Architecture+Influenced+By+Religion+During+the+Roman+Republic+and+Empire

//**Architecture Influenced By Religion During the Roman Republic and Empire**// //By: Suzanne Giovannucci//

This portion of the wiki will demonstrate how religion in Rome during the roman republic and empire, played a vital role in why certain buildings were constructed in a particular way. This section will also explore the purpose behind resurrecting some of the buildings that can be found in Rome today. By researching on temples such as the Temple of Vesta and Temple of Apollo and examining buildings like Saint Peters Basilica and the Pantheon, the argument of this wiki will be supported. Religious beliefs were built into the layout and ornamentation of public and government buildings in the roman republic and empire.


 * The Pantheon**

Religious beliefs were built into the layout and ornamentation of public and government buildings in the roman republic and empire. For example; construction of the Pantheon started in 118 in Rome, Italy and was finished in 126. Among some of the great spiritual buildings on earth, the Pantheon is one of them. The building is characterized by various types of astonishing architectural designs; such as, bronze doors, a hemispherical dome, monolithic columns and an oculus in the center of the dome. In 120 AD Hadrian wanted to design the pantheon so that it would be more elaborate than anything Rome had seem thus far. Hadrian created what became known as the oculus, placed in the center of the dome. Hadrian visualized himself enthroned directly under the Pantheon's oculus - a near-deity around whom not only the Roman empire but the universe, the sun, and the heavens obediently revolved (MacDonald 1976: 132). While showing the importance of space, Hadrian dedicated his new construction of the Pantheon to “all gods” (Bunson 1994: 314).

The dome within the Pantheon, which contains the central oculus is interpreted as the vault of heaven. Oculus meaning “eye” gives us support in this claim that the dome is the vault of heaven. The dome consists of coffers and concrete as well as its original bronze rosettes. The Pantheon was thought to bring together the union of the higher and lower orders. Surprisingly, the height of the dome and the diameter of the interior circle are the same, 43.3 meters (Trek Earth). As it stands, the Pantheon is the oldest remaining domed structure in Rome. I believe that the Pantheon was a place where the lower class could attempt to feel connected to the gods. The Pantheon would have provided believers with faith that the gods were watching over them.


 * St. Peters Basilica**

Saint Peters Basilica is located in Vatican City. Saint Peter was known to be the first pope and in 67ad was crucified and buried in the location where the basilica is today. The basilica contains the remains of several popes, a cemetery is found beneath the basilica. There are 140 statues on top of the colonnade of the basilica; these statues are of saints (Toranzo, 2005). I believe that the statues may have been placed outside and on top of the basilica to show that the saint are watching all spectators walking by. The saints are above us and watch over us, in other words. The original basilica had five aisles and 88 columns, that is, 22 in each row (Toranzo, 2005). Construction began in 324; the main portion was finished in just five years. Over the decades it was embellished with a portico, which soon became a preferred burial place for popes, kings and emperors who wanted their final resting places near that of St. Peter (Toranzo, 2005). Later, a bell-tower, containing 12 windows on each of its six stories was built, as was a double-portico that was used for papal blessings (Toranzo, 2005). The basilica had 120 altars and 700 oil lamps. The basilica stood as a focal point of spiritual life. It was at the basilica where relics from the Holy Land such as the relic of the Holy Cross, St. Veronica's veil and the lance that had pierced the side of Christ were kept. It makes since for such a holy place to contain the remains of some of the most sacred relics known throughout Rome; to keep them in one great location. The interior of the basilica was embellished with rare marble, mosaics of all colors, shining metals, draperies, tapestries and precious stones (Toranzo, 2005). The floor around the tomb of St. Peter was covered with gold and silver. These priceless treasures were stolen when the shrine was sacked by the Visigoths, the Vandals, the Saracens, the Normans and others who, attracted by their material value, totally ignored their spiritual significance (Andreae 1977: 99). Today there is a dome that rests in the middle of the basilica. While hard to miss, due to its enormous size, the dome has been said to have been constructed so that it would be a visual symbol of Saint Peters closeness with the heavens. Inside, the dome is decorated in mosaic in the three colors of Medieval mysticism, blue, gold and red. The triumphal decoration is divided into sixteen sections that converge at the top of the dome and are divided into six horizontal circles:




 * 1) the busts of the first sixteen popes buried in the basilica;
 * 2) the great figure of Christ triumphant surrounded by the Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist, St. Paul and the Twelve Apostles;
 * 3) sixteen angels holding the symbols and instruments of Christ's passion;
 * 4) flights of winged cherubs;
 * 5) angels reverently looking down at Peter's tomb;
 * 6) flights of winged seraphs (Andreae 1977: 96).

The surface area of St. Peter's is 163,182.2 sq. feet. In comparison, the basilica is larger than the roman city of Milan. Here it would be safe to say that the basilica was resurrected so that it could house important religious relics, become a place for rest, in death, for multiple popes and kings and serve, as it does today, as a memorial landmark for all saints and popes. People from all over the world come to Saint Peters Basilica to pay their respects to the popes as well as to mourn for the great leaders. A place that holds such a rich, cultural background such as this basilica, would almost have to be as large as it is today, in order to demonstrate the greatness of value and history it holds.

When we look at the Temple of Vesta today, only a few of the columns remain from the once circular temple. Some of the vestal virgins are depicted in the form of statues outside of the temple. The statues of the virgins may have been created to show just how important the virgins roles were to the roman religious belief. The Temple of Vesta is one of the oldest and most important holy places in Rome (Orlin 1997: 125). It was here, at the Temple of Vesta where the virgins guarded the sacred eternal flame; symbol of the eternal life of Rome. Architectural features of the temple include: marble, Corinthian columns (Greek in style, slender), a central cella (inner chamber), and on the roof was a vent. Behind the Temple of Vesta was the location of the House of Vestal Virgins. The house was rather large and included fifty rooms; for the virgins and their servants. The house was three stories tall and some rooms led into galleries which surrounded a courtyard. The house would have served as a safe haven for the virgins, they were highly regarded and therefore protected and well treated.
 * Temple of Vesta, House of Vestal Virgins and the Regia**

Lastly, we look at the Regia, meaning ‘Royal Palace.’ The Regia was first home to the second king of Rome, Numa Pompilius. Later the Regia became a temple, the place where the highest religious authorities carried out their functions making this a sacred place. Inside the building was a shrine to Mars and a place where the high priest kept items of important value; like the calendar, annuals of Rome and archives (Orlin 1997: 125). The Regia is located near the House of the Vestal Virgins.


 * The Temple of Apollo**

The Temple of Apollo was built in 28 BC by Emperor Augustus and dedicated to Apollo, as can be determined by its title (Goudarzi, 2008). Apollo was known to be the god of numerous aspects of roman life; that of law, order, sunlight, healing and medicine, arts, music and writing. Supported on opus quadratum sub-structures, the temple's precinct was an artificial terrace. Sited together on an elaborate base, the temple contained an altar faced with the sculptural group "Myron's Herd.” In the northern part of this terrace the temple was raised on a high podium, built in blocks of tufa and travertine in the load-bearing parts and elsewhere in cement (Richardson 1992:13). The temple itself was in blocks of Carrara marble, with a pronoas as well as a facade of full columns on the front and the same order continued on half columns against the outside walls of the cella (Richardson 1992:13). It has been noted that the aforementioned architectural styles are all very distinct characteristics of roman temples. Different polychromatic terracotta slabs were recovered during excavations at the Temple of Apollo, with relief’s of mythological subjects. It is evident that any god holding importance to Rome would have their own temple.

By examining the meaning behind certain buildings in Rome such as: the Pantheon, Saint Peters Basilica, Temple of Apollo and Temple of Vesta, my wiki section supports my argument. Religious beliefs were built into the layout and ornamentation of public and government buildings in the roman republic and empire. We can take this information and build on it; in order to better understand why the pre-modern complex society of Rome built certain buildings under religious influence.


 * Image Credits**

(1) Pantheon from http://www.artchive.com/artchive/r/roman/roman_pantheon.jpg (2) Oculus from http://www.nycerome.com/rome-hotels-images/areas-of-rome-images/pantheon-area-pictures/pantheon-in-rome.jpg (3) Saint Peter's Basilica from http://www.azfotos.com/countries_worldwide/europe/vatican/alamy-pictures/vatican-picture-by%20night_AJM515.jpg (4)  Inside the dome of Saint Peter's Basilica from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/st-peters-basilica-pictures/slides/dome-night-cc-slacknewt7.htm (5) Saints atop Saint Peter's Basilica from http://www.sacred-destinations.com/italy/st-peters-basilica-pictures/slides/dome-cc-mightyjc.htm (6) The Temple of Vesta from http://photos.igougo.com/images/p121251-Rome-Temple_of_Vesta.jpg (7) House of Vesta Virgins from http://romeitaly.ca/images/vestalvirgins.jpg (8) The Regia from http://www.dl.ket.org/latinlit/historia/monarchy/images/RF_Regia_fr_N.jpg (9) The Temple of Apollo from http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/temple-of-apollo-sosianus-rome-ir032.jpg (10) The Temple of Apollo from http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3288859956_9081bf8c93.jpg


 * Works Cited**

Andreae, Bernard. 1977 The Art of Rome. New York: Harry N. Abrams INC.

Bunson, Matthew 1994 Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire. Facts on File, Inc.

Goudarzi, Sara. 2008 Ancient Roman Temple Constructed. National Geographic News 14 March.

MacDonald, William L. 1976 The Pantheon: Design, Meaning, and Progeny. Harvard University Press, Massachusetts.

Orlin, Eric M. 1997. Temples, Religion and Politics in the Roman Republic. E.J. Brill. Leiden.

Richardson, jr. L. 1992 A New Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome. The Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore and London.

Trek Earth. Pantheon Oculus. Electronic document at http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo884382.htm, accessed April 14th, 2009

Tronzo, William 2005 St. Peter’s in the Vatican. Cambridge; New York. Cambridge University Press.