How Did Ancient Romans Build Their Architecture
One example of how the ancient Romans proved themselves to be the greatest nation of their time was through their architecture. No better examples of these great triumphs than the arch and the material concrete it was built from. Not only were they triumphs of beauty but of engineering and their uses and meaning to the Roman culture of the time.
Concrete comes from the Latin "concretus", which means to grow together. Around 600 BC the Greeks were using an early form of concrete but did not make use of it like the Romans would eventually do. By 200 BC the Romans had perfected the material and were vey prolific in its use. “Roman sculpture, learned from the Greeks and the Etruscans, reached a peak in the first and second centuries …show more content…
The Romans fashioned their structures from bricks and concrete mortar. These structures were built throughout all the conquered Roman territories. The greatest example of use of the material was in the arches they built. “The Romans did not invent the arch, but their development of it enabled them fully to exploit their penchant for resolving improbable situations by vast expense of labour.” (The Romans)
Arches were built into just about every architectural element by the Romans. “Roman arches enabled the ancient Romans to rear vast edifices with the humblest materials, to build bridges, aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters, and triumphal arches, as well as temples and palaces.” (Roman Arches)
“Roman bridges are famous for using the circular arch form, which allowed for spans much longer than stone beams and for bridges of more permanence than wood.” (Smith, …show more content…
According to Smith, “The Romans began organized bridge building to help their military campaigns. Engineers and skilled workmen formed guilds that were dispatched throughout the empire, and these guilds spread and exchanged building ideas and principles.” (Smith) These ideas and principles went into the building over 900 bridges spread across Europe, Asia and Africa. Construction of arch bridges began with the building of wooden arches identical to a finished bridge then using it as a mold for stones and concrete. A great example is the bridge built over the Tagus River in Spain. The arches measure 98 feet long weighing up to eight tons each. The bridge is still standing after nearly 2,000
Concrete comes from the Latin "concretus", which means to grow together. Around 600 BC the Greeks were using an early form of concrete but did not make use of it like the Romans would eventually do. By 200 BC the Romans had perfected the material and were vey prolific in its use. “Roman sculpture, learned from the Greeks and the Etruscans, reached a peak in the first and second centuries …show more content…
The Romans fashioned their structures from bricks and concrete mortar. These structures were built throughout all the conquered Roman territories. The greatest example of use of the material was in the arches they built. “The Romans did not invent the arch, but their development of it enabled them fully to exploit their penchant for resolving improbable situations by vast expense of labour.” (The Romans)
Arches were built into just about every architectural element by the Romans. “Roman arches enabled the ancient Romans to rear vast edifices with the humblest materials, to build bridges, aqueducts, sewers, amphitheaters, and triumphal arches, as well as temples and palaces.” (Roman Arches)
“Roman bridges are famous for using the circular arch form, which allowed for spans much longer than stone beams and for bridges of more permanence than wood.” (Smith, …show more content…
According to Smith, “The Romans began organized bridge building to help their military campaigns. Engineers and skilled workmen formed guilds that were dispatched throughout the empire, and these guilds spread and exchanged building ideas and principles.” (Smith) These ideas and principles went into the building over 900 bridges spread across Europe, Asia and Africa. Construction of arch bridges began with the building of wooden arches identical to a finished bridge then using it as a mold for stones and concrete. A great example is the bridge built over the Tagus River in Spain. The arches measure 98 feet long weighing up to eight tons each. The bridge is still standing after nearly 2,000