Greek art vs egyptian art - Essay Example

ARCHITECTURE OF ROMAN TEMPLES Ancient temples are among the visible archeological concepts of Roman culture in addition to being a vital source of Roman architecture. They were characterized by unique construction and maintenance that formed a significant part in the ancient Rome as far as religion is concerned. It is worth noting that the temples were divided by several rooms with the main chamber (cella) accommodating the cult image of the deity to whom the temple was dedicated. Accompanying cella was a small, but important altar used for incense or libations and a storage room for equipment and offerings.

Some religious functions were processions that started at, visited, or ended within the temple or shrine.The architectural concept of the Roman temple originated from the Etruscan model. As a matter of brief description, the Etruscans were an indigenous race found in Italy that dominated the 17th Century BC. On their part, the Etruscans had borrowed their building skills mainly from the Greek architecture. It is, therefore, worth stating that the Greek architectural concepts played a vital role in the development of Roman temples.

The temples had the same pattern characterized by triangular shaped roofs supported by great pillars. There were steps that lead to the main doorway whereas the main doorway was built behind the pillars. The main emphasizes was in the front building, dominated by portico with columns, a pronaos. Importantly, this takes a different concept from the Greek model that emphasized on the temple as the totality. That is; the Greek temples were characterized by simple rectangular shrine with protruding side walls called antae.

This formed a small porch. Model of typical Doric temple: The temple Aphaia in Aegina The Maison Carree in Nimes: an example of a Roman Temple The primary building material for the roman temples was concrete, and this explains why many of the temples ‘survived the storm’. During the construction process, the constructors effectively mixed the concrete and the structural shape of the arch hence resulting to the base of the temple. Due to the immense weight of the temples, it was necessary to use strong building materials.

In this regard, the integration of the arch in building the temples ensured that the temples remained strong and solid. On the other hand, the first Greek temples were built from mud, brick and marble structure on stone foundations. In order to reinforce the mud-brick walls, wooden posts in a type of half-timbered technique was used. This resulted to all vital architectural techniques that were to influence the development of Greek temples for a long time. Although the Roman architecture borrowed from Greek architecture, the Romans were exceptional learners, and they swiftly adjusted to the new construction techniques such as basilica, monumental aqueduct, triumphal arch and many more.

Roman architects continued to follow the precedence set by the Greeks such as Ionic, Doric and Corinthian. At the beginning of the 6th century, the romans mainly built their temples in the Ionic order. However, with time the Roman architects advanced and subscribed to the development of their order of architecture. That is; the ‘composite column’ which is a mixture of Corinthian and Ionic elements.Work citedStamper, John W. The Architecture of Roman Temples: The Republic to the Middle Empire.

New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2004. Print.