Roman Architectuer

12 Pages 3117 Words

Roman cities. The third advance, which came to use by the Romans, was the dome. The dome, like the arch and vault, was widely used in many grand structures. It was a spherical vault, which rested on a base wall. Compared to the vault, it was more stable; however, it was limited because it thrusts outward in a circle. The Roman hemispherical domes were very impressive and beautiful; The Pantheon’s great dome, built by Emperor Hadrian, is more than forty-three meters in diameter. Along with a revolution in structure and design, the Romans were the first to use and produce concrete; as well as marble, mosaic, and stone. The mortar mix the Romans used provided a very strong foundation and support for structures. They used decorative stones as well as marble in public baths and many buildings. The Romans vast building supplies and their confidence in their abilities to use them were instrumental in their architectural excellence. The durability and beauty of the Roman’s arches, vaults, and domes speak for themselves two millenniums after they we...