How Did Augustus Made Significant Urban And Architectural Interventions On The City Of Rome

In a social context, many of Rome’s buildings such as monuments and public facilities like forums or public bath houses, reflects the advanced social structure of Rome and its civilization. Furthermore the complex architectural design of buildings throughout the Roman Empire and Republic, for example the grand Aqueduct of Segovia in Spain which still stands tall today after 1900

Augustus, during his reign as emperor proved effective in ruling through the ideas he implemented to solidify his country. Tacitus stated “nullo adversante” which translates into English “Wholly unopposed” (http://janusquirinus.org/Quotes/QuotesHome.html) this identifies the effectiveness of his reign and the strength he had politically over Rome. Important actions such as the creation of religious and moral reforms, the constitutional agreement and the implementation of the building programme all succeeded in creating stability within the Roman Empire.

This paper evaluates and considers two important buildings from Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon. Style, function and reflection on how these buildings represent the cultures that created them. A comparison between the two buildings is included.

One of the more inspiring and brilliantly conceived and constructed dome structures in the world is the Pantheon of Rome. This example imposes a magnificent strength of ingenuity and dominance over their surrounding landscape, and the Pantheon deserves to be researched and admired for its architecturally innovative and bold design of its time. The building was accommodated with serious technical impediments that required a thorough and scrutinizing attention to detail in order to overcome. It is because of the prevailed obstacles by the various designers, architects and builders of this building that captures the consideration of those interested in the development of building technology and progress throughout the

The structure’s most remarkable structural features can be classified as either Roman or Dacian, depending on what cultural influences were apparently dominant for the structure (Thill, Elizabeth 28). To be considered Roman, the structure had to first plainly be a type of Roman architecture, such as an amphitheater. Additionally, it had to be “part of an urban landscape incorporating buildings of clearly Roman architectural types” (Thill 28). Finally, the structure needed to be somehow linked to the Roman army. For an architectural structure to be considered Dacian, it likewise needed several specific conditions. Firstly, any foreign, non-Roman architecture would be classified as Dacian. Secondly, it could not be apart of an urban landscape with Roman

     The design and structure of a city is as important as the people who dwell within her walls. The placement of streets and the structures built there are carefully plotted for optimal use. Foot and cart traffic, fire hazard, and access to water were all key factors in city planning. Eventually the Romans had fine tuned their design principals in such an advantageous way that they molded all of their city states similarly.

In traditional Roman architectural iconography, a centrally planned dome building symbolizes imperial rule and it’s

Since Ancient times, Roman Architecture has carried on an important legacy, that provided useful yet common techniques that have been applied to build the structures standing tall in todays world. Roman Architects were very advanced for their time. Moreover, they used their knowledge in math, following arithmetics and formulas to draw blueprints to exact specifications. Roman architects strived for “openness” and views unobscured by parts of the building, while inside. To accomplish this, they incorporated domes and arches so that buildings would be strong, yet open and spacious to people inside. Many buildings had very tall ceilings because Architects used domes to help support the building. Domes were important to the structure of the buildings

The Roman Corinthian temples were a testament to the construction techniques and its architecture was heavily influenced by the Etruscans. Romans worshipped several deities and thus temples served as a place of high importance which was adorned with reliefs and sculptures. A typical Roman temple, for example, Temple of Augustus and Roma consisted of a cella housing the main deity and approached through a colonnaded portico (pronaos) by means of a flight of stairs. The temples were constructed with the help of concrete and oriented themselves to face east towards the rising sun and entered through the west. The column order seen in the Roman Corinthian temples was inspired by the Greek architecture. Vitruvius, the Roman architect likened the

When we think of Roman architecture there are many ancient structures but which come to mind? The Coliseum in Rome, the Triumphal Arches of Titus and Constantine, The Pantheon of Rome, and the Pont-de-Gard in Nimes, France. Often the success of a society is judged by the structures it creates. Therefore, the might of Rome can be seen not only in its engineering projects and structures, which rivaled all other ancient civilizations, but also in the sense of order and superiority which was conveyed by their achievements. The Pantheon of Rome and The Pont-de-Gard in Nimes, France are two classical examples.

     Two problems facing the late Roman Empire was the instability and non unification caused by inner family civil wars. Rome's rapid expansion, after the Punic Wars, resulted in changes that permanently divided the state. Both Aristocrats and Plebeians wanted total control of Rome and tried to destroy each other. Civil war was the the only way to solve problems in politics. Consequently, the power of the military became strong. Control of Rome's armies changed from the government to the generals because the soldiers began to listen to their generals rather than to the Government. On dismissal from military service, the soldiers had no farms to return to, and they

In 27 BC Augustus began his political career with a “new policy which embodied a national and Roman spirit” (Galinksy, 1996, 225) and “represented new heights in creativity and sophistication” (Galinksy, 1996, 225). Augustus created a new political propaganda campaign that used art and architecture to promote and enhance his regime. The most fundamental message can be regarded as to establish the legitimacy of his rule and to portray him as the natural successor of Rome, as this is consistently presented throughout the visual programme. Yet factors such as the restoration of the Republic, reviving the old religion, nationalism and militaristic triumph can also be seen to be communicated prominently through art and architecture.

Agrippa, Augustus’ right-hand man, constructed this building as a temple to all the gods; however, a fire destroyed this temple in 80 CE and so Domitian built the reconstruction. The Pantheon we are familiar with has a significantly different design than the original one, and this is why this specific temple is so dislike to the rest of the Roman temples. Before it was burnt, the Pantheon stood in a podium at the end of a large rectangular court. The surroundings of this temple have changed in order to provide a unique experience to its visitors. For example, the temple has en enormous dome with a 27-foot oculus that opens to the sky. This oculus lets a shaft of light come through creating an emphasis wherever the reflection is. Visitors were driven nowhere but to the light at the center of the dome. This building was built for greeting foreign embassies, adjudicating disputes and hold court (Janson). Moreover, the Pantheon is extraordinary because of the potential and strength of concrete. Some other materials used in the process of building the temple include travertine, tufa, brick, and pumice. These materials varied in order to reduce its weight. The colored marble on the wall symbolized imperial authority. The sphere is though to symbolize eternity and perfection and the bronze panels symbolized a starry night sky.

The famous historical structure known as the Colosseum is a remarkable piece of architecture that has survived for over nearly two millenniums. It was commissioned by the Emperor Vespasian of the Flavian dynasty as a gift to the people of Rome and completed by his son, Titus in the year 70 A.D. (History, 2009). Since then, the Flavian Amphitheater has gone through lifetimes of changes with chronicles of events. It is one of the most impressive ancient structures that still stand today and is extraordinary because of a multitude of reasons. The Colosseum’s advanced function, structural soundness, as well as its impeccable design contributes to its grandeur. Its initial opening performance did not fail to commemorate its existence, lasting

Architecture is an important aspect of understanding the culture and society of any civilisation. Today I will be looking what similarities and differences can be seen between the Minoan architecture from 1900BC to 1150BC and the Roman architecture from 27BC to 180AD. I’ll be mainly focusing on the palaces of Knossos and Phaistos of Minoan, Crete and The Colosseum ad the Pantheon of Rome.