Influence of Ancient Rome on Architecture - Essay Example

Influence of Ancient Rome on Architecture Historians, architects, lawyers, and anthropologist agree that the society we live in today have significantly been influenced by the ancient Rome. This is because their influence can be felt from the establishment of liberal governments, literature, development of laws, and architecture. Their influence is also alleged to have led to the spread of Christianity all over the world1. The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence that the ancient Rome on architecture. Rodgers argues that the beauty of the architectural works of the ancient Romans can still be felt in the society today, after more than 2000 years2. In fact, some of their great architectural works still stand strong in major towns and cities across the globe. However, one is left wondering whether the modern architectural works would withstand the test of time and last long as the structures build in the ancient Rome. The great work of the Romans can still be seen and emulated because of the superior architectural ideas and engineering skills they used and the kind of reputation they built put of their great work that certainly made them conquer the world, influence and rule it for this long. Jenkins reveals that the Romans did their architectural works with a lot of dedication and professionalism with the aim of producing a useful architecture3. To ensure that this is accomplished, they ensured that thorough planning was done before starting any construction works. It is for this reason that buildings, bridges, marketplaces, cities and harbors contracted by the Romans are still admirable to much architecture to date and are adopting their styles in the construction according to Jenkins4. Brown notes that the Romans employed different styles in their building, which influenced many architectural pieces5. The arch is a perfect example, which is a structure made using a mixture of the bricks, stone, and concrete. The arch was meant to give strength to or support buildings. The arches were mainly blocks, which are wedge-shaped and were to be supported using wooden materials during construction. The arches created by the ancient Romans were very strong and could withstand a lot of weight. To ensure that this is so, they used a mixture of volcanic sand and lime to create a strong and durable concrete. The strong concretes made from these mixtures were then be used to build strong and beautiful structures like the aqueducts used for supplying water to the major cities as noted by Brown6. Immediately after this remarkable accomplishment, other cultures began imitating the Roman Arch. Among those who adopted the Roman arch first were the Romanesque Architects of Western Europe and Byzantine architects of Eastern Europe according to Webb7. These groups of architects are said to have adopted that use of the Roman arch, which they imitated and used continually. Other cultures said to have been influenced by the Roman arch are found in the Arab world particularly Muslims. It is revealed that Muslims used the Roman arch technology to develop the scalloped, pointed Horseshoe arches mainly dominant in mosques. Despite having modified the Roman arch to some extent, the borrowing itself is a manifestation that the Roman architect would have a lasting influence in the society. Anderson notes that the Roman arch helped a great deal in solving certain problems especially those related to arches that were not strong enough to withstand heavy weights8. The success of the Roman arch also led to other developments such as the vaults used for making ceilings and the dome, which is a spherical ceiling such as the Roman Pantheon. The influence of the arch, dome and vault all combined can still be seen throughout history. It is argued that, without the three, probably the Taj Mahal in India, the Gothic cathedrals like France’s Chartres and the Washington DC’s Capital building could not have been built. These features are still common in most buildings even today. It is also said that American architects have been influenced by Roman architectures. One area where American architects are said to have borrowed the ancient Roman architecture is in the courtrooms9. It is argued that most courthouses throughout the US are to some extent based on the Roman architecture. This can evidently be seen in the U.S Supreme Court constructed long time ago10. The court is said to have adopted the Roman Temple design most evidently from its raised podium and the staircase. In this regard, it is noted that the design of building resemble those of the ancient Roman Temple because since Cass Gilbert also constructed freestanding columns at the front of the building, which is a characteristic of the Roman Temples. In addition, the courthouse is also said to have been dressed in marbles, which is also a characteristic of ancient Roman architecture11. The ancient Romans are also said to have influenced the construction of western monuments, which are constructed based on the Roman forms. One such is the Washington Square Arch whose form and makeup is said to have adopted that Roman Triumphal Arches. The other is the Washington monument in Baltimore whose construction was purely based on Trajan Column12. Most city planning are also said to have borrowed their concept from the Romans. In this regard, Hall notes that the Romans were usually involved in vigorous city-building activities, in a bid to consolidate their empire. As a result, they laid out a variety of planned grids to give them the right city plan they desired. The architectural design used in planning the roman cities involved the application of compact space that allows ease of movement within the city by vehicles, and humans. Grant notes that they also considered the effects of urban expansion and growth in business as they did their planning activities13. It is the concept of the Roman architects that were used in designing major cities including Washington D.C., London, and Paris. Most buildings in Washington D.C., for instance, are said to have been designed based on Roman planning. This is particularly seen from the manner I’ Enfant designed the city using the axial planning technique of the ancient Romans right from the Capitol Building, through to the Washington monument, and the Lincoln Memorial as reported by Grant14. The architectural works of the ancient Romans are also said to have had a lot of influence in France as seen during the reign of Napoleon, who decided to emulate Rome architecture in Paris15. One such structure commissioned by Napoleon that incorporated the Romans architectural designs is the Arch de Triomphe. The design used in putting up this building is thought to be Roman in origin, right from the design, the use of the dome and the vault16. Another area where Napoleon introduced Roman’s architect was in the construction of Place Vendome monument in Paris where the monument is said to have been constructed based on Trajan Column of the ancient Roman. What is evident in the moment is that at its top is Napoleon’s statue, who is dressed in the Roman Empire style that is like the Trajan. Finally, the influence of the Roman architecture in France can be seen through the construction of Pierre-Alexandre Vignon whose works are said to have been dominated by the ancient Roman designs and styles. Many people are left wondering more than 2000 years how the Romans managed to develop such a strong and powerful empire whose influence is still felt to date especially in the architectural field. It is unimaginable how they even managed to overtake their perceived foes, the Greeks because of their superiority and ability to do exceptional works. One thing that certainly made the Romans have such a great influence in the world is their superior skills particularly in architecture and engineering. Through their exceptional work, they were able to bring water to the cities they entered into using the aqueduct, which remains inspirational to those whose lives were improved by such great architectural work. This was later emulated by other architectures all over the world that were impressed by search great achievements. In conclusion, it is certainly true that the ancient Rome did influence the architectures significantly. The influence can be seen in city planning, buildings of houses, monuments, as well as in the courtrooms and religious places. This is because the structures have several characteristic of the ancient Roman architects, from the design, materials used and the planning. Furthermore, some of the modern architects confessed having been influenced by the Roman architects. Bibliography Anderson, William The Architecture of Ancient Rome. London, B.T. Batsford Ltd., 1927. Brown, Frank E. Roman Architecture. New York, George Braziller, 1961.  Grant, Michael. The World of Rome. Cleveland. Hackensack, NJ: The World Publishing Company, 1960. Hall, Lee. “Ancient Roma Art and Architecture”, 2012, (accessed 17 October 2012) http://www.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3753873 Jenkins, Richard. The Legacy of Rome. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1992.  employees.oneonta.edu. “Roman Power / Roman Architecture”, 2012 (accessed 17 October 2012) http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth200/politics/roman_architecture.html Rodgers, Nigel. Roman Architecture: An Expert Visual Guide To The Glorious Classical Heritage Of Ancient Rome. New York, NY: Southwater, 2006. Stamper, John W. Architecture of Roman Temples: The Republic to the Middle Empire. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Szasz, Colin. The Influence of Roman Engineering and Architecture. McGill University, School of Architecture, n.d. (accessed 17 October 2012) http://www.arch.mcgill.ca/prof/sijpkes/arch304/winter2001/cszasz/u1/roman.htm Webb, Mathew. “Roman World. University of Maryland”, n.d. (accessed 17 October 2012) http://ablemedia.com/ctcweb/consortium/webbromans3.html Read More