Roman Architectuer

The first, and maybe most magnificent of all, is the Pantheon. If looked at only by its beauty, the Pantheon would be a masterpiece, but the huge dome erected over it and its design proves to be even more remarkable. The term pantheon refers to a building that serves as a mausoleum or memorial for eminent personages of a country (as is the case of the French Panthéon), but the Roman’s Pantheon was a monument for all the gods. The Pantheon was built from AD 118-128 under the supervision of Emperor Hadrian; it replaced a smaller temple built in 27 BC, which had been pillaged by fires. Hadrian’s wish for a lasting, fireproof, structure was the reason for a bronze dome. The dome, itself, was supported by eight drums, which wrapped around the perimeter of the building. The massive forty-three meter dome had an oculus in the center portion, which emitted light into the dome. The dome sets down on the interior wall with arches to support it. “These arches … were designed to discharge the vertical weight of the lower part of the dome onto the solid parts of the wall inside.” (Rivoira 125) The Pantheon incorporated arches, domes, vaults and columns to give it a unique design. Inside, columns rise up to the support system; it is a truly beautiful piece of architectural genius. The Pantheon retains a universal beauty; a look of sophistication and greatness that everyone appreciates. Another masterpiece, the Coliseum, is still regarded as one of the more famous buildings in the world today. It was built by Emperor’s Vesavius, Titus, and Domitian in AD 69-81 (Encarta). However, looking at the Coliseum now is the equivalent of looking at Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel if the paint had chipped off and his work had been left to decay. The Coliseum was not left to decay, but was destroyed by earthquake after earthquake and countless fires and even used as a quarry; it is now just a ruin of the great amphitheater. In its day, the Coliseum was a marvel to look at. It was a full three story elliptical arcade (row of arches) with a fourth story full of windows. In between each arch and window sat statues of great heroes and gods, and in the middle of the ellipse sat a pit for the fights. Set deep in the heart of Rome, the Coliseum was once the greatest amphitheater in the Empire. The citizens would flood there to see men fight beasts and other spectacles. Inside, there was seating for approximately fifty thousand people and a special area for emperors and city leaders. Around the pit and underground lay an intricate set of rooms where beasts such as lions would be kept and supplies stored; today it looks somewhat like an excavation of secret passages. Although it was one of the last of its kind made, the Coliseum remained active until AD 523. For the citizens of Rome it was a great place for leisure and fun, and also a beloved structure. Today, although it is damaged, many still view the Coliseum as the epitome of Roman architecture. “…perhaps the greatest work of architectural engineering left to us by Roman antiquity is Rome’s Coliseum…With its tiers of arches, its superimposed orders in the form of half-columns, and its crowning range of pilasters, it was to become a pattern for Renaissance architecture.” (Wheeler 118)

If the Roman era were to be classified as a time of advancement, then let architecture be one of the greatest advancements. Rome’s ability to challenge and change the precedents set by its older brother Greece was the key to the Roman Empire’s greatness. The precedent challenged, or more the limit surpassed that was key to architecture was the incorporation and widespread use of the arch. Rome’s ability to spread its empire with minimum supplies and efficiency can all be attributed to the advancement in architecture. While it is valid to say that Roman architecture expanded as the Roman Empire did, it might do more just to say that the advancements in architecture led to the advancement of the Ro

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