Roman Civilization

CMS 206 /History 206   

Analysis of Chapter 2: "Civic and Other Roman Buildings" from Ian M. Burton's Roman Public Buildings  

Roman Civic Design and Architecture from Republican Rome to Imperial Rome  

In this analysis of Roman civic design and architecture, I will be examining its progression by categorizing the stages of development into four categories: Republican Italy, Republican Rome, Augustan Rome, and Imperial Rome. By doing so, I hope to chart how political prominence affected Roman civic design.

During the time of the Republic, small Italian towns outside of Rome were already well advanced due to Greek influence. By the first century, according to Vitruvius the characteristic urban center would consist of: a forum and basilica, treasury, prison, council-house, theater, bath, palaestra, harbor, and shipyard. The center of town would be loosely arranged around a forum. This was an obvious attempt to incorporate Greek city-structure into the Roman city. In Greek culture, the forum would serve as the dignified hub of everyday political and social life. During the same period of time, Rome was experiencing new transformations. Republican Rome marked the beginning of a gradual adoption of concrete to be used as constructional material. The use of concrete made possible the construction of larger, more durable buildings. It also allowed for Romans to use their creativity in architecture, which later meant the popularity of building vaulted interiors and domed roofs. The earliest datable concrete has been found in the substructures of the temple of the Magna Mater on the Palentine, dedicated in 191BC. The use of concrete was especially apparent in the construction of the Porticus Aemilia. The Porticus Aemilia, built in 174BC, was a large warehouse near the Tiber River consisting of fifty barrel-vaulted bays divided from each other by seven concrete arches.

The introduction of concrete into Roman society also marked the beginnings of mass industrial methods of building, which was stimulated in part to the demand generated by the booming Roman economy and suited to execution by a large slave labor force. It was also at this time when we see the origins of the complex of the Curia (senate house) and Comitium (ceremonial meeting area). The Curia was traditionally placed right in front of the Comitium and, along with the first erected basilica, provided an architectural example for smaller Roman cities.

During the Augustan period of Rome, great public buildings passed from being used a method of self-advertisement to being used as an instrument of political power. With the intensified struggle for power during the last fifty years of the Republic, competition for status and influence took hold of society. Because of this, people competed to fund and oversee the erection of public buildings. At this time, it can be noticed that structures bore the name of the erector.

It was also at this point in history when Julius Caesar sought to make improvements in the facilities and appearances of the haphazardly arranged forum in Rome. To do this, Caesar moved the Basilica Julia to the west side of the forum replacing some small shops. In addition to this, he bought up and destroyed property lying behind and to the north of his Curia so that he could build a rectangular forum. He surrounded this forum with porticoes on three sides. On the fourth side was the Temple of Venus Genetrix. In order to improve the appearance of his new structures, Caesar introduced methods of utilitarian architecture by using marble in his newer civic buildings.

At the time of Augustus, we can see the earliest concrete domes in Roman architecture. Most notably was the dome capping the Thermae of Agrippa. However, the most notable feature of Augustan design was the attention to the civic heart of Rome. By 12BC, Augustus had completed the Curia Julia, Basilica Julia, and Basilica Paulli. At the southeast end of the Republican forum, he closed off the gaps by constructing the Temple of Divine Julius. On both sides of the temple were Augustus' Actran and Parthian Arches.

Above all else, Augustus' greatest architectural achievement was the construction of his own forum. The setup was somewhat similar to that of Caesar with the temple on a high podium at one end. However, Augustus' forum was slightly irregular at the eastern end since he had not been able to buy up all the land he wanted. To conceal this, the temple was pushed back against the eastern wall. Architecturally, the workmanship of detailing these marble buildings was exquisite. Although he loved the use of marble, Augustus was rather conservative in design. The buildings at this time were architecturally plain as compared with the aggressiveness and self-indulgence of recent times.

Finally, during the time of the Empire, Rome had both the ability and wealth to construct great buildings. The next building of significant importance was the set of Thermae built by Nero in AD 62 on the Campus Martius. These imperial baths were immediately followed by the thermae of Titus and Trajan. Trajan's Thermae were four times the size of those of Titus, although they were soon outdone by those of Caracalla and Diocletian. The previous three Thermae were constructed so they each had a huge hall, which was cross-vaulted in three bays and supported on one massive pier. None had walls. Instead, great vaulted roofs allowed for well-lit central rooms. Affirming the importance of the interior over the exterior of the buildings, each Therma's central room gleamed of magnificent mosaic and marble.

It was also during this time when the last of the imperial fora were constructed. The Forum of Trajan broke away from the configuration of Caesar and Augustus, by replacing the temple with a grand basilica. Otherwise the fora were quite similar. Trajan added more shops to his forum and indulged in more intricate design. Most notable was his cross-vaulting and tremendous height, admitting light into the halls. In sum, the architectural style and city design changed with each new ruler. Despite humble beginnings, Rome eventually became a super-power and constructed buildings to represent its newfound wealth and prosperity.