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The Roman Arch
1 The Romans did not invent the arch. The ancient Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks all used it. However, the purpose of the arch in these cultures was limited to supporting small structures. People often used columns to support the roof. This design limited the size of a building. Romans continued the idea of the arch, but greatly improved it. They used new materials, new ways to build, and creative designs to build new structures. 2 Most Roman arches consist of wedge-shaped blocks that form a curved structure. Its purpose is to support or strengthen a structure that has an open space. The top center stone is called the keystone. It is the most important stone in an arch because without this stone the arch would collapse. The keystone holds the arch together and is the last block to be inserted. During construction, arches are often supported by a wooden frame. When the frame is removed, both sides of the arch press against the keystone and thereby support the arch. |
Arches Can Support Huge Amounts of Weight
3 Roman arches were constructed with a material called concrete. Using a mixture that included lime and volcanic sand, the Romans created a very strong and durable type of concrete. This was poured in between the stone blocks to make the arch stronger. Arches made out of this could support a lot of weight. By using these techniques to build stronger arches, Romans were able to build massive structures, such as aqueducts and the Colosseum. Vault and Dome 4 The Roman arch caused the Romans themselves to make further architectural developments. They combined arches to form ceilings or roofs called vaults. The Romans also used the idea of the arch to form a circular ceiling or roof called a dome. An early example of a dome is the Roman Pantheon. |
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