commemorating victorious campaigns. Such 3. Arches built as main street intersections particularly
arches were adorned with appropriate bas-reliefs and when the main streets were colonnaded.
usually carried gilt-bronze statuary on attic storey, the
latter having a dedicatory inscription on its face. They Gateways of the first type in town walls might have one
had either one or three openings, two of the latter being main archways and a footway on each side, or more
footways, and the piers were ornamented with Corinthian often two main archways or without a pair of side
or composite pilasters or columns; slightly detached, full footways.
columns often were used after the early second century.
Porte S. Andre. This has four archways, two for vehicles
The Arch of Titus, Rome (A.D. 82) with and two for pedestrians. Above the openings are
a single opening commemorates the arcaded galleries connecting the ramparts on either side,
capture of Jerusalem. On each main decorated with pilasters of the Ionic Order in the case of
face attached columns flank the Porte S. Andre and Corinthian order in the case of the
opening and at the outer angles and Porte d’ Arroux, Autun.
these are the earliest known
examples of the fully developed Roman Composite Roman Houses
Order. Roman dwelling houses are of three types:
1. Domus or private house combined the features of the
The “Soffit” of the archway is ornamented with deeply
old Italic or Etruscan dwelling with other elements derived
recessed coffers and a relief in the center represents the
from the Greek house. An atrium formed the more public
apotheosis of Titus on one side of the opening is a carved
portion of the building and beyond was the peristyle of
relief of the Emperor in a triumphal car, and on the other
Greek origin, the center of family apartments.
side is a representation of the spoils taken from the
2. Villa or country house spread on a vast complex of
temple at Jerusalem. The Keystones, which project
large park scattered with extra-ordinary buildings.
considerably to support the main architrave are also
3. Insula or apartment block rose four or more storeys high
richly carved and are faced with figures of Roma and
Fortuna. The attic storey withy the dedication was
The House of Pansa, Pompeii. The house of Pansa
originally surmounted by a bronze quadriga.
Pompeii illustrates the typical Domus or family mansion. It
* Soffit the ceiling or underside of any architectural
comprises two portions; the atrium, or forepart, which
member.
served for formal occasions as well as normal use; and a
* Keystone the central stone of a semi-circular arch,
rear or peristyle portion, which was the more intimate,
sometimes sculptured
private part.
* Spandrel the triangular space
The atrium represents the entire dwelling; the peristyle is
enclosed by the curve of an arch,
colonnaded and is an additional chief element. Greek
a vertical line from its springing a
influence caused columns sometimes to be used to
horizontal line through its apex.
support the margins of the roof opening or “compluvium”
* Quadriga four-horsed chariot, in sculptured form, often
of an enlarged atrium, which are the original lacked
surmounting a monument.
columns.
Privacy was assured for the whole house since all the
The Arch of Constantine, Rome (A.D. 312) built in honor of
rooms faced inwards towards atrium or peristyle, light
Constantine’s victory over Maxentius, is of fine proportions
being gained for them through tall doorways with metal
with eight monolithic detached Corinthian columns
grilles within their doors or hung with curtains. Window
supporting an entablature returned back to the wall, and
glasses was rare
on the attic storey, a
The atrium also contained the shrine of the family gods,
quadriga. Much of the
and near to the impluvium there stood a marble table.
decorative sculpture was
An open living room on “Tablinum” was curtained off
brought from earlier
between the atrium and the peristyle, and at the side
monuments of the time of
was a passage, the “fauces”.
Trajan and represents
incidents in his reign.
Peristyle a range of columns surrounding a court or a constructed to bring water to
temple. Nimes from the neighborhood of
Atrium an apartment in a Roman house forming an Uzes
entrance hall or court, the roof open to the sky in the
center
Compluvium (rain) a quadrangular opening in the atrium Segovia Aqueduct (15th Century
of a Roman house towards which the roof sloped so as to A.D.) It is a well preserved,
throw the rain water into a shallow cistern or impluvium in magnificent Roman engineering
the floor. in a procession of lofty doubletier
Prothyrum a porch or vestibule in front of the door of a arches. The granite length is 2,700
house. feet and a height of 102 feet.
Impluvium a shallow tank under the compluvium, as
opening in the roof of an atrium. Bridge of Augustus, Rimini (A.D.
Lean-to a small extension to a building with a roof having 14). It is the best preserved and
but one slope whose supports leans against the building. one of the finest ancient
Tablinum a large open room or apartment for family structures in Italy.
records and hereditary statues situated at the end of the
atrium farthest from the main entrance.
Fauces the passageway from the street to the atrium, or EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE: 313 to 800
from the atrium to the peristyle.
Geographical: Christianity had its birth in Judea, an
The peristyle enframed with 16 Ionic columns was laid out eastern province of the Roman Empire, but directly it
with flower beds and graced with statuary, fountain and became a living organism and was carried by St. Peter,
water basin, “Cubicula” or bedrooms, “Triclinia” or dining St. Paul and other missionaries to Rome, as the center of
rooms with different aspects for summer and winter, the the World-Empire. There at the fountain head of power
“oecus” or reception room, and “alae” or recesses for and influence, and in spite of opposition and
conversation surrounded the peristyle. Dining rooms were persecution, the new religion took root and grew, till it
fitted with 3 couches for 9 people, the recognized was strong enough to become the recognized universal
number for a Roman feast. Floor was decorated with religion of the whole Roman Empire. Early Christian
Mosaic and wall with Fresco paintings. The kitchen and architecture in Rome was influenced by existing Roman
pantry were at the side of the peristyle, farthest from the art.
entrance but convenient to the side street. There was a
series of upper rooms round the atrium and peristyle. Geological: Geological influences maybe said to have
acted indirectly rather directly on Early Christian
* Triclinium a Roman dining room with couches on three architecture, for the ruins of Roman buildings often
sides. provided the quarry hence materials were obtained. This
* Cubiculum a bedroom, but sometimes used in a less influenced the style, both as to construction and
specific sense to denote other rooms. decoration, for columns and other architectural features
* Oecus the main room, the successor of the megaron. as well as fine sculptures and mosaics from older
* Mosaic decorative surfaces formed by small cubes of buildings, were worked into Basilican Churches for the
stone, glass and marble. new faith.
* Fresco painting on a wall while the plaster is wet, also
any painting not in oil colors. Historical and Social :
The early Christian period is generally taken as lasting
Aqueducts. The Romans gave importance to an from Constantine to the coronation of Charlemagne
adequate water supply, immense quantities of water (800). The incursions of the Huns into Europe about 376
were required for the great thermae and for public eventually brought about invasions from the North into
fountains, and for domestic supply for the large Italy, and in 410 Rome itself was sacked by the Goths
population, which was estimated to be 1.6 million liters or under Alaric. So many conflicting forces were at work in
350 million gallons of water poured daily by eleven great Europe that the spread of the new was arrested during
aqueducts. Water was distributed to public buildings and this period of change and upheaval, until 451 when the
fountains by lead pipes. defeat of Attila, King of the Huns at the battle of Chalors
aided in the consolidation of Christianity in Europe.
The Pint du Gard, Nimes, France forms part of a In 568 the Lombards penetrated into Italy and held the
magnificent aqueduct, 40 km or 25 miles long, Northern part for 200 years. Then in 800 Charlemagne
was crowned by the Pope in Rome, and from this date,
the empire was styled the Holy Roman Empire, a tile the sanctuary with the high altar in the center standing
which survived until 1806. free under its baldachino upheld by marble columns.
Constantine changed the capital of the Empire from
Rome to Byzantiium in 330 when the old Roman political * Baldachino a canopy supported by columns generally
system came to an end, and this royal convert reigned as placed over an altar or tomb, also known as ciborium.
an absolute monarch till his death in 337.
The series of Emperors in the west came to an end in A.D. The vista was rounded by apse lined with marble slabs
476, and the Eastern and Western Empires was nominally and crowned with a semi-dome encrusted with glittering
reunited by Zeno, who reigned at Constantinople. The golden mosaics in which Christ appears surrounded by
emancipation of Western Europe from direct imperial prophets, saints and martyrs.
control resulted in the development of Romano-Teofonic Timber roofs covered the central nave, and only simple
civilization, which facilitated the growth of new states forms of construction, such as king and queen post trusses
and nationalities, gave a fresh impulse to Christianity, and were employed. The narrower side aisles were
eventually strengthened the power of the bishops of occasionally vaulted and the apse was usually domed.
Rome. Walls were still constructed according to Roman methods
of using hand-laid rubble-concrete faced with brick or
Religious: In this period and all ages, Christianity has stone and sometimes plaster. Mosaic decoration was
inspired the building of the greatest architectural added internally and sometimes also externally on west
monuments. Unlike those temples of the old Greek and facades; though little regard was paid to external
Romans which were built to shelter the statues of the architectural effect.
gods, the purpose of the Christian Church was to shelter
worshippers who met for prayers and praise to an unseen * Mosaic decorative surfaces formed by small cubes of
deity and during the unsettled conditions at the stone and marble.
beginning of Christianity, various places were adapted
for this worship. This is the buildings of pagan temples The introduction of color with the use of glass mosaics
ceased before any attempt was made to build Christian gave richness and mystery to interiors. The Early Christian
Churches. Basilicas were usually decorated with mosaic in the apse
semi-dome and wall, on the triumphal arch and on the
Architectural Character: walls above the nave arcades. Sometimes piers and
The early Christians as Roman craftsmen, continued old arch soffits were likewise treated.
Roman traditions, but prosperity was declining and it was
natural that for their new buildings, they should utilize as *Soffit the exposed undersurface of any overhead
far as possible the materials from Roman temples which component of a building such as an arch, balcony,
had become useless for their original purpose. Further in beam, cornice, lintel or vault.
their churches, modeled on Roman basilicas, they used
old columns which by various devices were brought to a Basilican Churches
uniform height. Basilicas or Roman Halls of Justice probably served the
On this account, although extremely interesting from an early Christians as models for their churches, which thus
archeological point of view, Early Christian buildings forming a connecting link between buildings of pagan
hardly have the architectural value of a style produced classic times and those of the Romanesque period which
by the solution of constructive problems. Basilican followed. A Basilican Church is usually erected over the
Churches had either closely spaced column’s carrying burial place of the Saint to whom the church was
the entablature. Or more widely spaced column’s dedicated. The approach to the church was through an
carrying semi-circular arches. The basilican church with atrium or open forecourt surrounded by arcades. Next
three or five aisles, covered by a simple timber roof, is the covered Narthex, between the Atrium and the
typical of the Early Christian style. church, which was assigned to the penitents. The
The architectural character of the basilican churches is Narthex opened into the nave, lighted by a clear storey
rendered impressive and dignified by the long of small windows, with an aisle on either side, usually half
perspective of columns which carry the eye along to the the width of the nave. Occasionally there are two aisles
sanctuary; a treatment which combined with the on each side of the nave, as in the Basilicas of St. Peter
comparatively low height of interiors, makes these and St. Paulo, Galleries for women were sometimes
churches appear longer than they really are. placed over the aisles, but otherwise the sexes sat on
opposite sides of the nave.
An ‘Arch of Triumph’, figurative There is no Bema in St. Clemente, but this feature is found
of the transition through death in other Basilicas such as St. Peter’s Rome. A choir, which
to eternal life, gave entrance to became necessary owing to the growth of ritual was
enclosed by low screen walls or “cauceli” and was * Font a basin usually of stone which holds the water for
provided with an “ambo” or pulpit on either side, dating baptism
from the first church, from which the Gospel and Epistle
were read. When circular Roman temples or tombs were modified to
* arcade a range of arches supported on piers or meet the new requirements, these sometimes had to be
columns attached to or detached from the wall. enlarged. It was difficult to cover the enclosed area with
* Narthex a long arcaded entrance porch to a Christian one roof supported only by outside walls, whereas the
basilican church Romans had used internal columns attached to the walls
* Berma a raised stage reserved for the clergy. in a decorative way, the Early Christians used columns
constructively to support the central roof and surrounded
In the apse or sanctuary, the bishop took the central the whole with a one storey aisle enclosed by an outer
place, which has been that of the ‘praetor’ in the Roman wall, which supported a lower roof.
Basilica, and the presbyters or members of the church
council, occupied seats on either side corresponding to Tombs
those used by the Roman assessors. The altar in front of Up to the 4th century; burial within city limits was usually
the apse which in the basilica had been used for libations prohibited by law, but the Christian objection to
or sacrifices to the gods was placed immediately over cremation and insistence on burial in consecrated
the burial place of the titular saint and adapted for the ground, together with the desire to provide monumental
celebration of Christian rites. A ciborium, also known as tombs which were at once an expression of the Christian
tabernacle or baldachino, was erected on columns over faith in immortality and a memorial to the dead, led to
the altar. the erection of imposing structures which were usually
domed and often enriched with lavish mosaic
St. Peters Basilican Church, decorations.
Rome Erected by Constantine
near the martyrdom of ST. Example: Tomb of Galla Pacida, Ravenna.
Peter in the circus of Nero,
was pulled down to make
way for the present cathedral. The atrium led through
the narthex to the great nave with double aisles
terminating in five arches, the central of which is called
the Arch of Triumph.

St. Paolo Fuori Le Mura, Rome

Founded in 380 is the largest
and most impressive of all
basilican churches. The nave
has 80 great columns of simplon
granite, with mosaic mural
medallions of the Popes above. The Arch of Triumph with
5th century mosaics, the double Berma, the apse with
mosaics of the 13th century, and the remarkable high
altar with its double baldachino over the confession of St.
Paul, all contribute to the grandeur of the interior.

Baptisteries
Separate buildings used only for the Sacrament of
Baptism were a feature of Early Christianity. For this rite,
Roman circular temples and tombs were occasionally
used. As the rite was administered only on three great
Christian festivals; Easter, Pentecost and Epiphany, these
buildings had to be of considerable size, and until the
end of the 6th century. They sometimes adjoined the
atrium of the forecourt of the church; but after this period
and especially with the introduction of infant baptism; the
baptistery was replaced by a font in the church close to
the entrance.