Roman Architecture
Year of lecture: Unknown
Abstract:
"The city of Rome grew to power in the centre of Italy between two older cultures, the culture of the Etruscan cities in the centre and north, and the Greek settlements in Sicily and the south of Italy. It is not surprising, therefore, to find that roman architecture was influenced in its development very strongly by Etruscan architecture and by Greek architecture."
The way in which the Romans sought to fuse architecture fused both Etruscan and Greek elements may be seen in the Maison Carée, 16 BC, the best preserved of all Roman temples at Nimes in the south France. The temple is placed upon a high podium which can be mounted only at the front in the Etruscan manner. However, the influence of the Greek peripteral temple may be seen in the continuation of the side columns of the porch by means of attached columns attached to the cella wall. Such a temple is known as pseudo-peripteral and is typical of Roman temples."
