DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0071
CONSTRUCTION
37
work, and, in the case of columns and entablatures, massive
construction.
The masonry with limestone framework dates from the
earliest period. The walls were built without mortar, clay
being used instead. Since this served only as a filling, without
strength as a binding material, it was necessary to arrange the
stones themselves in such a way that the wall would stand firm.
This result was accomplished by using large, oblong blocks, not
only for corners and doorposts, but also for a framework in the
body of the wall; as shown in our illustration, alternate vertical
Fig. 9. — Wall with limestone framework.
and horizontal blocks were built up into pillars which would
hold in place the courses of smaller stones that filled the inter-
vening spaces. The material of the larger, hewn blocks, as well
as of the smaller fragments, was Sarno limestone, with occa-
sional pieces of cruma or slag.
The rubble work, opus incertum, consists of fragments irregu-
lar in shape, of the size of the fist and larger, laid in mortar.
The material used in the earlier times was ordinarily lava ;
later, Sarno limestone. Corners and doorposts at first were
built of hewn blocks ; afterwards bricks and blocks of stone cut
in the form of bricks were used for this purpose, and in the
latest period frequently brick and stone combined, opus mixtum
37
work, and, in the case of columns and entablatures, massive
construction.
The masonry with limestone framework dates from the
earliest period. The walls were built without mortar, clay
being used instead. Since this served only as a filling, without
strength as a binding material, it was necessary to arrange the
stones themselves in such a way that the wall would stand firm.
This result was accomplished by using large, oblong blocks, not
only for corners and doorposts, but also for a framework in the
body of the wall; as shown in our illustration, alternate vertical
Fig. 9. — Wall with limestone framework.
and horizontal blocks were built up into pillars which would
hold in place the courses of smaller stones that filled the inter-
vening spaces. The material of the larger, hewn blocks, as well
as of the smaller fragments, was Sarno limestone, with occa-
sional pieces of cruma or slag.
The rubble work, opus incertum, consists of fragments irregu-
lar in shape, of the size of the fist and larger, laid in mortar.
The material used in the earlier times was ordinarily lava ;
later, Sarno limestone. Corners and doorposts at first were
built of hewn blocks ; afterwards bricks and blocks of stone cut
in the form of bricks were used for this purpose, and in the
latest period frequently brick and stone combined, opus mixtum