ROMAN CITIES

PLANNING PRINCPLES:-
Romans adopted the technology and planning skills of the
Greeks. They were more advanced than the Greeks in terms
of technological skills which they used to develop better
infrastructural facilities and construction techniques.
It had two main axial roads called
Cardus E-W
Decumanus N-S
"Secondary streets" complete the gridiron layout and form
the building blocks known as "Insulae"
Perimeter of the city was usually square/rectangular with
bassions.
Cross streets occasionally stepped and bridged around the
city due to topographical condition.
Generally rectangular walled city entered by several gates,
showing complete town organization.
From the religious significance of the Temples by the
Greeks there was a change to the civic influence of Law
Courts "Basilica" which became more important than the
public buildings.
The most important part of the city was the forum, where
political, economic, administrative, social and religious
activity were centred."Forum Area" usually located centre of
the town formed by the intersection of the Decamanus and
cardo.similar to Greek Agoras.
In big cities there were theatres, circuses, stadiums,
odeons.

TOWN PLANNING IN ANCIENT ROMAN CIVILIZATION
PLAN FORM
01
02

03

04

05

Kardo

Wall
Bastions
01:Market , 02: Forum , 03 : Basilica / Bath,
04: Theatre, 05: Amphitheatre
ADVANCE BUILDING CONSTRUCTION:
MATERIALS:
Lime-Motar, Concrete
Stone-Ashar masonary
Bricks
BUILDING SYSTEM:
Lintel:
Copied from the Greeks
Spaces are closed by straight lines
Vaults:
Taken from the Etrurian
Barrel vaults
Use of domes
Arches:
They used half point or semicircular arches.
They could use lintels above these arches.
COLONNEDS
Strong stone walls with foundations were constructed so that they do
not use external supports.




TRIUMPH ARCH TRAIAN COLUMN AT ROME BRIDGE STRUCTURE
TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT:
They were more advanced than the Greeks in terms of technological skills
which they used to develop better infrastructural facilities and construction
techniques.
Lime and concrete was invented.
Applied mechanics for moving heavy masses developed.
Roads were paved with stones
Advanced system of water supply (Aqueducts &water reservoirs),
sewage system and drainage system through ducts and underground
sewers in semi-circular vaulted form were used(like cloaca maxima).
All public latrines were connected to underground sewerage system.
People normally used the public latrines leads to betterment in public
health.
Methods of centralize heating

PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECT :
Power and control .
Defence and security
civic influence of Law and order
Formation of bye-laws for urban development.

ROMAN PAVED ROADS
TO MEASURE
DISTANCE

AQUEDUCTS
DEFENCE WALL WITH BASSIONS
ARCHITECTONIC TYPOLOGY:
Religious building: temple
Civil buildings:
Public: basilicas, baths
Spectacles: theatre, amphitheatre, circus
Commemorative: Triumph arch, column
Funerary: tombs
Engineering works:
Bridges
Aqueducts
Domestic:
House, villas, Palace

THE PREHISTORIC SITE AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
OF POMPEII
Pompeii arose on a ledge of prehistoric lava flow 40m
above sea level on the side of mount Vesuvius. This
ledge had a couple of flat areas but was otherwise
dislevelled with a strong slope north-south towards the
gulf. The lava flow stopped short creating a sharp cliff
hence creating a strong dominating position over the
sea.

THE POSITION WAS IDEAL IN A NUMBER OF WAYS
AND PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CITYS
FORTUNES:
It allowed control of the trading route between
Stabiae and Naples as well as a dominating position
with respect to the river Sarno, therefore enabling
control of the access inland from the sea.
Access to sea allowed long distance trade, particularly
with north Africa and towards the Orient.
Lastly the volcanic nature of the surrounding terrain
made it extremely fertile and suited to growing
agricultural produce, olives (oil) and wine.
TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII
NAPLES
STABIAE
TOWN PLANNING IN POMPEII
Pompeian architecture is the subsequent influences
of different cultures, starting with the Samnites,
followed by the Etruscans, Greek colonies and
finally Romans.
The earlier Samnite-Etruscan city was the western
part of Pompeii with the Forum, main temples and
public buildings. A more organic approach to urban
development is plainly visible.
The rigorous grid structure of Greek cities, is most
evident in the Eastern part of the city, near the
amphitheatre with boulevard-like parallel
streets"decuriones, (W-E) connected by cross
streets ("cardines", N-S) creating rectangular
blocks of buildings ("insulae")
Pompeii is an irregular oval area of about 66
hectors, planted on a small natural hill and girt with
a stone wall nearly two miles in circumference .
On the west there was originally access to the sea.
Near western end of the town is the Forum, with
the principal temples and public buildings round it.
At the east end of the town, nearly 1200 yds. from
the western extremity, is the amphitheatre. the
town-walls appear to have been drawn so as to
include it.
Three major road arteries contributed to
subdivision of the city. This subdivision allows us to
identify the coordinates of the various houses in
ancient Pompeii by using a 3 digit coordinate
system:
FOUNTAINS
STREET JUNCTION WITH FOUNTAIN
STREET WITH BARRIER TO CONTROL CART ENTRY
RAISED PEDSTERIANS WITH FOUINTAINS
AND DIRECT ENTRY TO HOUSES
PLAN OF POMPEII
AQUEDUCTS BATHS

STREETS
AMPITHEATER
COLOSSEUM
FORUM OF POMPEII