Roman Architectural Masterpieces: Pantheon and Colosseum

Roman Architectural Masterpieces

Pantheon of Agrippa

Roman architectural work of religious significance. View of the facade and interior of a church whose nave is circular. The façade is preceded by an octastyle Corinthian portico with an entablature consisting of an architrave, a frieze decorated with low-relief flower beds, a prominent cornice, and a triangular pediment where the tympanum is undecorated.

The amazing half-orange cupola traces directly on the thick walls. At the bottom of the slide, the interior of the building or main hall can be seen. The floor is polychrome with geometric shapes. Several altars are seen framed by columns and surmounted by triangular pediments.

Below are shown the circular entablature, quarter vaults, lintels, spans, and areas (topped by pediments and a prominent cornice from which starts the dome). The dome is decorated with coffers descending from high to low. At the vertex or top, an eyepiece of nine meters in diameter provides central lighting to the temple.

Materials:

• Granite
• Brick
• Marble

Chronology:

1st century BC to 2nd century AD (reconstructed the porch).

Auditorium / Colosseum

Roman architectural work of civil or public nature (show). General view of an amphitheater with an elliptical plan. The building consists of 4 floors with a clear layout of arcades (series of arches) framed by columns. It uses overlapping orders:

Overlapping Orders:

1. Upstairs: Tuscan order (column)
2. Second Floor: Ionic order (column)
3. Third Floor: Corinthian order (column)
4. Top Floor: Composite pilasters

Inside, the bleachers or cavea are visible, though badly damaged, as are the vomitoria. The central arena or sand has disappeared, and instead, the underground structures used to house animals and gladiators are visible. It emphasizes a sense of external mass and grandeur.

This amphitheater was commissioned by Vespasian and completed in 80 AD. It served as a prototype and model for subsequent coliseums, intended for the dislocation of gladiators and animals.

Materials:

• Granite
• Marble for brick lining

Title:

Colosseum (Rome)