Parker, John Henry: The archaeology of Rome (1,text): I. The primitive fortifications (Oxford [u.a.], 1874)

CONTENTS.

PAGE
Building Materials, i. Tufa ..... i
2. Peperino, or Albano stone, Lapis Albanus . . . . ib.
3. Sperone, or Gabii stone, Lapis Gabinus . . . .2
4. Travertine or Tivoli stone, Lapis Tiburtinus . . . ib.
5. Selce or Silex, a hard lava resembling flint . . . . ib.
6. Pumice-stone, Pumice . . . . . . ib.
7. Brick, Later . . . . . . .3
8. Mortar, Materia, and the cement for water, called in Italian,
Coccio Pesto, in Latin, Opus Signinum . . . . ib.
Construction. Opus Quadratum, squared stone . . . .4
This construction was used in the Temple of Solomon . . 5
Cyclopean Masonry. The size of the stones was influenced by the quarry,
as at Baalbec . . . . . . . .6
The large stones were clamped together with wood or metal . . 7
Instances of the use of Peperino and of Sperone . . . ib.
Opus Quadratum smses used in the time of the Kings of Rome, and
is generally of that period . . . . . .8
--but was occasionally continued in the time of the Republic ib.
Arco di Pantano, the arch so-called (in error) is of Sperone, inserted
in the ancient wall of tufa . . . . .9
Some very early walls have the edges of the stones chamfered off . 10
Polygonal Masonry, called also Cyclopean, Phenician, and Pelasgic . 11
Learned work of M. Petit Radel on this subject . . . ib.
Opus Lncertum of Vitruvius . . . . . .12
Concrete, or Rubble-stone walling, grouting, or filling up, fartura . 13
The hardness and durability of this wall, caused by the good mortar
made with gritty sand, and good lime pounded and used hot . 14
The Roman soldiers could build such walls, skilled labour was not
required . . . . . . . -15
Blocks of stone of the shape of modern bricks, but rather larger,
used for the angles of rubble walls . . . .16
Opus Reticulatum—Net-work . . . , . •
The Muro Torto an early, example . . , . . ib.
Marble Facing, numerous examples of . . . . .18
Stone or travertine facing on rubble walls . . . .19
Opus Lateritium, brickwork . . . . . .20
The thickness of the bricks, and of the mortar between them, is a use-
ful guide to the date of a wall . . . . .21
Mixed Construction, rubble walls with layers of bricks, usually of the
fourth century, but also found earlier . . . . .23
Opus Saracenesca, a facing of small square stones, usually Medieval, but
also found earlier . . . . . . .24
Brickwork of the Middle Ages, an imitation of the Old Roman . 25