Roman Civilization: Architecture and Sculpture Legacy

Roman Architecture

The city was a key element of Roman civilization; the process of Romanization was essentially a process of urbanization. Roman towns exhibited a clear, uniform layout, mirroring the organization of military camps. They were laid out in a grid pattern within a defensive perimeter.

Urban Planning and City Layout

• Two main streets, the cardo (north-south) and the decumanus (east-west), formed the primary axes.
• At the ends of these streets were the city gates.
• At their confluence lay the forum, the central hub for political, economic, and religious life.
• Temples, public buildings, and memorials were erected at or around the forum.

The city of Rome itself presented a much more complex layout due to its organic growth, rather than pre-planned design, eventually becoming an agglomeration of a million people.

Practical Urban Solutions

Romans placed great importance on practical urban solutions, including:

• Sewers
• Paving
• Water supply systems

Residential and Public Buildings

• Large public buildings for entertainment (circus, theater, amphitheater) were often situated near the city walls or even outside the enclosure.
• Along the streets, houses could be multi-story apartment blocks (insulae) or single-story private homes (domus).

Roman architecture is notable for its extensive range of structural solutions.

Roman Sculpture

Roman sculpture showed great influence from Hellenistic sculpture; indeed, many Greek statues are known today only through Roman copies. It exhibited a marked realism, contrasting with the idealism of Greek sculpture. Sculpture was often subordinate to architecture.

Influences and Characteristics

• Sculptural works were frequently intended as architectural ornament, such as commemorative reliefs.
• It encompassed two main areas: public and private sculpture.
• Common materials included bronze, stone, and marble.
• Polychromy (the use of multiple colors) was also present.

Key Types: Portraiture

Portraiture gained significant relevance and originality:

• Portraits aimed for fidelity to the subject, even depicting imperfections.
• This interest in preserving ancestral images shows a clear Etruscan influence.
• Only individuals with outstanding achievements for Rome were deemed worthy of a public portrait.

Key Types: Commemorative Reliefs

Commemorative reliefs also acquired great relevance and originality:

• Reliefs commemorating historical events served to celebrate and exalt the social and political order of the Empire.