... piers and vaults supported the theater seats, unlike those of Greek theaters, which depended on natural slopes. The framework enabled Roman theaters to be constructed in the hearts of cities. Marble gave splendor to buildings, but it was concrete, a Roman invention, that revolutionized architecture and enabled previously impossible construction. Concrete permitted architects to cover vast spaces with great vaults, allowing the ... Coliseum was constructed in, its dimensions were immense. Reaching four stories high (approximately 158 feet) and shaped in an enormous oval, the Coliseum cou...

• Word Count: 1694
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... his country'. He passed many wise and far-sighted measures concerning both Rome and the provinces. He boasted that he had transformed Rome from a city of brick into a city of marble. His genuine piety, celebrated in the famous Altar of Peace in Rome, led to his restoring eighty temples. Augustus also attempted to regulate morals, and banished his own daughter Julia ... ...

• Word Count: 3623
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: High School

... had three tiers which could hold around 20,000 spectators. Specific seats were reserved for priests and dignitaries. These were called the "thrones of honor" and were made of Pentelic marble. One of the most obvious changes from Greek to Roman theatre was that the orchestra was changed to a half circle. The front walls of the stage house were called the ... ...

• Word Count: 972
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School