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C O U R S E L E C T U R E The Servian Wall of Rome Notes taken on January 18, 2014 by Edward Tanguay |
very many structures were built after the Temple to Jupiter
however, very little of these survived from this period
fires destroyed them, as many were made out of wood
many buildings became quarries for architects using them as a source of stone
any city that has been inhabited for two and a half millenia is obviously going to lose many of its structures over time
some of them that survived best are those that were incorporated into other buildings
386 BC: Gallic sack of Rome
but most structures would have been destroyed in the year 386 BC anyway
group of Gallic tribes, the Galls
came down from the north
destroyed everything in their path
one of the only buildings still standing was the Temple of Jupiter
after this, Romans learned to wall their cities
post 386 BC wall construction
around the entire seven hills
some parts of the wall are still visible, e.g. at Stationi Termini
brought in tufa from Etruscan citiy of Veii, 16 KM NNW of Rome
system of headers and stretchers
stretcher: long side out
ashlar masonry, opus quadratum
Rome had imperialistic ambitions
began to build colonies in Italy, close to Rome itself
recognized that they also needed to be protected, and so built walls in these cities as well
241 BC founded as colony
one of the earliest arches
voussoir blocks: wedged shaped for arch
Romans capitalize on using the arch for expressive purposes
started with colonizing around Rome
a capitolium: temple for Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva
castrum (plural: castra)
buildings or plots of land reserved for or constructed for use as a military defensive position
Rome, in contrast, grew as a very irregular city
blocks shaped as wedge for stone archway
kind of masonry of Roman Wall
ashlar masonry, opus quadratum