Ancient Rome impresses not only with its military history. For their more than a thousand-year history, the Romans provided descendants with an excellent legislative base, laid the foundations of comedy and satire, rhetorical art. But today the cultural and engineering heritage that the architecture of Ancient Rome left behind is the most fascinating thing. In the development of construction and engineering of the Ancient Roman Empire, it is customary to distinguish three main periods: the republican, imperial and the period of principle and dominance.
Ancient Rome: architecture of the republican period (mid VI - mid I centuries BC)
If you need to describe this period in one word, then it will be “concrete”. It was then that a special composition was invented, including pumice, volcanic ash, lime and wild stone. Concrete was a breakthrough in the ability to build special types of houses - high-rise, which at that time in history were characteristic exclusively for the Roman Republic. Volcanic tuff, brick and marble were used simultaneously with concrete.
The ancient Roman architecture of that time was characterized by two types of buildings - the peripter (rectangular) and the rotund (round-shaped building). In the design and construction of buildings, four orders are involved - Doric, Ionian, Tuscan and Corinthian. With their help, classical monuments of architecture were erected - Caesar's Basilica, the Temple of Vesta, the new Forum, the Temple of Venus. At the same time, a tradition appeared to decorate public places with monumental statues, the execution of which traced the influence of Hellas.
The architecture of Ancient Rome of the republican period gave rise to the construction and use of monumental roads, strong bridges and, of course, aqueducts (water pipes). In addition, the invention of concrete made it possible to include arches, arches and domes in the engineering ensemble, as well as high-rise buildings typical of Rome at that time in history .
The imperial period - the heyday of classical architectural thought (I century BC - II century AD)
Strictness and monumentality combined with luxury - this is how the architecture of ancient Rome of that period is characterized. The beginning of it, and, in principle, of the entire Roman Empire, was laid by the great Octavian Augustus. It is under his leadership that brick leaves the engineering field in second place. A new Forum is being created, the pearl of which will be the temple of Mars the Avenger, the temple of Apollo, the Marcellus Theater. The new architectural trend was the application of frescoes on the walls of buildings and the widespread use of precious stones and gold in interior decoration.
But still, the leading positions in this period of development of architecture belong to the Flavian dynasty and Emperor Trajan. Under their rule, the Pantheon ("Temple of All Gods") and the Colosseum - the true symbol of modern Italy, are being erected. With them, the construction of the triumphal arches, a tradition still used today, comes into the habit.
The Romans, distinguished by their special cleanliness, create special buildings - therms. Architects designed them in such a way that the Roman baths were thermoregulated in the floor and walls, while the principle of “warm floor” was in effect.
Ancient Rome: architecture of the period of principate and dominate (III century - the fall of the empire).
This period is characterized by a sharp transition from paganism to Christianity. Emperor Constantine in 313 announces an official transition to the new religion of the one god, which is reflected not only in socio-cultural life. Ancient Roman architecture of that time is characterized by the mass erection of basilicas - the first official Christian churches. They incorporate traditional Roman technology for building religious structures in combination with oriental elements.
Reflecting the attacks of the barbarians, the Roman emperors were forced to erect particularly strong defensive walls, a striking example of which was the wall of Aurelius. Unfortunately, they did not save the great empire from the fall, but the technology of their construction was also used in the Middle Ages.
The architecture of Ancient Rome still delights not only the townsfolk, but also inspires specialists. The buildings and structures of the empire are striking in their laconicism and completeness of lines. Developed more than two thousand years ago, the principles of construction of the main and auxiliary facilities fit perfectly into modern engineering science. And the remaining monuments of architecture convey to the present the spirit of the true Empire.