With a length of 304 pages, including an introduction and seven chapters along with a glossary, timeline, bibliographic essay, and 154 color figures, this book is a useful companion to scholarship on Roman architecture, construction, urbanism, and provincial studies. It is well-suited for a seminar on Roman architecture or urbanism, especially where social themes are a primary focus. It also serves as a useful guide for historians and archaeologists seeking to bridge architecture and social context. Among related academic works, it offers a more concise and affordable overview than Gros (1996/2011) and Yegül and Favro (2019) as well as reflects more up-to-date scholarship than Ward-Perkins (1977/2003) and Sear (1992). As part of the Oxford History of Art series, the text also highlights the influence of classical reception in western architecture.
The author sets the specific context for how Roman architecture reflects Roman society by asking: “What did the Romans themselves think architecture was for? What was built, by whom and why?” The scope of evidence offered ranges from Rome’s early foundations to the late Empire, with examples drawn not only from Rome and Italy but also widely across the provinces, to illustrate how architecture was adapted to the polyethnic environment of the Roman world. The seven chapters characterize Roman architecture as “An Empire of Cities” in Chapter 1, followed by the role of architects in Chapter 2, construction methods and the construction trade in Chapter 3, religious buildings in Chapter 4, public buildings in Chapter 5, domestic architecture in Chapter 6, and concludes with “The Language of Ornament” in Chapter 7. With 17 pages of notes and a 12-page bibliographic essay, the author provides substantial references for those with further interest.
In the introduction, DeLaine outlines how the act of building in ancient Rome was largely “the privilege of the political and economic elites” yet also “shaped the experiences and perceptions of all who used them”. From the start, she confronts the challenge of what it means for architecture to be Roman, citing the Pantheon with its “entrance porch…owing much to Greek temple forms” while its concrete dome is “a thoroughly Roman creation”; similarly, the elliptical Colosseum as “uniquely Roman” yet “dressed up with Greek-style columns”. DeLaine then illustrates the cultural diversity encompassed within the Empire with the example of Hadrian’s Wall in Britain, garrisoned with Syrian archers. For DeLaine, the Pont du Gard archetypically represents Rome’s “power over nature” and the influence of the “most quintessentially Roman form, the arch”. Thus, she informs the reader her intent is to demonstrate the “Roman world was not a static, fixed entity; nor was it uniform” but a blending of “Roman and native, global and local cultures” with a scale not seen again “before the mid-nineteenth century”.
Chapter 1 begins by characterizing Roman architecture as centered on cities, with Rome itself occupying principal position. DeLaine reviews how citizenship defined what it meant to be Roman and how political and military exploits left “a permanent mark on the face of the city in the form of public buildings paid for out of family wealth or war booty and bearing the name of the donor”. This chapter explores the multicultural nature of the Roman world and how the founding of coloniae to settle military veterans drove both a “religious and political organization…based on that of Rome” with “many of their public buildings…inspired by those at Rome, such as the forum basilicas”. Drawing on textual sources as well, DeLaine cites how Tacitus’ father-in-law, Agricola, acted as governor of Britannia by “encouraging them to build temples, civic centres, and houses” along with learning Latin, wearing the toga, and attending baths and dinner parties. This chapter reviews Greek cultural influences on Roman society (e.g. Romans learning Greek and employing Greek artists and architects) and cites the Forum of Augustus as a key example of Greek influence on the development of Roman architecture, evidenced by the statues of Roman summi viri adorning colonnades above which sit caryatids, mimicking those in Athens.
The second chapter focuses on architects. The opening section reviews the relationship between a building patron and an architect before proceeding to discuss the complicated role Vitruvius plays in the scholarship of Roman architecture. DeLaine acknowledges that Vitruvius provides “the clearest expression of what elite Romans considered important about architecture”, while appropriately cautioning the reader not to take his text as a prescription for universal applicability. She applauds Vitruvius as a “pioneer” among Latin authors but also “one voice”. Following this, DeLaine discusses the typical education, modest social standing, Greek antecedents, and prevalence of Roman architects. She cites how Trajan employed Apollodorus of Damascus to build his Forum and Baths and references how Pliny the Younger, when governor of Bithynia, wrote to Trajan about needing an architect, who replied that “every province has skilled men trained for this work”. The remainder of the chapter provides an overview of Vitruvian design principles as well as his recommended mathematical ratios and how Roman architects used plans and models. While briefly mentioned, a lengthier discussion of the Severan Marble Plan, and the various architectural forms shown, would be a useful addition.
Chapter 3 reviews Roman construction methods. At thirty-five pages, it does not discuss materials and techniques at length but provides a useful overview [for a fuller review, see Adam (1984)]. DeLaine begins with the use of timber framing, mudbrick, wattle-and-daub, and thatched roof construction in early Roman history to the use of volcanic tufa and limestone in the Republican period and then concrete, brick, and marble from the late Republic through Empire. She discusses techniques for building walls and quoins as well as using trusses and arches for supporting roofs along with barrel vaulting. DeLaine also notably highlights the economic differences between stone ashlar and mortared rubble construction, innovative Roman building types such as nymphaea and octagonal rooms, adaptations for regionally available materials, and the role of the military. There is also a useful discussion on roles in the Roman construction industry. The chapter concludes with the management of building supplies and the increasing control of production by the emperors.
Religious architecture is the subject of the fourth chapter. DeLaine begins with temple construction in the Republican period, i.e. the ‘Tuscan’ style, and the development of the Capitolium and temples built by victorious Roman generals. Despite the widespread use of Greek columnar orders, DeLaine rightly highlights how a high podium, frontal steps, and deep porch are emblematic of Roman temple design. She also explains how the Roman quadriporticus as well as sanctuaries such as Praeneste reveal Hellenistic antecedents. The chapter discusses the expanding use of the Corinthian order in the Imperial period and DeLaine cites this as counter to Vitruvius who recommended it only for “delicate and feminine deities”. This is followed by discussion of the use of marble from across the empire and short reviews of monuments such as the temples of Venus Genetrix, Mars Ultor, Castor and Pollux, Magna Mater, Peace, Roma and Venus, and the Pantheon. The final section reviews temple construction across the empire, with DeLaine observing Asia Minor among the few places where Greek temple forms persisted. In her discussion of Egyptian temple forms, the Temple of Isis in Pompeii and its hybrid Egypto-Roman form would have been a useful addition, but otherwise she aptly profiles hybrid Romano-Semitic and Romano-Gallic temple forms. A notable omission from this chapter is the guild hall-temple form of Ostia, which demonstrates the hybridization of religious and economic spheres.
Chapter 5 focuses on public architecture and “Housing the City”. It profiles the “distinctive Roman public building types” of the forum, basilica, market, circus, theater, amphitheater, and baths, including their social context and Greek and Hellenistic precursors. It charts the development of public architecture in the Republican period, with a focus on the Forum Romanum. DeLaine appropriately notes the increasing concentration of public building in the hands of the emperors, and how building patterns adapt for individual designs across the empire, such as variations in the built forms of basilicas. Beyond design, she also discusses functional use such as the basilica for law courts and conducting contractual business. With respect to performance structures, the chapter covers the development of the Circus Maximus and the Roman theater from its non-permanent, wooden origins to stone and brick structures. Specific elements of theater design are profiled along with insights from primary sources such as Plautus. Social context in theater construction and the common presence of seating for the senatorial class are also properly mentioned. DeLaine next discusses the development of the amphitheater and imperial fora. She reinforces how the Augustan building program was directly linked to the first emperor’s propaganda program. In the section profiling Trajan’s Forum, DeLaine describes “Trajan’s markets” as akin to a “modern shopping mall”, however, does not mention the alternative interpretation as imperial offices (Sear 1992: 162; Holleran 2012: 151-2). Curiously, there is only brief mention of the Columns of Trajan and Marcus Aurelius. Specific consideration is given to the Flavian Amphitheater and its use of classical columnar orders. A discussion of baths briefly profiles the imperial thermae of Rome and provincial examples, but there is only limited discussion of interior spaces and heating techniques. The chapter highlights how the proliferation of Roman public building forms in the provinces occurred over centuries and was not uniform, offering a compelling review of Roman ‘glocalization’ with examples from Mérida, Lepcis Magna, Ephesus, and other cities. Aqueducts are given only very limited attention.
The sixth chapter concentrates on “Housing the Individual”, i.e. domestic architecture. Beginning with the Roman domus, DeLaine reinforces the hybrid nature of Roman domestic space for greeting and entertaining clients and business associates as well as familial use. The chapter covers traditional Vitruvian room and feature terminology, and the association of the atrium with the salutatio, while properly noting it as a space that supported multiple uses throughout the day and that Vitruvius represents an idealized view not often conforming with the physical evidence. The peristyle and its social context for ambulatio and the conspicuous display of manicured gardens, statuary, and water features are also noted. No discussion is provided, however, about garden triclinia or the rectangular rooms likely used for group dining in Roman houses. DeLaine does cover how the axial atrium house, with its ability to manage street visibility, gave way to a “dog-leg approach” for concealing interior space in the provinces. The chapter also profiles multi-story brick and concrete insulae, developed for high-density living and their social stratification across floors. Rural villa architecture is reviewed as well as the imperial residences, villas of Tivoli and Split, and mausolea. The chapter covers Augustan construction activity on the Palatine, Nero’s Domus Aurea, and Flavian extensions to the imperial palace; however, it is silent on the Domus Tiberiana and Severan enhancements. Finally, funeral architecture is briefly discussed. This section would benefit from elaboration on funerary monument types and the social context of necropoleis.
In the seventh chapter, the “Adornment of the City” is the focus. DeLaine begins with a discussion of city walls and gates with attention to their symbolic meaning (e.g. urbanitas, dignitas). She rightly notes walls as among the most expensive public works. The chapter includes an extended discussion of the triumphal arch and victory column, charting their development from Republican generals to glorifying emperors, but does not provide an in-depth review of primary monuments (e.g. the Arch of Titus). This is followed by discussion of the monumentalization of streets and high-profile examples of “magnificentia” such as the El-Khasneh tomb in Petra and the Augustan victory monument at La Turbie in France.
In summary, this book provides a concise yet rich overview of Roman architecture and its social context in Rome and the provinces, reinforced by copious examples. Extensive color photographs support the text with very few legibility issues (e.g. Fig. 121).
References
Adam, J-P. 1984. Roman Building: Materials and Techniques. New York: Routledge.
Gros, P. 1996. L’Architecture Romaine: Du début du IIIe siècle Av. J.-C. à la fin du Haut-Empire, Volume 1: Les monument public et Volume II: Maisons, palais, villas et tombeaux (rev. 2011). Paris: Picard.
Holleran, C. 2012. Shopping In Ancient Rome. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sear, F. 1992. Roman Architecture. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Ward-Perkins, J.B. 1977. Roman Architecture (rev. 2003). New York: Abrams.
Yegul, F. and D. Favro. 2019. Roman Architecture and Urbanism: From the Origins to Late Antiquity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.