DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51509#0096
66 THE STORY OF ARCHITECTURE
than concrete piles, hidden behind a veneer of
marble or brickwork.
The visitor among the ruins of ancient Rome,
who sees walls apparently of fine brickwork, on
all sides, finds it difficult to realise that bricks
were seldom used constructionally. Yet careful
examination discloses the fact that even the
thinnest walls were merely cased with bricks
and filled in with concrete. The great domed
Pantheon is a glaring example of a concrete mass
posing as a brick structure. Externally the wall
presents a solid face of brickwork, in which tiers
and arcades of brick arches are arranged, as
though concentrating the weight upon piers ;
yet the arches are, structurally, of no value
whatever, for the brickwork of which they
consist forms merely a casing of 4 or 5 inches,
upon a solid concrete wall, 20 feet thick.
We see, than, that the constructive methods
of the Romans differed in most essential points
from those of the Greeks. In the Greek’s
building every part did the work which it was
supposed to do, and which it appeared to do ;
never was there any attempt at deception.
“ Beauty is truth ” formed part of his artistic
creed, and he had a horror of deceit in any form.
The Roman, on the other hand, openly revelled
in it. Of the Roman it may be said that, as
regards his architecture, he absolutely could not
tell the truth—“ splendide mendax,” he was
gloriously untruthful. But, like many evil-
doers, he prospered, and, by his new methods,
was able to build quickty and on a grand scale.
than concrete piles, hidden behind a veneer of
marble or brickwork.
The visitor among the ruins of ancient Rome,
who sees walls apparently of fine brickwork, on
all sides, finds it difficult to realise that bricks
were seldom used constructionally. Yet careful
examination discloses the fact that even the
thinnest walls were merely cased with bricks
and filled in with concrete. The great domed
Pantheon is a glaring example of a concrete mass
posing as a brick structure. Externally the wall
presents a solid face of brickwork, in which tiers
and arcades of brick arches are arranged, as
though concentrating the weight upon piers ;
yet the arches are, structurally, of no value
whatever, for the brickwork of which they
consist forms merely a casing of 4 or 5 inches,
upon a solid concrete wall, 20 feet thick.
We see, than, that the constructive methods
of the Romans differed in most essential points
from those of the Greeks. In the Greek’s
building every part did the work which it was
supposed to do, and which it appeared to do ;
never was there any attempt at deception.
“ Beauty is truth ” formed part of his artistic
creed, and he had a horror of deceit in any form.
The Roman, on the other hand, openly revelled
in it. Of the Roman it may be said that, as
regards his architecture, he absolutely could not
tell the truth—“ splendide mendax,” he was
gloriously untruthful. But, like many evil-
doers, he prospered, and, by his new methods,
was able to build quickty and on a grand scale.