Roman Architecture

Although the Greeks and Etruscans to a large extent shaped the course of early Roman architecture from the fifth century BC onwards, in time the unique features of the Roman school dominated and influenced design throughout Europe and Asia Minor. This study explains how Roman exploitation of a revolutionary building material called opus caementicium, a composite of stone and mortar, made it possible for them to effectively develop new forms of structures, such as amphitheatres, public bath-houses, villas, basilicas and markets, which were to become essential features of many regions. The author explores Roman architecture in such diverse areas as Thessalonica, Ephesus, Constantinople, Nimes, Verona and Pompeii. The approach of this book is partly chronological and partly regional and the text is complemented with many plans, reconstructions and illustrations.