Tower of Hercules

18:55 Ancient Roman, Empire, Hercules, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman empire, Spain, Tower, Tower of Hercules No Comments

The Tower of Hercules is a tower which was built by the Romans in the centre of A Coruña, Galicia, in north-western Spain in the 2nd century. It is a lighthouse on a peninsula and is 57 metres (187 ft) tall. It is thought to be modelled after the Lighthouse of Alexandria. It is one of the main attractions in north-western part of Spain. It is a beautiful and classic Roman structure and is famous for its unusual supremacy over the Atlantic Ocean. The ancient Roman lighthouse is now seen as a monument and will always be remembered for its beauty. The Tower is now recognised as the oldest and longest standing lighthouse in the worlds history. It was designed by the Portuguese architect Gaius Sevius Lupus.

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The Roman Triumph Arch

21:10 Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Arch, Roman Architecture, Roman Cities, Roman empire, Roman Triumph Arch No Comments

The Triumph Arch was built in many of Roman cities it was a passageway for citizens in the city and was also a monument to illustrate triumph. The arch had 4 entrances from each side and was usually the centre of the city or town. It was first used by the Hittites Empire at around 17th Century BC. The construction of the arch came from Monumental gateways that had been already in use for thousands of years by civilizations such as the Hittites, Assyrians,Babylonians and Myceneans. The Arch was a simple construction the saw two piers from either sides connected with an arch with decorations around that illustrated wars and power. Triumphal arches are one of the most influential and distinctive types of architecture associated with ancient Rome. The Triumph Arch is now popular and is used in modern architecture. Here are some examples of famous modern arches:

- Arc de Triomphe in Paris
- Siegestor in Munich
- Wellington Arch in London

Examples of arches built by the Romans:

- The Arch of Septimius Severus at Leptis Magna
- The Porte Noire in Besançon
- The Arch of Titus in Rome
- The Triumphal Arch of Orange

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Ancient Roman Temples

13:01 Ancient Greek, Ancient Roman, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman Cities, Roman empire, Roman Temples, Temples No Comments

Roman Temples were usually associated with the Greek temple because the Roman period of architecture has developed most of the main factors and techniques that the Greeks have invented.

Ancient Roman temples are among the most visible archaeological remains of Roman culture, and are a significant source for Roman architecture. The reason to their construction was the Roman believe in the Roman and Greek Gods. The cella housed the cult where the Roman citizens used to do their religious practises. Behind the cella was a room or rooms used by temple attendants for storage of equipment and offerings.

The English word "temple" derives from Latin templum, which was originally not the building itself, but a sacred space surveyed and plotted ritually. 

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Roman Insulae

12:55 Ancient Roman, Citizens, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman Cities, Roman empire, Roman Insulae No Comments

Insulae was an ancient Roman apartment building which housed most of the middle classed urban Roman citizens in villages, towns and cities which belonged to the Roman Empire. An Insulae was an apartment which had shops or markets on the ground floor with a entrance from the street. The upper floors were flats and apartment where people used to live. Insulaes were usually built out of stone and had tiles on the rooftops. However the wealthier class of Roman citizens would usually have a separate house or villa. The Roman soldiers and workers would of had an apartment in the Insulae.

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Roman Circus

23:45 Amphitheatre, Ancient Greek, Circus, Greek, mud-brick, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman empire, Stadium No Comments

The circus was another open aired oval venue where people used to see horse and chariot racing. It first appeared in major cities around 500BC and worked it's way to the popularity it holds today. It was made out of mud-brick and stone and the people used to sit on a stair shaped seat. Usually it had a length of 245m to around 621m. Furthermore the venue could hold up over 15,000 people each time. It was developed from the Ancient Greek construction called the Stadium.

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Basilica

21:59 Architecture, Basilica, Christianity, Classical Architecture, Roman Architecture, Roman empire, St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City No Comments

Basilica was usually a public building in the Roman cities. They started to appear regularly in cities around 2nd century BC. They sometimes were represented as important religious buildings and later was really important to the church. It was built using stone and marble. Furthermore it used glass in later stages. Basilicas are now a symbolic place to the Christians as St. Peter's Basilica is located in Vatican City.

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Roman Amphitheatre

22:03 Amphitheatre, Architecture, mud-brick, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman empire No Comments

The amphitheatre was a very important building in the Roman period throughout the Roman Empire. It was an open aired venue where people used to entertain themselves by watching gladiator fights, music and drama. It was usually built from stone or mud-brick and had a capacity of around 45,000 people in total. It also had a luxurious watching places especially for the government. 

  

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Ancient Roman Architecture

22:07 Arena, Roman, Roman Architecture, Roman empire No Comments

Ancient Roman Architecture adopted some aspects that were developed in the Ancient Greek period. They also embedded some knowledge from their Etruscan neighbours that led to solutions such as hydraulics and the construction of arches and domes such as the Patheon. Roman architecture was flourishing and growing all through the great Roman Empire. Roman architects invented a lot of new techniques and new buildings that helped the architecture levels to rise.

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Stoa

15:32 Ancient Greek, Ancient Greek Architecture, Architecture, Athens, Columns, Doric, Ionic, Roman, Roman empire, Stoa No Comments

Stoa is a covered walk through or porticoes that was first constructed and used in Greece and later used in the Roman empire. It was usually for public usage. Early Stoas were open at the entrance with columns, usually of the Doric Order, however was sometimes built using the Ionic Order, lining of the building. It was one of the most popular constructions built in the Greek period. 

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