DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67683#0208
138 ROMAN PERIOD
rounding it were imposing buildings. It was a magnificent
spectacle.
Among the buildings on the south side of the Forum was the
Basilica Julia (Fig. 71). The basilica was an important civic
building with the Romans, ordinarily used as a law court. It
was an oblong structure with a semicircular tribunal, or apse, at
one end, where the judge sat, and was divided by a row of
columns or piers into a central and side aisles; the roof of the
central aisle was higher than that of the side aisles, thus forming
a clerestory (Fig. 74). Looking at the exterior, we notice that
the structural principle is not the lintel system of the Maison
Came but the arcade, that is, a series of arches. Between the
arches, however, are engaged columns that support an entabla-
ture running the entire length of the building. In this arrange-
ment we find one of the most characteristic features of Roman
architecture, a combination of the arch and lintel systems.
Structurally it is the arch that is the vital part of the construc-
tion; the column and entablature serve only as decoration.
The highest manifestation of this system we find in the Colos-
seum (Pl. 51s). Between the arches of each story are engaged
columns that support a continuous entablature, the engaged
columns adding to the rhythm, and the entablature not only
unifying the arched openings and binding them into a firmly felt
unity but also forming a fine single sweep of curve which, re-
peated on each story, is dignified and impressive. The effect of
the building without this decoration can be seen on the right
side of the illustration, where a bare monotony results from the
loss of the rhythm and the accent of the vigorous curves. The
combination of structural solidity and effective decoration has
created a building imposing in dignity and magnificence. On
the ground story the columns are of the Doric order, on the
second of the Ionic, and on the third of the Corinthian, an
arrangement known as superposed orders. The fourth story is
ornamented by flat Corinthian pilasters. The exterior and main
corridors of the Colosseum are built of stone set with no mortar
but clamped by iron dowels; the inner walls are of softer stone
and concrete with brick facing; the stairways and substructure
for seats are of concrete.
The materials used in the Colosseum are those found chiefly in
Roman buildings. The vast size of many of their structures for-
bade extensive use of stone masonry. A substitute the Roman
found in brick and concrete, which is a mixture of small loose
material and a cement that hardens into a solid mass. The process
rounding it were imposing buildings. It was a magnificent
spectacle.
Among the buildings on the south side of the Forum was the
Basilica Julia (Fig. 71). The basilica was an important civic
building with the Romans, ordinarily used as a law court. It
was an oblong structure with a semicircular tribunal, or apse, at
one end, where the judge sat, and was divided by a row of
columns or piers into a central and side aisles; the roof of the
central aisle was higher than that of the side aisles, thus forming
a clerestory (Fig. 74). Looking at the exterior, we notice that
the structural principle is not the lintel system of the Maison
Came but the arcade, that is, a series of arches. Between the
arches, however, are engaged columns that support an entabla-
ture running the entire length of the building. In this arrange-
ment we find one of the most characteristic features of Roman
architecture, a combination of the arch and lintel systems.
Structurally it is the arch that is the vital part of the construc-
tion; the column and entablature serve only as decoration.
The highest manifestation of this system we find in the Colos-
seum (Pl. 51s). Between the arches of each story are engaged
columns that support a continuous entablature, the engaged
columns adding to the rhythm, and the entablature not only
unifying the arched openings and binding them into a firmly felt
unity but also forming a fine single sweep of curve which, re-
peated on each story, is dignified and impressive. The effect of
the building without this decoration can be seen on the right
side of the illustration, where a bare monotony results from the
loss of the rhythm and the accent of the vigorous curves. The
combination of structural solidity and effective decoration has
created a building imposing in dignity and magnificence. On
the ground story the columns are of the Doric order, on the
second of the Ionic, and on the third of the Corinthian, an
arrangement known as superposed orders. The fourth story is
ornamented by flat Corinthian pilasters. The exterior and main
corridors of the Colosseum are built of stone set with no mortar
but clamped by iron dowels; the inner walls are of softer stone
and concrete with brick facing; the stairways and substructure
for seats are of concrete.
The materials used in the Colosseum are those found chiefly in
Roman buildings. The vast size of many of their structures for-
bade extensive use of stone masonry. A substitute the Roman
found in brick and concrete, which is a mixture of small loose
material and a cement that hardens into a solid mass. The process