3rd-century Roman domes
moved general sentences to lede and created sections by emperor/dynasty
| ← Previous revision | Revision as of 22:02, 18 April 2026 | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Dome architecture}} |
{{Dome architecture}} |
||
| ⚫ | In the 3rd century, imperial mausolea began to be built as domed rotundas rather than [[tumulus]] structures or other types, following similar monuments by private citizens. Pagan and [[Christianity|Christian]] domed mausolea from this time can be differentiated in that the structures of the buildings also reflect their religious functions. The pagan buildings are typically two story, dimly lit, free-standing structures with a lower crypt area for the remains and an upper area for devotional sacrifice. Christian domed mausolea contain a single well-lit space and are usually attached to a [[Church (building)|church]].{{sfn|Johnson|2009|p=196}} The [[Old St. Peter's Basilica|first St. Peter's Basilica]] would later be built near a preexisting early 3rd century domed rotunda that may have been a mausoleum. In the 5th century the rotunda would be dedicated to [[Andrew the Apostle|St. Andrew]] and joined to the [[Mausoleum of Honorius]].{{sfn|Camerlenghi|2019|p=116}}{{sfn|Gem|2005|p=37}} |
||
==Severan dynasty== |
|||
The large rotunda of the Baths of Agrippa, the oldest public baths in Rome, has been dated to the [[Severan dynasty|Severan period]] at the beginning of the 3rd century, but it is not known whether this is an addition or simply a reconstruction of an earlier domed rotunda.{{sfn|Adam|2013|p=186}} |
The large rotunda of the Baths of Agrippa, the oldest public baths in Rome, has been dated to the [[Severan dynasty|Severan period]] at the beginning of the 3rd century, but it is not known whether this is an addition or simply a reconstruction of an earlier domed rotunda.{{sfn|Adam|2013|p=186}} |
||
Masonry domes were less common in the Roman provinces, although the 3rd century "Temple of Venus" at [[Baalbek]] was built with a stone dome {{convert|10|m|sp=us}} in diameter.{{sfn|Hourihane|2012|p=304}} |
|||
=Gordian dynasty== |
|||
[[File:Villa Gordiani - Park of Rome a.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Ruined cylindrical brick building exterior with a large section missing showing the hemispherical domed interior with what had been four round windows in the sides of the dome and no oculus at the top|Ruins at [[Villa Gordiani]]]] |
[[File:Villa Gordiani - Park of Rome a.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Ruined cylindrical brick building exterior with a large section missing showing the hemispherical domed interior with what had been four round windows in the sides of the dome and no oculus at the top|Ruins at [[Villa Gordiani]]]] |
||
An example from the 3rd century is the mausoleum at [[Villa Gordiani]].{{sfn|Mainstone|2013|p=123}} The Villa Gordiani also contains remains of an oval gored dome.{{sfn|MacDonald|1958|p=6}} |
|||
| ⚫ | In the 3rd century, imperial mausolea began to be built as domed rotundas rather than [[tumulus]] structures or other types, following similar monuments by private citizens. Pagan and [[Christianity|Christian]] domed mausolea from this time can be differentiated in that the structures of the buildings also reflect their religious functions. The pagan buildings are typically two story, dimly lit, free-standing structures with a lower crypt area for the remains and an upper area for devotional sacrifice. Christian domed mausolea contain a single well-lit space and are usually attached to a [[Church (building)|church]].{{sfn|Johnson|2009|p=196 |
||
==Gallienus== |
|||
The use of the circular or octagonal domed rotunda for imperial mausolea began with [[Gallienus|Emperor Gallienus]] in the 260s and the type would be used throughout the late-antique period.{{sfn|Johnson|2006|p=122}} |
|||
==Diocletian== |
|||
A stone corbelled dome {{convert|5.806|m|sp=us}} wide, later known as "[[Arthur's O'on]]", was located in [[Scotland]] three kilometers north of the [[Falkirk]] fort on the [[Antonine Wall]] and may have been a Roman victory monument from the reign of [[Carausius]]. It was destroyed in 1743.{{sfn|Breeze|2014|pp=60, 64}} |
|||
The technique of building lightweight domes with interlocking hollow ceramic tubes further developed in North Africa and Italy in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.{{sfn|McClendon|2005|p=16}} By the 4th century, the thin and lightweight tubed vaulting had become a vaulting technique in its own right, rather than simply serving as a permanent centering for concrete. It was used in early Christian buildings in Italy.{{sfn|Lancaster|Ulrich|2014|p=190}} Arranging these terracotta tubes in a continuous spiral created a dome that was not strong enough for very large spans, but required only minimal centering and formwork.{{sfn|Mainstone|2013|p=121}} The later dome of the [[Baptistry of Neon]] in [[Ravenna]] is an example.{{sfn|McClendon|2005|p=16}} |
The technique of building lightweight domes with interlocking hollow ceramic tubes further developed in North Africa and Italy in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.{{sfn|McClendon|2005|p=16}} By the 4th century, the thin and lightweight tubed vaulting had become a vaulting technique in its own right, rather than simply serving as a permanent centering for concrete. It was used in early Christian buildings in Italy.{{sfn|Lancaster|Ulrich|2014|p=190}} Arranging these terracotta tubes in a continuous spiral created a dome that was not strong enough for very large spans, but required only minimal centering and formwork.{{sfn|Mainstone|2013|p=121}} The later dome of the [[Baptistry of Neon]] in [[Ravenna]] is an example.{{sfn|McClendon|2005|p=16}} |
||
