Roman Concrete

The greatness of Roman architecture is built, quite literally, upon the foundation of two important items: the discovery of concrete and the adoption of the arch from the Greeks. Concrete was an exceptional development within the Roman world and catapulted Roman construction into new heights of efficiency and stability. According to Kamm (1995), the origin of Roman concrete can be found in a volcanic earth known as pozzolana, initially found near the Greek settlement of Puteoli. It would later be discovered in large amounts in and around the city of Rome itself. Used to make mortar, the true strength of pozzolana came into being when combined with lime and strengthening agents such as chips of rock or stone and pieces of broken brick. When mixed together in the correct quantities, Roman concrete was born. It allowed the Romans to replace ordinary rubble as the filling within walls. Not only did this give increased strength and resilience to the wall and overall structure in question, it allowed the Romans to indulge their artistic side. Using irregularly-shaped stones as a facing material, bound in courses of brick, patterns and designs could be carefully fashioned in a technique known as opus incertum. This technique would come to be slightly modified with the use of square-based pyramidal stones whose heads faced inward to the wall and called opus reticulatum. The permutation of using triangular-based bricks in the style came to be known as opus testaceum (1995).
The use of concrete and these building methods allowed the Romans to construct magnificent structures including circular temples, theaters, and public baths that covered massive amounts of space for accommodating large numbers of Roman citizens.
Additionally, roads stretching as far as the eye could see helped to bind the empire together. They allowed for speedy communication and the rapid movement of people, goods, and when necessary, military
troops.

The greatest of all of Rome’s construction triumphs would be incomplete without the arch. Allowing for the bridging of wide spaces with a minimum of materials, the arch was instrumental in completing the network of roads maintained by Rome and, more importantly, the construction of the aqueduct system (1995). Roman aqueducts would bring in water from main sources far, far away from Rome itself with a minimum of effort. Carefully maintained, the aqueducts were vital to the continued existence and splendor of Rome. A special commission established by emperor Claudius and consisting of 460 slaves was responsible for the health and well-being of the aqueduct system. As a statement to the ingenuity of Roman engineering, a report compiled by Sextus Julius Frontinus, the inspector of aqueducts under emperor Nerva, estimated that one billion liters of water a day was brought into Rome through the eight aqueducts that serviced the city.

Through the use of concrete and the arch, the Romans erected grand examples of architecture and engineering that still persist to this day, such as the Pantheon circular temple and the main Roman thoroughfare, the Appian Way. With these monuments of Roman grandeur persisting to this day, we are afforded a glimpse into the genius and ingenuity of ancient Rome.

References:

Kamm, A. (1995). The Classics Pages: Antony Kamm's 'The Romans': 6.5 Public architecture. Retrieved from http://www.the-romans.co.uk/public_architecture.htm