The ancient sights of Rome can be assessed today very ambiguously. An imposing arena where no form of torture was considered overly cruel. Places of worship where the gods were often worshiped with the help of ritual sacrifices that shock us today. Palaces of amusement, which not only accepted sexual corruption, but even encouraged. The state of Ancient Rome attracts the interest of many researchers and history buffs.

Who were the people who created such grandiose structures in Rome? What drove them to build ever greater monuments and at what cost was it? What were the laws The answers to these questions are very interesting, although we still do not know everything. The ancient landmarks of Rome are truly impressive. Here are some of them.

Coliseum

Crowds of people were attracted to the arena by a bloody performance. Sometimes the Roman Colosseum was attended by up to 50 thousand people. They were all eager to contemplate scenes of indescribable horror. Nobles, priests, senators, emperors, slaves, common people had fun seeing the bloody scenes.

Gladiators fought each other wearing heavy armor. They often beat an opponent to death. In the arena, wild hungry animals were set against each other, and they were released to fight with humans. The goal pursued by the participants in these confrontations was to tear each other to shreds. Some features of Ancient Rome are incomprehensible to us today.

Filling the arena with water

Various types of special effects were used on the stage. These included filling the arena with water to simulate sea battles. How did the ancient Romans manage to fill the Colosseum with water?

Everything is actually quite simple: a system of reservoirs was filled from aqueducts. They were right above the arena, on the slope. These ingenious ancient Romans pumped water down from aqueducts and then through reservoirs to the center of the Colosseum. A more difficult question is how did they manage to pump out the water later?

It is believed that the ancient Romans built a sewer system. However, this question has yet to be answered by researchers, since very little excavations have been carried out in the Colosseum until today. The ancient sights of Rome are still not well understood.

Bloody competitions

Major Roman myths were part of the play. And the worse they were, the better. Christians and criminals were often cast in the most dangerous roles.

In the Roman Colosseum, bloody competition has prevailed since its opening in 72 AD. The opening ceremony was hosted by Emperor Titus. It lasted 100 days. An unprecedented massacre took place on the opening day: about 5 thousand animals were killed.

Colosseum - Gift of Vespasian

The Colosseum is a gift to the Romans from the predecessor and father of Titus. Vespasian, founder of the Flavian dynasty, began to rule in AD 69. This time was a critical moment in the history of Rome. Hundreds of years had passed since the empire was founded by Augustus, and now its future was very dim.

Chaos reigned when the four emperors changed in one year. After that, Vespasian, who ruled Syria, seized power.

A cunning diplomat and hero, he easily won the support of the Senate and was declared emperor. After that, after suppressing the uprising on the Rhine and the Jewish revolt in Jerusalem, he focused on domestic problems.

Vespasian during his ten-year reign saved the treasury from the deficit left by his predecessor Nero. He also began to build a set. The Colosseum became the biggest enterprise. It was conceived as a symbol of Vespasian's success and power.

Colosseum construction

It took more than 10 years to complete the construction. The Colosseum was originally called the Flavius \u200b\u200bAmphitheater. Many handymen and slaves were used to build it. Some of the builders were prisoners whom Vespasian captured, winning the Jerusalem campaign.

Until now, the name of the architect who created the Colosseum is unknown. One of the most striking features of this attraction is its highly sophisticated crowd control system. The amphitheater originally had 80 entrances. They all led to certain sectors. Places were divided into tiers.

The fate of the colosseum

The last games known from written sources took place in the 6th century AD. They ended this fierce competition that amused the once bloodthirsty Romans. After that, the Colosseum was not used for a long time. It was partially destroyed, like many other ancient sights of Rome. A terrible earthquake happened in the 9th century, as a result, most of it was destroyed.

The Colosseum was later used as a quarry. The rich marble cladding was stripped off, which began to be used in the construction of churches and palaces. Some of the four levels that originally existed are still intact. To this day, the Colosseum is a testament to both the cruelty of the ancient Romans and the skill of the people who built the sights of Ancient Rome. It attracts many tourists to Italy.

Pantheon

The temples of ancient Rome are impressive. The most famous of them is the Pantheon. In the 30s of the twentieth century, Benito Mussolini, the Italian dictator, conceived an original propaganda campaign. In particular, he drew parallels between the glory of the new regime and the greatness that the empire of Ancient Rome possessed. This led to many archaeological research and excavations throughout the state. Due to the flooding of the Tiber, sediments of earth appeared on many monuments, which completely covered them. due to its proximity to the river, it was badly damaged. This building was built from about 27 to 23 BC.

Architectural plan discovered by workers

The workers, having gone 6-7 meters into the ground, discovered the pavement, which was made of massive blocks. However, the Second World War soon began, and for some time this discovery was forgotten. Only 20 years later, in 1964, Roman specialists began to study this place again. A full-sized architectural plan was carved into the pavement. Obviously, the courtyard served as a workshop for the construction site. The whole question is for which one.

None of the existing monuments matched the project. One of the specialists solved the riddle in 1992. It seems that these plans were made for the Pantheon. Many parts of the structure coincided exactly, but not all.

First Pantheon

The Pantheon is a famous temple that was built in honor of the emperor, as well as for the worship of the gods of Rome. What we see now is not the first Pantheon. The temple was originally conceived by Marcus Agrippa, a domineering Roman general. Construction began in 27 BC and was completed two years later. However, in 64 A.D. a great fire destroyed the Pantheon.

Rebuilding the Pantheon

After that, in 118 CE, rebuilding began, led by He was an amateur architect who participated in many of the building projects of Rome.

The Pantheon was built after 10 years of work. Adrian dedicated the building to its first builder. That is why the name of Marcus Agrippa is visible on the facade.

The Pantheon has a huge rotunda made of brick and stone, as well as a vault that forms a dome. The Pantheon is a square structure, 43 meters high and wide. Its walls are 7.5 meters thick, and each of the bronze doors weighs 20 tons.

Where now there are paintings on biblical motives, there used to be marble statues of the gods of Rome.

Baths of Caracalla

The sights of Ancient Rome also include the Baths of Caracalla. These antique baths are similar to modern wellness centers. They are the largest and most richly decorated of all public baths built in ancient Rome. Their construction began by Septimius Severus in 206 A.D. And the construction was completed in 216. Opened by the son of Septimius.

Term decorations, their use

These buildings of Ancient Rome were really richly decorated: walls lined with marble, mosaic floors, stucco ceilings.

The baths occupied a large and beautifully decorated area, which was used as a gymnasium. Here men went in for sports: throwing a javelin, disc, boxing. The entrance to the baths was free even for slaves. Initially, women and men washed together, but at the beginning of the 2nd century Adrian forbade it.

The invasion is ready, the destruction of the terms

These buildings of Ancient Rome continued to be used until 535 AD. At this time, the Goths invaded and broke the aqueduct. The same fate befell the baths of Caracalla, like many other monuments of Ancient Rome. They were partially destroyed. The large sums required for their repair disappeared when the empire collapsed, the surrounding world, familiar to the inhabitants, disappeared. Ancient Rome was a thing of the past.

In the Middle Ages, marble and bronze were stripped from the walls, and the beautiful sculptures that adorned the baths ended up in the collections of the popes and aristocracy.

Forum

Not much has survived from the majestic Roman Forum. It was the center of Rome's life. The Forum appeared in the 4th century BC. In its place today only fragments of some monuments, many overturned stones and a couple of vaults have survived. We note right away that the imperial forums adjoin the Roman forum, which are not part of the Roman one, although they are similar to it both in purpose and in name.

Reconstruction of the forum by August

The construction of the forum was accidental. There was no systematic plan. Therefore, the forum lacked harmony. During the time of Augustus, it was completely renovated. This emperor removed most of the structures, while paving and expanding the territory. Now, how the forum looked during the period of the republic is a mystery. Many buildings were made of wood, so they were demolished or destroyed. August used only stone and cement for construction.

Vestals

Temples of Ancient Rome on the forum include a temple dedicated to It was for the Roman people one of the most important and ancient goddesses. They tied her to the heart, as well as to fire. It was believed that this fire represented the spiritual strength of the entire country. Priestesses served her, who made sure that the fire did not go out. They always had to remain virgins, otherwise they would face execution. The Vestals lived near the temple. They were chosen from aristocratic families aged 6 to 10 years. For 30 years they had to serve at the temple. After the end of their service, these women were thus at least 36 years old. To many, they seemed too old to marry. Most vestals remained priestesses for the rest of their lives.

It far surpassed the models created by the Greeks in grandeur, functionalism and scale. The invention of good cement played an important role here. But no less important was the pride of the emperors, who over the centuries tried to surpass their predecessors, erecting ever more majestic, grandiose and richly decorated monuments.

The Roman state goes through a difficult path of development. It first conquered Italy (V-III centuries BC), then Carthage (II century BC) and, finally, Greece (II century BC).

The architecture of Ancient Rome changed noticeably throughout the existence of this powerful state.

Many features formed the basis of Roman art. The predecessors of the Romans were the Etruscans. In the middle of the first millennium, they already had their own culture. The Etruscan temples are similar to the Greek peripteres, but the front facade is more emphasized in them: in front of the entrance there is a platform with columns, and a multi-stage staircase leads to it. When erecting gates, the Etruscans often use a semicircular arch, which the Greeks almost did not know. Their houses had a room in the center with an open square hole in the roof in the middle and walls black with soot. Apparently there was a hearth. This gave reason to call this room an atrium (from the word "ater" - "black").

Atrium - a room with a hole in the roof

In culture, the official state trend of a Hellenized society and folk tastes dating back to the Italic past collide.

In general, the Roman state is isolated, opposed to a private person. It was famous for its management system and law.

The army was the foundation of world power. The supreme power was concentrated in the hands of the generals, who had little regard for the national and national interests, and the cities were built on the model of camps.

According to the views of Vitruvius (the treatise was written in 27-25 BC), architecture falls into two categories: construction and proportions (the ratio of individual parts of the building serves as its basis). And the aesthetic principle is only in the order, the columns attached to the structures.

In the era of Augustus (30 BC - 14 AD), such architectural monuments as the "square house" in Nimes (South France) or the Temple of Fortune Virilis, belonging to the type of pseudo-peripter, were built. The pseudoperipter is similar to the peripter, but the cella is pushed back a little. The temple is placed on a high podium; a wide staircase leads to its entrance (this determines the similarity of the pseudo-peripter with Etruscan temples). Only in the Roman temple are the classical forms of the order more strictly observed: fluted columns, Ionian capitals, entablature.

Maison Carré "Square House" in Nimes (France). 1st century BC e.

Temple of Fortune Virilis. 1st century BC e.

Types of dwellings of rich townspeople

The uniqueness of Roman architecture resonated even more strongly in a new type of dwelling in the spirit of eclecticism: the Italian atrium and the Hellenistic peristyle. The richest Pompeian buildings, such as the houses of Panza, Faun, Loreus Tiburtin, Vettii, belong to this type. The peristyle served more as a decoration for a rich estate than as a place for the diverse life of its inhabitants, as it was in the houses of Greece.

Unlike the Greek dwelling, all the premises were lined up in a strict order on the sides of its main axis.

Atrium

Peristyle of the house of the Vettii, view from the side of the large triclinium.

Portico and garden in the house of Lorey Tiburtin

House of the Faun (Villa of Publius Sulla). Present time

House of the Faun (Villa of Publius Sulla). It was like this before

Villa of Publius Sulla (House of the Faun). Inner garden with peristyle and Ionic order

Pompeian villas enchant with the high perfection of the applied arts. But a lot of vanity and tasteless luxury slip through there: painting the walls with copies of the famous Greek paintings of the 4th century, imitating Egyptian flat decorations, or, conversely, creating a deceptive impression of windows.

The era of Augustus is characterized by stylization and eclecticism. Among the best monuments of this time is the Altar of Peace at the Forum. The difference between the relief is immediately striking: the figures are placed in several plans, which makes them picturesque, but between the figures one does not feel space, air, light environment, as in Hellenistic reliefs.

The Altar of Peace, built in honor of the Goddess of Peace. Indoor museum.

Relief of one of the walls of the altar

The classical current under Augustus was the main one, but not the only one. In the II century. BC. supporters of the Old Testament antiquity opposed the imitation of the Greeks.

Engineering structures. Aqueducts

Among the Roman monuments, there is a large section dedicated to engineering structures. Thus, many elements of the improvement of cities appeared: the paved Appian Way, the aqueduct, the aqueduct.

The Garde Bridge at Nimes Pont du Gard

Pompeii. Italy

Rome

Lead plumbing

Forum

Art becomes, in the hands of sovereigns, a means of strengthening its authority. Hence the spectacular nature of the architectural structures, the large scale of construction, the addiction to the huge size. There was more shameless demagoguery in Roman architecture than genuine humanism and a sense of beauty.

The most magnificent type of building was the forum. Every emperor strove to immortalize himself with such a structure.

The forum of Emperor Trajan reaches almost the size of the Athenian acropolis. But in their design, the acropolis and the forum are profoundly different. The prim order, the addiction to strict symmetry, are expressed on a huge scale.

Forum of Emperor Trajan. Italy

The Roman builders operated not with volumes, like the builders of the Athenian acropolis, but with open interiors, within which small volumes (columns and temples) stood out. This increased role of the interior characterizes the Roman forum as a stage of great historical significance in the development of world architecture.

Forum, in the center - the columns of the Temple of Saturn, behind them the triumphal arch of Septimius Severus

The photo on the left shows the Basilica of Maxentius and Constantine, the largest building ever built on the forum in 312.

The Temple of Peace, also known as Forum of Vespasian (Latin: Forum Vespasiani), was built in Rome in 71 AD. e.

Tabularia building (state archives) at the forum, 78 BC e. - the earliest surviving structure, in which the system of the Roman architecture of the cell was applied, which combined two opposing structural principles - a beam and a vaulted structure.

Urban planning

Roman cities like Ostia in Italy or Timgrad (in Africa), in the strict correctness of their plan, resemble military camps. Straight streets are lined with rows of columns that accompany any movement in the city. The streets culminate in huge triumphal arches. Living in such a city meant always feeling like a soldier, being in a state of mobilization.

Timgrad is an ancient Roman city in North Africa, located on the territory of modern Algeria. A.D. 100 e.

Triumphal arches

Triumphal arches were a new type of Roman architecture. One of the best is the Arch of Titus. The arches were erected in order to serve as a memory of victories among generations. In the construction of this arch, there are two types of order: one implied - on which rests a semicircular arch, separated from it by a cornice; another order, marked by mighty semi-columns, is placed on a high podium and gives the whole architecture the character of pompous solemnity. Both orders penetrate each other; the cornice of the first one merges with the cornices of the niches. For the first time in the history of architecture, a building is formed from the relationship of two systems.

The Romans' addiction to the impression of heaviness and strength is reflected in the arch of Titus in the huge entablature and attic. Harsh shadows from the cornice add tension and strength to the architectural forms.

Amphitheaters

The amphitheaters served as an arena for entertaining and spectacular performances for the crowded crowd: gladiator performances, fist competitions. Unlike the Greek theaters, they did not provide high artistic impressions. For example, the Colosseum building, which had 80 exits and this allowed spectators to quickly fill the rows and just as quickly get out. Inside, the Colosseum makes an irresistible impression with its clarity and simplicity of forms. From the outside, it was decorated with statues. The entire Colosseum expressed restraint, at the same time impressive. For this, its three open tiers are crowned with a fourth, more massive one, dissected only by flat pilasters.

Colosseum (Flavian amphitheater) today. Year of construction -80 n. e.

The original appearance of the Colosseum

Colosseum inside

In the construction of the Pantheon, all the centuries-old experience of Roman construction was used: its double walls with rubble mass inside, unloading arches, a dome with a diameter and height of 42 m. Such a huge artistically designed space has never been known to architecture. The special strength of the Pantheon lies in the simplicity and integrity of its architectural compositions. It does not have a complex gradation of scales, an increase in features, which give increased expressiveness.

Thermes

The needs of urban life were created in the middle of the 1st century. AD a new type of buildings - thermae. These buildings met a variety of needs, from body culture to the need for mental nourishment and solitary contemplation. Outside, the baths were of little interest. The main thing in them is. With a large variety of plan forms, the builders subordinated them to symmetry. The walls were faced with marble - red, pink, purple or pale green.

Ruins of the baths of the emperor Caracalla (Antonin baths). III century (212-217 years)

The history of ancient art ends with Roman art.

September 25, 2018

One of the most popular tourist routes for a great many travelers is a visit to the Eternal City - a majestic, with a long history and a huge cultural heritage. The architecture of Ancient Rome amazes with its monumentality, surprises with its age and simply delights. Thanks to the work of hundreds of thousands of people of various professions, today for us ancient Rome is not only illustrations in a history textbook, but a whole unknown world.

Aqueducts

Another important component of the architecture of Ancient Rome and a vital element, without which the development of the city would be impossible, is the water supply system. Impressive in size water conduits, which are based on the same arch, are still functioning.

Ponte Mulvio is another ancient bridge in Rome that has survived to this day. In ancient times, it was located outside the city. The streets of Flaminia, Cassia and Clodia led to it - the main highways connecting the northern cities of the Empire with its center.

Triumphal arches

Many rulers of Rome, who fought for the expansion and power of the Empire, did not hesitate to erect monumental triumphal arches in honor of their own merits. In ancient Rome, such structures glorified the emperor as a commander and defender of the homeland, perpetuated the memory of his grandiose victories and conquests, served as symbols of military power and political domination.

Triumphal arches, demonstrating the engineering and technical progress and artistic tastes of the Romans, were installed throughout the Empire: from Germany and Spain to North Africa and Asia Minor. In Rome itself, you can see several monuments of glory that have survived to this day, which are still in excellent condition.

Architecture of Ancient Rome - the principles of organizing architectural space that arose in the Roman Empire in the II century. BC. - VI century AD The architecture of Ancient Rome was structured and centralized. All cities were created around one center, consisting of a forum, basilica, thermal baths, amphitheaters, temples to ancient gods, triumphal arches, administrative buildings, statues, schools.

The main center of architecture in Ancient Rome was the forum - an area for meetings, festivities, oratory, etc.

One of the main achievements of the architecture of Ancient Rome was the creation of concrete, consisting of wild stone, lime, volcanic ash and pumice. Thanks to the new incredibly strong building material, the architects of Rome were able to erect multi-storey buildings. Such buildings were often complemented by rich sculptural decor, the main motifs of which were the symbols of Roman culture - lions, eagles, laurel leaves, wolves, etc.

The Triumphal Arch of Constantine, dedicated to the victories of the emperor, is based on an arched vault - also one of the main discoveries of the architecture of Ancient Rome.

Unlike Greek architecture, the architecture of Ancient Rome was represented by more monolithic forms. That is why, to strengthen the structures, Roman architects began to use curved ceilings and supports, arches, which in a primitive form were presented in the architecture of Mesopotamia. It is the rows of arcades supporting the foundations of bridges and the facades of amphitheatres that characterize the architecture of Ancient Rome.

The ancient Roman aqueduct of Pont-duzh-Gard in France, which consists of two tiers of arcades along which channels for water are laid.

Aqueducts were also one of the most characteristic architectural achievements of Ancient Rome. Stone canals leading from mountain springs led to the settlements at a slight slope, creating a complex hydraulic system. The aqueducts were arched bridges, the design of which later became the model for railway and other transport bridges.

The Roman Pantheon, a temple to the ancient gods, which is a rotunda with a massive columnar portico, is one of the characteristic structures for the architecture of Ancient Rome, which later became one of the most popular in many architectural styles.

Also, one of the greatest achievements of representatives of the architecture of Ancient Rome was the creation of vaulted structures. Connected arches reinforcing the ceiling formed a vault, and a series of arches in the form of a closed circle formed a dome. These structures became the basis for all subsequent architectural trends.

The architecture of Ancient Rome is based on two great civilizations - Greek and Etruscan. The Etruscans had excellent technologies for the construction of temples, houses, tombs. It was they who introduced the arch and vault. But, unlike the Greek ones, the Etruscan temples were built from short-lived materials, so little has survived to this day.

Etruscan Arch in Perugia, Italy

Nevertheless, there are objects, studying which you can get a lot of information about this culture. It is known that the supporting structure of the buildings was made of wood, bricks and terracotta coverings were used.

The Etruscan Arch in Perugia is an intact example of a city gate.

Architecture of Ancient Rome: periods

Real Roman architecture, with original features that rework Etruscan and Greek influences, is defined from the 2nd century BC.

Roman Monarchy architecture

It is believed that Rome was founded in 753 BC. At the beginning of its history, Rome was a monarchy. According to tradition, after the reign of Romulus, King Numa Pompilius ascended the throne, who improved the organization of the city's territory. He was succeeded by Tullus Hostilius, an experienced Latin warrior who conquered nearby cities. The fourth king was Anco Marzio, who built the port of Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber.

Etruscan rulers followed - Tarquinius Priscus ordered to cover the market square with stone, Foro, built numerous temples and ordered to dig the sewage system of Cloaca Maxima to discharge dirty water. Servius Tullius surrounded the city with a wall.

The monarchy ended with the reign of Lucius Tarquinius the Proud, who was expelled from the city in 509 BC, and Rome became a republic.

Architecture of the Roman Republic

During the republic, which lasted almost five centuries, Rome was always at war. After the conquest of the Etruscans and other peoples living in the territory of today's Italy, the Roman Republic conquered the territories of Greece and other countries of the Mediterranean Sea. Construction was actively carried out. Good roads were needed to move the army; many were built. Road (lat. strata) was formed from several layers (ital. strato) and its surface was covered with stone slabs.

The architecture of the period of the Roman Republic is of great importance practical and functional aspects buildings.

Roman Empire architecture

After the Roman Republic was replaced by the Roman Empire in 31 BC, there was a long period of prosperity for art and architecture. Under the emperor Augustus, then under Troyan and Hadrian, the architecture of the Roman Empire reached its splendor and played an important role in the propaganda of power.

There is extensive evidence relating to architecture, where the Romans demonstrate excellent skills in construction techniques, sculpture (portraits, reliefs that complement architecture), painting (frescoes, mosaics).

Christian era architecture

The period of barbarian invasions marks the decline of Roman architecture. A new era is coming - the Christian.

Main characteristics of Roman architecture

1. In Roman architecture, there is certainly a great continuity with greek art - symmetry, regularity of forms, the use of architectural orders (Doric, Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian). In fact, instead of the Doric order, the Romans used the Tuscan order ( tuscanico / toscano), which is very similar to him, the only difference was that the column was smooth, without grooves ( flute).
2. From the Etruscans the Romans adopted arches and vaults, becoming the main experts in their use. During the erection of the arch and vaults, a temporary wooden structure was used for support - centinatura ( centinatura). From a large number of arches, standing one after another, the Romans formed a cylindrical vault ( volta a botte), and the intersection of two cylindrical vaults formed a groin vault ( volta a crociera). The first builders of real domes were also the Romans. One of the most beautiful domed Vaults is the Pantheon.

Materials and technologies

The Romans used bricks to build walls, arches, columns, floors. Marble, as an expensive material, was used much less often. The variety of brick shapes - elongated, square, triangular, pyramidal - helped create strong structures and grips.

Brick production was also expensive and required a lot of manpower for masonry.

This is why they were often replaced with blocks of tuff and travertine, or other materials. To speed up the construction of the walls, the Romans began to use artificial conglomerate or Roman concrete ( calcestruzzo).

The concrete was poured into wooden formwork, compacted with a rammer and, after it hardened, the formwork was removed. This method of building walls was called opus caementicium.

When the same technology was used to fill the cavities of two bearing walls made of brick or stone, it was called muratura a sacco... Thus, the Romans received thick, strong walls, saving time and resources. Technique was not reflected in aesthetics, as the concrete part was inside.

External wall masonry can be characterized by the main building traditions -

• opus quadratum,
• opus reticulatum,
• opus incertum,
• opus latericium.

Opus quadratum

When working with material such as soft tuff, large parallelepiped stones were cut and arranged in rows of equal height (opus quadratum); if a hard limestone such as traventino was used, each element took on its own polygonal shape (opus poligonalis).

Оpus reticulatum

In this technique, cement was poured between walls formed by small pyramidal stone blocks, the bases of which formed a regular diamond-shaped grid.

Оpus incertum

IN opus incertum the stones are irregularly shaped, and their arrangement seems almost random.

Opus latericium

Fired rectangular bricks (about 45 cm x 30 cm) were laid in alternating order. Since the era of Augustus, its use has increased. Due to the fact that the thickness of the bricks and their color changed over time, it is easy to establish the chronological order of architectural structures.

Opus mixtum

Although the brick was usually used uniformly (opus testaceum), there are examples of its use with other stones and rows of other masonry, creating an opus mixtum.

Architecture and urban planning (urban planning)

Here are two different examples -

1. the city of Rome itself, which is unique in its development,
2. and the construction of new cities.

The layout of most ancient Roman cities was rectangularbased on the principle of temporary legionary camps - castrum.

Namely, settlements were broken up and built up along two main streets - Cardo (oriented from north to south) and Decumanus (from east to west). The intersection of these streets was designated for the main square of the city - Foro.

Roads, water pipes, sewerage systems, bridges were built in cities. Various buildings were built:

• residential houses (Domus, Insulae and Villas);
• for recreation (theaters, amphitheaters, circuses and baths);
• intended for the worship of gods (temples);
• for political and administrative activities (Curia and Basilica)
• and festive monuments (triumphal arches and columns).

A short video review of the reconstruction of the architecture of Ancient Rome: