A message about any structure of ancient Rome. Types of Roman public buildings and engineering structures. Architectural structures of Ancient Rome

The architecture of Ancient Rome is hereditary in nature. It rests on the achievements of ancient Greek architects. The colossal territory stretching from the British Isles to Egypt played an important role in shaping the culture of the empire. The conquered provinces (Syria, Gaul, Ancient Germany, etc.) enriched the creativity of Roman builders with local features.

The architecture of Ancient Rome was the result of the development of the art of ancient civilization. It gave rise to many new types of buildings: libraries, villas, archives, palaces.

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Republican;

Imperial.

Roman architects were inspired by the works of craftsmen from the occupied territories, who were brought to the capital of the empire. They especially admired the achievements of the Greeks and studied their philosophy, poetry, and oratory. Greek architects and sculptors flocked to Rome. The first sculptures were created as Greek copies.

The Romans, unlike their neighbors the Greeks, poets and philosophers, had a utilitarian character. These were conquerors, lawyers and builders. Therefore, the architecture of Ancient Rome was of an applied nature. It reached its greatest flourishing in engineering buildings: bridges, baths, aqueducts, roads.

E The stages of development of the architecture of Ancient Rome can be divided into four periods:

First of which covers the time from the founding of Rome to the middle of the 2nd century. BC e. This time was still poor in buildings, and even those that arose then were of a purely Etruscan character. Most of the constructions in the early days of the Roman state were undertaken for public benefit. These were the canals for the sewerage of the city, with the main tunnel - the Great Cloaca, which carried water and sewage from the low-lying parts of Rome to the Tiber, beautiful roads, among other things, the Appian Way, magnificently paved with large, tightly fitted stones, aqueducts, the Mamertine prison and the first basilicas.

Second period

The type of basilica received its full development in the second period of Roman architecture, in which the Greek influence, which had even before begun to penetrate it, was already very strongly reflected in it. This period, lasting from the middle of the 2nd century. before the fall of republican rule (that is, until 31 BC), was also marked by the appearance in Rome of the first marble temples, whereas previously temples were built from local volcanic rocks, piperine and travertine; at the same time, such buildings, both in plan and design, began to resemble Greek ones, although they always retained some differences from them.

The Roman temple of this and subsequent eras usually consisted of one cella of an oblong, quadrangular shape, standing on a high foundation, and to which a staircase led only from one, short, front side. Climbing these stairs, you find yourself in a portico with columns, in the depths of which there is a door leading to the cella, which receives light only through this door when it is open.

Sometimes the columns decorated only the portico of the temple (prostyle); sometimes the sides of the cella (genus periptera) were also furnished nearby, but they were not present on the back side; sometimes, instead of real columns, half-columns protruding from the walls of the cella (genus pseudoperiptera) were used. The roof of the building was always gable, with a triangular pediment above the portico.

Along with similar sanctuaries of the Greek type, the Romans built, in honor of certain deities, round temples, which were their own invention, introducing into them, however, many Greek elements.

Of the temples belonging to the period under consideration, we can point to the preserved to a certain extent Temple of Portunus - a pseudo-peripter with a portico of heavy Ionic style and the round Temple of Vesta, furnished with 20 columns of the not yet fully developed Roman-Corinthian style, with a low cone-shaped roof made of marble tiles.

Third period

The third, most brilliant period in the history of Roman architecture begins with the seizure of sovereignty over the republic by Augustus and continues until the death of Emperor Hadrian, that is, until 138 AD.

At the same time, the Romans began to widely use concrete. New types of buildings appeared, for example, basilicas, where trade transactions were carried out and courts were held, circuses, where chariot competitions took place, libraries, places for games, for walks, surrounded by a park. A new type of monumental structure emerges - the triumphal arch. Improving arch construction techniques contributes to the active construction of aqueducts and bridges. Typically Roman, however, are the triumphal arches and columns abounding in sculpture, erected in honor of imperial victories and conquests. Even more impressive is the Roman engineering prowess in the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, sewers and fortifications.

Roman art was inferior to Greek art in grace of proportions, but not in technical skill. The construction of two of the most famous Roman monuments dates back to this period: the Colosseum (the largest amphitheater of the ancient world), one of the many grandiose structures erected by the Romans throughout the empire, and the Pantheon, a temple in the name of all the gods. The walls, ceilings and floors of public buildings, as well as the palaces of emperors and rich houses of private individuals were decorated with paintings or mosaics. In architecture, the Romans also lacked the Greek sense of style and taste, but they were more technically skilled in the construction of arches, vaults and domes. Construction was carried out in huge trenches, as the vast empire needed stunning public buildings.

The fourth period

After Hadrian, Roman architecture quickly declined, giving way to pretentiousness of motifs, excess of decoration, confusion of the most heterogeneous forms and irrationality of their use. The fourth and final period in the history of Roman architecture begins, lasting until the final victory of Christianity over paganism (from 138 to 300). And at this time, every emperor tries to leave a memory behind him with some significant building. Antoninus the Pious builds the temple of Antoninus and Faustina in Rome; Marcus Aurelius - a column of his name, modeled after Trayanova; Septimius Severus - a heavy triumphal gate, burdened with architectural and sculptural decorations in imitation of the Arch of Titus, as well as a small, but harmonious in proportions and noble-beautiful in details, the Temple of Vesta in Tivoli. Caracalla endows Rome with unusually extensive and luxurious public baths, Aurelian - a colossal temple of the Sun. Under Diocletian, baths were built that were even more spacious and magnificent than the baths of Caracalla, but which, in design and location, were only chipped from them. No less colossal was the palace built by this emperor in Spalato (in Dalmatia), from the stones of which a significant part of this city was subsequently built.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina

Architecture of the Roman Empire in the ruins of the Roman Forum.

The conquest of Greece brought Rome a new perspective on culture and art. However, Roman architecture not only copied Greek, but also made its own contribution to the development of architecture. Ancient Roman architecture in its development also absorbed the construction culture of the peoples of the Iberian Peninsula, Ancient Germany, Gaul and others conquered by the empire. Rome adopted much of the art of the Etruscans, carriers of a highly developed culture, thanks to the influence of which some constructive approaches to construction and engineering structures appeared. The beginning of the development of Roman architecture dates back to the period 6-1 centuries. BC. At the beginning of this period, Rome was a small city, and its architecture was influenced by the culture of the Etruscans, an Italic tribe. Arches and vaults with domes were borrowed from them. In those days, powerful defensive structures were created, for example, the wall of Servius (4th century BC). Until 3rd century BC. Roman architecture consisted mainly of wooden buildings with terracotta ornaments. Until 2nd century BC. In Rome, local marble had not yet been developed, and temples were built from volcanic tuff. Arched vaults made of soft tuff replaced the strong beams used in Greek buildings and served as load-bearing structural elements. The walls were decorated with plaster reliefs. The development of technologies for producing baked brick dates back to this period; a frame was built from it, and the cladding began to be made from tuff. On Capitol Hill in 509 BC. a temple was erected with three cellae of Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. The ridge of the pediment was decorated with a terracotta quadriga by the sculptor Vulka. Later, the temple was rebuilt several times using columns from Greek temples.

Temple of Jupiter Capitolinus in Rome and elements of the order in temples in different cities of the era of Ancient Rome.

In the 2nd-1st centuries. BC. In Roman architecture they began to use a new plastic material - concrete. Vaulted structures are used in construction. At this time, the construction of courthouses, trade buildings, amphitheaters, circuses, baths, libraries, and markets began. The creation of the first triumphal arches and warehouses (portico of the Emilians - 2nd century BC) dates back to that period. Offices and Archives appeared (Tabulary. 80s of the 1st century BC). Such rapid construction and the emergence of buildings for various purposes is caused by expanding expansion, seizure of territories, an increase in the size of the state and the need for strict regulation of controlled territories.

Tabularium in Rome.

By the end of the 1st century. AD The Roman Empire was formed with sole power. The reign of Emperor Augustus gave rise to “Augustan classicism” in the architecture of the Roman Empire, which later became the basis for European architecture. At this time, they began to develop “Luna” marble, then Carrara marble. Roman architecture of that period was guided by the creations of the time of Phidias in Ancient Greece. Instead of houses made of adobe and wood, the first multi-story houses and mansions of aristocrats appeared, which were built from baked brick and concrete and faced marble. The city was decorated with Campania villas, palaces decorated with porticos, columns, pediments, rich sculptural decoration. Fountains with stucco decoration combined with the greenery of gardens. The Roman Forum appeared, around which public buildings and temples were erected. Corinthian columns of the temple still stand at the Roman Forum Castor and Poluksa 12.5 m high.

Columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux in Rome.

Looted wealth from conquered countries caused the rise of Roman architecture, which was designed to emphasize the greatness of the empire. The structures emphasized their scale, monumentality and power. The buildings were richly decorated. Not only temples and palaces were built in the ancient style, but also baths, bridges, theaters, and aqueducts. Greek orders were used as a basis, of which preference was given to the Corinthian order, as well as the new composite one, created as a mixture of ancient Greek ones. However, in the architecture of the Roman Empire, elements of the order were used mainly as decorative, in contrast to Ancient Greece, where all parts of the order system carried a certain load and were parts of the structure. In the 1st century BC. not only in Rome, but also in provincial cities, beautiful architectural complexes appeared, such as, for example, in Pompeii. Emperor Nero gave Roman architecture a new look by destroying several blocks of the city, on the site of which the Golden House was built.

Ruins of the Golden House of Nero in Rome.

During the reign of the Flavians and Trajan (late 1st - early 2nd centuries AD), large architectural complexes were built. In conquered Athens, Hadrian built the Temple of Olympian Zeus in 135 AD. (reconstructed in 307). Under Hadrian (125), the construction of the Pantheon began - a striking building of the architecture of the Roman Empire, which has survived to this day. The Pantheon was created from volumes of a strict geometric shape: a cylindrical rotunda, a hemispherical dome, a portico with two rows of columns in the form of a parallelepiped. There is a hole in the dome through which the interior of the temple is illuminated. This work clearly displays the proportions: the diameter of the rotunda is equal to the height of the structure. The height of the dome is equal to half of a conventional sphere that could be fit into the temple structure. The Pantheon is decorated with marble slabs on the lower tier and plaster on the upper tiers. The roof was covered with bronze tiles. The Pantheon became a model for many buildings of European architecture from different historical eras.

View of the Roman Pantheon from above.

At the end of the 3rd century. AD One of the most important structures of the architecture of the Roman Empire was the defensive wall of Aurelian. Emperor Diocletian (3rd-4th centuries AD) made the city of Salona his residence and practically did not live in Rome. A well-fortified palace complex with access to the sea was built in Salona. At this time, the architecture of the Roman Empire was distinguished by austerity, clarity and less decoration. The late period (until the end of the 2nd century) of the development of Roman architecture began during the reign of Hadrian and under Antoninus Pius. These were years of fierce wars, conspiracies, political assassinations, uprisings, and the plague. In those days, triumphal arches were not erected, but many residential buildings and villas were built. Roman architecture of the late Antonines was characterized by a large amount of decoration. The Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina in the Roman Forum, the columns of Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, richly decorated with bas-reliefs, date back to that period.

Temple of Antoninus and Faustina in the Roman Forum (141 BC).

With the coming to power of Emperor Constantine and after 313, with the official recognition of the Christian religion as the main one in the territory of the Roman Empire, ancient orders were used for the construction of temples. The capital was moved to the once Greek Byzantium, which was named Constantinople. Rome loses its central importance, and ancient art, moving away from its center, gradually acquires a formal character, gradually developing into medieval styles.

Temple of St. Sophia in Constantinople. Built under Emperor Constantine. 324-337

Roman architecture of the 3rd century. AD was increasingly exposed to the influence of Christianity, however, the order system was still used in the construction of temples and public buildings: large entrance staircases, multi-column porticoes, podiums, decor of high walls. During the Dominant era (284-305 AD), the appearance of Roman architecture changed: the amount of decor decreased, the clarity of volumes and proportions decreased. At this time, techniques appeared that later began to be used in Byzantine architecture: a combination of stone and brick, mosaic decoration. For example, the Temple of Jupiter was built from white stone and brick; colored marble was used for cladding; the surfaces were covered with plaster, mosaics, and plaster stucco. At the same time, the art of stone carving faded: stucco became rougher and less detailed. The developing Byzantine art used the architectural traditions of the Roman Empire and Ancient Greece, combining them with oriental motifs. During the 5th century. Based on these trends in Roman architecture, European architecture began to take shape, bringing great works to world architecture. To this day, many of the elements of Roman architecture are used in the construction of buildings in historical styles. And with the advent of artificial materials that imitate natural ones, such as, for example, polyurethane, such construction has become more democratic, reducing the cost and the need for large labor costs.

The façade of the apartment building resembles ancient Roman buildings in its appearance.

is amazing. Almost 3000 years of eventful history of the Roman lands have more than adorned the city with masterpiece architecture of varying degrees of antiquity and importance, different styles and directions of architecture. From the ruins of ancient walls, arches and temples to twentieth-century buildings, for example the construction of Termini Station. In the capital of Italy, at almost any step you can admire the harmonious and sophisticated architecture of Rome in the implementation of artistic ideas.

It is not at all easy to find out in detail the dates of construction of many buildings in the architecture of Rome - and is it even necessary to find out encyclopedic reliability in this case; since feelings often prevail over reason. But even the most poorly prepared traveler in world history can distinguish between an ancient Roman temple and a Christian basilica: there are pagan chic porticoes, columns and passages, here there is ascetic modesty of lines and an emphasis on the spiritual at the expense of the physical.

The architecture of Rome is a reflection of the main historical and cultural periods in the formation of the capital of Rome. In general, the historical architecture of Rome can be divided into a number of large time groups: ancient buildings, Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern buildings.

Architecture of Rome: Antiquity

Monuments of ancient architecture of Rome are almost the main reason for the interest of international groups of travelers, who every year take in Roman sights with almost an onslaught.

The Palatine Hill is the site of the emergence of Rome as a city - their greatest concentration per unit area. The Roman Forum and Colosseum, the Baths of Caracalla, circuses and amphitheatres, pagan altars of Saturn and Vulcan, the arches of Septimius Severus and Constantine, many temples and ruins of residential areas with amazing mosaics - this is only a small part of ancient architecture.

Connoisseurs of Christian antiquity will be delighted with a visit to the churches of Santa Constanza and San Clemente. And also from the dungeons of the Church of St. Agnes, in which the pioneers of the new religion hid from imperial persecution.

The symbol of Rome and Italy in general, acquired its current name because of the gigantic statue of the madman Nero (“colossus”) placed in front of it, but it was originally famous as the Flavian Amphitheater. Built in the first century, the amphitheater became the largest building for mass entertainment on the territory of the entire Roman Empire. The diameters of the oval structure are 156 and 188 m, the height is almost 50! It is no wonder that such open spaces could accommodate more than 50,000 Romans who wanted to see the spectacle.

The Colosseum survived, in fact, not flawlessly. The violent history of the region predisposed the building to accelerated deterioration (by the way, the first Roman amphitheater in the world to be preserved is located in the Tunisian El-Jem; it often plays the role of the Colosseum in cinema), but the former greatness has not disappeared: here, with their mouths open, travelers stand in front of enfilades of arches, the last of which disappears somewhere high in the sky.

In order to avoid long queues at the entrance to the Colosseum, we buy tickets in advance via the Internet.

The legendary architecture of Rome includes the Roman Forum - at one time the central market, and now a square that fills the center of the ancient part of the city. It is the epicenter of the social and political life of Roman citizens. It is from there that the current meaning of the word “forum” originates.

It must be borne in mind that the Forum is not the easiest example of Roman architecture to understand. The many ruins here look so much like ruins that even the imagination is helplessly silent. Therefore, you should be prepared that only the most knowledgeable or persistent will be able to fully admire the ancient architecture of Rome. As a result, you need to keep in mind that in the summer the sun burns mercilessly here.

At first there were pagan sanctuaries near the forum. With the collapse of the empire, it lost its social significance and was practically overgrown with weeds, until Christians began to build their temples on it. In the 19th and 20th centuries, archaeological excavations began here, as a result of which the forum acquired modern cultural significance.

Currently, the forum concentrates near itself many ancient architectural artifacts, for example, the Sacred Road, the Capitol, the Temple of Saturn, etc. You can approach it from Foli Imperiali street or from the Capitol, bypassing the Capitoline descent from Foro Romano street. Another road to the forum passes through the Temple of Concord, the Portico of the Blessing Gods, and the Mamertine Prison, which also makes it possible to get acquainted with these monuments of ancient architecture of Rome.

Baths of Caracalla

The bathhouse, something not at all alien to Russian people, was quite popular in Ancient Rome. But the ancient Roman baths-saunas were called differently - thermal baths. They went there to warm up, swim, and at the same time talk, sort out business issues, and find suitable partners for their ancient Roman business.

The baths were built at the beginning of the 3rd century AD under an emperor who ruled under the name of Septimius Bassianus, but most famous, as is often the case with Roman emperors, by the nickname Caracalla, preserved by historians.

It is amazing that the large-scale, grandiose and luxurious construction of the Baths of Caracalla in its functionality was “only” public baths, which promised the visitor, however, many hours of varied relaxation, both bathing and swimming, and sports, and also intellectual. It was a huge public building, stunning in its dimensions and luxury of decoration. One can insist that the Baths of Caracalla are as majestic and monumental as the Colosseum or the Mausoleum of Hadrian.

In order to avoid long queues at the entrance to the Baths of Caracalla, we buy tickets in advance via the Internet.

Middle Ages

The not very prosperous Middle Ages both significantly worsened the appearance of the Eternal City during the Vandal invasions, and presented a number of attractions to the architecture of Rome. One of the most famous is the Castel Sant'Angelo on the western bank of the Tiber. Feudal turrets, loopholes and halls with high dark ceilings, combined with powerful battlements of literally impenetrable fortress walls, give a clear idea of ​​the troubled life in those times.

It makes sense to visit the temple of Santa Maria sopra Minerva: its façade may have been restored in the 19th century, but the original medieval style of architecture in Rome has been carefully preserved. It makes sense to visit the temple of Santa Maria del Anima, built at the end of the 14th century for the needs of pilgrims in Rome.

Architecture of Rome: Castel Sant'Angelo

The unique architecture of Rome is the Castel Sant'Angelo. Construction of the Castel Sant'Angelo began in Rome in 135. Over its almost 2,000-year history, it was remodeled more than once and was used as a castle itself, and was also a tomb, the residence of popes, a storage room and, of course, a dungeon. Now in the Castle of St. Angel there is a Military History Museum, where travelers can see the Secret Archive, the Hall of Treasures, the Papal Apartments, the Loggia of Paul III, the Hall of Clement VII, the courtyard of Alexander VI and many other things - more than 50 rooms that form a real labyrinth!

The building acquired its name in 590, when, during the plague, Pope Gregory the Great saw a vision in which the Archangel Michael was sheathing his sword on the roof. This meant that the raging disaster had come to an end. It was after this that the fortress began to be called the Castle of the Holy Angel.

Renaissance

Much of the architecture of Rome that can currently be seen is related to the Renaissance period - the restoration of classical canons of harmony after the gloomy Middle Ages. By the way, Rome should be grateful to the city planners of the Renaissance for the comfortable radial arrangement of the streets. Among the buildings of this period, most attention is drawn to the architectural dominant of Rome - St. Peter's Cathedral and the Sistine Chapel, as well as many secondary churches and temples.

It is worth paying attention to the graceful domes of Renaissance buildings rising up: a number of them (for example, the highest point in Rome - the dome of St. Peter's Cathedral) can be climbed and through this you can take in a bird's eye view both historical Rome and the luxurious decoration of the interior of the cathedral . Well, at the end of the Renaissance, Baroque blossoms in the architecture of Rome, with all its ornate bas-reliefs, rounded marble Cupids and tropical gypsum flora. For baroque sensations, you should go to it with its three luxurious fountains, and you should not miss the colonnade of St. Peter's Basilica.

The heart of the Vatican and the entire Catholic community, St. Peter's Basilica is one of the main architectural landmarks of Rome. Here you can take a bird's eye view of ancient Rome, admire the interior of the cathedral from the top of the dome, attend mass and even be blessed by the pontiff.
St. Peter's Cathedral is, without embellishment, history itself, realized in stone.

The list of famous people who in one way or another had a hand in its architecture and interior will fill more than one page, and within its walls the fate of the whole world, states and peoples was decided. The history of the cathedral dates back to the 4th century with the construction of a simple basilica over the supposed burial place of the Apostle Peter. Until the 15th century, the structure was nothing special. And so in 1506, by papal order, it was planned to transform the basilica into a monumental cathedral, the center of Catholicism and a symbol of the power of the pontiff.

In order to avoid long queues at the entrance to St. Peter's Basilica, we buy tickets in advance via the Internet.

Modern architecture of Rome

Modern Roman architecture also abounds in Rome, due in no small part to construction during the time of Italian fascism and the rule of Mussolini. As part of the revival of the idea of ​​a great Rome and great Romans, the architecture of Rome at that time came out pompous, pretentious, bulky and harsh.

Most of it is concentrated on the western bank of the Tiber River and in the Prati region. One example of the architecture of Rome at the beginning of the 20th century is the Palace of Justice.

But among the ponderous new imperial buildings there are also genuine masterpieces, for example, the modernist building of Termini Station, completed in 1950, with a travertine facade and metal panel inserts, a symbol of modern, energetic Rome.

The Palace of Justice is one of the most famous architectural landmarks of Rome and Italy in general. Currently, the building is the seat of the Supreme Court of Cassation, it is located in the Prati district, near the Castel Sant'Angelo. One of its main strong features is its exterior: many decorative elements in the form of sculptures and stucco moldings are concentrated on the castle. When visiting Rome, you should definitely look at this amazing structure.

The construction of the castle began on March 14, 1888. During its construction, Giuseppe Zanarrdelli, keeper of the state seal, was present. It was he who advocated that the Palace be built in the Prati region. At that time, there were already judicial institutions in that part of Rome, but the Palace of Justice became the largest of them. For construction, platforms were needed that were made of concrete. During construction, excavations were carried out and many sarcophagi were found.

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The ancient sights of Rome can be assessed today in a very ambiguous way. An impressive arena in which no form of torture was considered too cruel. Places of worship where gods were often honored through ritual sacrifices that would shock us today. Pleasure palaces in which sexual depravity was not only accepted, 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? What were the laws? The answers to these questions are very interesting, although to this day we do not know everything. The ancient sights of Rome are truly impressive. Let's introduce you to some of them.

Coliseum

Crowds of people were attracted to the arena by the bloody spectacle. At times there were up to 50 thousand spectators in the Roman Colosseum. They all longed to see scenes of indescribable horror. Nobles, priests, senators, emperors, slaves, and ordinary people had fun seeing the bloody scenes.

Gladiators fought each other wearing heavy armor. Often they beat their opponent to death. In the arena they set wild, hungry animals against each other and released them 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 performance arena with water

Various types of special effects were used on stage. These included filling the arena with water to simulate naval 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 located directly above the arena, on the slope. These ingenious ancient Romans pumped water down from aqueducts and then through reservoirs into the center of the Colosseum. A more difficult question is how did they then manage to pump out the water?

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

Bloody contests

Major Roman myths were part of the performance. Moreover, the more terrible they were, the better. Christians and criminals were often cast in the most dangerous roles.

In the Roman Colosseum, bloody competitions have prevailed since its opening, which occurred in 72 AD. The opening ceremony was hosted by Emperor Titus. It lasted 100 days. An unprecedented massacre occurred on the opening day: about 5 thousand animals died.

The Colosseum - the gift of Vespasian

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

Chaos reigned as Four Emperors changed in one year. After this, Vespasian, who ruled Syria, seized power.

A skillful diplomat and hero, he easily gained the support of the Senate and was declared emperor. After this, having suppressed the uprising on the Rhine and the Jewish riot in Jerusalem, he focused on domestic problems.

During his ten-year reign, Vespasian relieved the treasury of the deficit left by his predecessor Nero. He also began to build many. The most ambitious undertaking was the Colosseum. It was intended as a symbol of Vespasian's success and power.

Construction of the Colosseum

It took more than 10 years to complete construction. The Colosseum was originally called the Flavian Amphitheatre. Many laborers and slaves were used to build it. Some of the builders were prisoners captured by Vespasian after winning the Jerusalem campaign.

To this day, the name of the architect who created the Colosseum is unknown. One of the most amazing features of this attraction is the highly complex system created for crowd control. The amphitheater originally had 80 entrances. They all led to certain sectors. The places were divided into tiers.

Fate of the Colosseum

The last games known from written sources were held in the 6th century AD. They completed these cruel competitions, which amused the once bloodthirsty Romans. The Colosseum was not used for a long time after that. It was partially destroyed, like many other ancient sites of Rome. A terrible earthquake occurred in the 9th century, as a result of which most of it was destroyed.

Later, the Colosseum began to be used as a quarry. The rich marble cladding was torn off, which began to be used in the construction of churches and palaces. A portion of the four levels that originally existed still remained intact. To this day, the Colosseum stands as a testament to both the cruelty of the ancient Romans and the skill of the people who built the landmarks 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 1930s, 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 possessed by the empire of Ancient Rome. This led to many archaeological studies and excavations throughout the state. Due to the flooding of the Tiber, earth deposits appeared on many monuments, completely covering them. due to its proximity to the river it was heavily damaged. This structure was built approximately from 27 to 23 BC.

Architectural plan discovered by workers

The workers, going 6-7 meters into the ground, discovered a pavement that was made of massive blocks. However, World War II soon began, and for some time this discovery was forgotten. Only 20 years later, in 1964, Roman specialists again began to study this place. A full-scale architectural plan was carved into the pavement. It is obvious that the courtyard served as a workshop for a construction project. The whole question is for what purpose.

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

First Pantheon

The Pantheon is a famous temple that was built in honor of the emperor and also for the worship of the gods of Rome. What we see now is not the first Pantheon. The temple was originally the idea of ​​Marcus Agrippa, a powerful Roman general. Construction began in 27 BC and was completed two years later. However, in 64 AD. a great fire destroyed the Pantheon.

Rebuilding the Pantheon

After this, in 118 AD, perestroika began, led by He was an amateur architect who participated in many building projects in 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 can be seen on the facade.

The Pantheon is notable for its huge rotunda, made of brick and stone, as well as the vault that forms the 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 there are now paintings based on biblical motifs, there used to be marble statues of the gods of Rome.

Baths of Caracalla

Sights of Ancient Rome also include the Baths of Caracalla. These ancient baths are similar to modern health centers. They are the largest and most ornate of all the public baths built in ancient Rome. Their construction began by Septimius Severus in 206 AD. And construction was completed in 216. The son of Septimius opened it.

Thermal decorations, their use

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

The thermal baths occupied a large and beautifully decorated area, used as a gymnasium. Here the men played sports: javelin, discus, and boxing. Entrance to the baths was free even for slaves. Initially, women and men washed together, but at the beginning of the 2nd century Hadrian prohibited this.

Invasion of the Goths, destruction of the baths

These ancient Roman buildings 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 repairs disappeared when the empire collapsed and the world around them, familiar to the inhabitants, disappeared. Ancient Rome was becoming a thing of the past.

In the Middle Ages, marble and bronze were torn from the walls, and the beautiful sculptures that decorated the baths ended up in the collections of the Popes and the aristocracy.

Forum

Not much remains of the majestic Roman Forum. It was the center of life in Rome. 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. Let us note right away that adjacent to the Roman Forum are imperial forums, which are not part of the Roman Forum, although they are similar to it both in purpose and in name.

Reconstruction of the forum by Augustus

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 reconstructed. This emperor removed most of the structures while paving and expanding the area. Now what the forum looked like during the republican period is a mystery. Many buildings were wooden, so they were demolished or destroyed. Augustus used only stone and cement for construction.

Vestals

The temples of Ancient Rome in the Forum include a temple dedicated to This was one of the most important and ancient goddesses for the Roman people. They associated it with the heart, as well as with fire. It was believed that this fire represented the spiritual strength of the entire country. She was served by priestesses who made sure that the fire did not go out. They had to remain virgins at all times, otherwise they would be executed. The Vestals lived next to the temple. They were chosen from aristocratic families at the age of 6 to 10 years. They had to serve at the temple for 30 years. After completing their service, these women were therefore at least 36 years old. To many they seemed too old to marry. Most Vestals remained priestesses until the end of their lives.

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