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An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns. An engaged column is a column embedded in a wall and partly projecting from the surface of the wall, sometimes defined as semi or three-quarter detached. In Roman architecture they exist in profusion, most commonly embedded in the cella walls of pseudoperipteral buildings. Engaged columns are distinct from pilasters, which by definition are ornamental and not structural.

Roman Arcade with Engaged Columns

An arcade is a passage or walkway covered over by a succession of arches or vaults supported by columns.…

A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by the extrusion of a single curve (or pair of curves, in the case of a pointed barrel vault) along a given distance. The curves are typically circular in shape, lending a semi-cylindrical appearance to the total design. The barrel vault is the simplest form of a vault: effectively a series of arches placed side by side, i.e., one after another.

Barrel Vault

A barrel vault, also known as a tunnel vault or a wagon vault, is an architectural element formed by…

A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced by the intersection at right angles of two barrel vaults. The word groin refers to the edge between the intersecting vaults; cf. ribbed vault. Sometimes the arches of groin vaults are pointed instead of round.

Groin Vault

A groin vault or groined vault (also sometimes known as a double barrel vault or cross vault) is produced…

A, brickwork; B, tufa ashlar; R, opus reticulatum; I, opus incertum.

Roman Wall Masonry

A, brickwork; B, tufa ashlar; R, opus reticulatum; I, opus incertum.

A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling, soffit or vault. A series of these sunken panels were used as decoration for a ceiling or a vault. The stone coffers of the ancient Greeks and Romans are the earliest surviving examples.A, from Palmyra; B, Basilica of Constantine.

Roman Ceiling Panels

A coffer in architecture, is a sunken panel in the shape of a square, rectangle, or octagon in a ceiling,…

The circular so-called "Temple of Vesta" at Tivoli, of the early first century BCE, has been widely admired since the Renaissance. Its ruins sit on the acropolis of the Etruscan and Roman city of Tibur (now Tivoli), overlooking the falls of the Aniene in a picturesque narrow gully.

Temple of Vesta, Tivoli

The circular so-called "Temple of Vesta" at Tivoli, of the early first century BCE, has been widely…

The Temple of Venus and Roma (Latin: Templum Veneris et Romae) was the largest known temple in Ancient Rome. Located at the far east side of the Forum Romanum near the Colosseum, it was dedicated to the goddesses Venus Felix (Venus the Bringer of Good Fortune) and Roma Aeterna (Eternal Rome). The architect was the emperor Hadrian. Construction of the temple began in 121. It was officially inaugurated by Hadrian in 135, and finished in 141 under Antoninus Pius. Damaged by fire in 307, it was restored with alterations by the emperor Maxentius.

Temple of Venus and Roma, Plan

The Temple of Venus and Roma (Latin: Templum Veneris et Romae) was the largest known temple in Ancient…

The forum was built on the order of Emperor Trajan with the spoils of war from the conquest of Dacia, which ended in 106. The Forum was built from a vast stoa-lined piazza measuring 660 by 390 feet (200 × 120 m) with exedrae on two sides. The Basilica Ulpia was an ancient Roman civic building located in the Forum of Trajan. It was named after Roman emperor Trajan whose full name was Marcus Ulpius Traianus.

Forum and Basilica of Trajan

The forum was built on the order of Emperor Trajan with the spoils of war from the conquest of Dacia,…

The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermæ, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla. The extensive ruins of the baths have become a popular tourist attraction.

Thermæ of Caracalla, Plan of Central Block

The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermæ, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216,…

The Colosseum or Roman Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium, Italian Anfiteatro Flavio or Colosseo), is an elliptical amphitheatre in the center of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire. It is one of the greatest works of Roman architecture and Roman engineering.

Colosseum, Half Plan

The Colosseum or Roman Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre (Latin: Amphitheatrum Flavium,…

Diocletian's Palace (Dioklecijanova palaca in Croatian) is a building in Split in Croatia that was built by the emperor Diocletian at the turn of the fourth century AD. The Latin name of the city, Spalatum, was drawn from that of the nearby Greek colony Aspalathos, which in turn was named after a white thorn common in the area. Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with the Latin word for palace, palatium.

Palace of Diocletian, Plan

Diocletian's Palace (Dioklecijanova palaca in Croatian) is a building in Split in Croatia that was built…

"Semi-columns (Roman). Engaged columns of the Maison Carrée, Nîmes, France." -Whitney, 1911

Semi-Columns

"Semi-columns (Roman). Engaged columns of the Maison Carrée, Nîmes, France." -Whitney,…

Christian architecture is Syria diverged from Roman traditions. The abundance of hard stone, the total lack of clay or brick, the remoteness from Rome, led to a peculiar independence and originality in the forms and details of the ecclesiastical as well as of the domestic architecture of central Syria.

Church at Kalb Louzeh

Christian architecture is Syria diverged from Roman traditions. The abundance of hard stone, the total…

A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or an elliptical dome over a rectangular room. The pendentives, which are triangular segments of a sphere, taper to points at the bottom and spread at the top to establish the continuous circular or elliptical base needed for the dome. In masonry the pendentives thus receive the weight of the dome, concentrating it at the four corners where it can be received by the piers beneath.

Diagram of Pendentives

A pendentive is a constructive device permitting the placing of a circular dome over a square room or…

In the Giraud Palace and the great Palazzo della Cancelleria, pilasters appear in the external composition, and all the details of doors and windows betray the results of classic study, as well as the refined taste of their designer.

Façade of the Giraud Palace, Rome

In the Giraud Palace and the great Palazzo della Cancelleria, pilasters appear in the external composition,…

An illustration of a roman diptych with gold leaf. A diptych is any object with two flat plates attached at a hinge.

Leaf of Roman Diptych

An illustration of a roman diptych with gold leaf. A diptych is any object with two flat plates attached…

The sestertius or sesterce was an ancient silver coin during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

Sestertius

The sestertius or sesterce was an ancient silver coin during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire.

An illustration of a Roman cithara.

Roman Cithara

An illustration of a Roman cithara.

The ground plan of the baths of Pompeii, Italy.

Baths of Pompeii

The ground plan of the baths of Pompeii, Italy.

The ground plan of the baths of Caracalla. The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae, built in Rome between AD 212 and 216, during the reign of the Emperor Caracalla.

Baths of Caracalla

The ground plan of the baths of Caracalla. The Baths of Caracalla were Roman public baths, or thermae,…

Four stringils in which the hollow for collecting the oil or perspiration from the body may be observed.

Four Stringils

Four stringils in which the hollow for collecting the oil or perspiration from the body may be observed.

An illustration of a Roman standard.

Roman Standard

An illustration of a Roman standard.

An illustration of a Roman standard.

Roman Standard

An illustration of a Roman standard.

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu which was known in Greco-Roman times as Apollonopolis Magna, after the chief god Horus-Apollo. It is the second largest temple in Egypt after Karnak and one of the best preserved. The temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus, was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 <small>BCE</small>. A, pylon; B, obelisks; C, entrance; D, temple courts; E, porticus; F, pronaos (court with colonnades); G, naos; H, sanctarium.

Temple of Edfu, Floor Plan

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of…

The so-called Attic base is the form which most frequently occurs; and consists of two tori separated by a cavetto, the whole having a plinth as basis; the upper torus being less high and projecting than the lower.

Attic Base in the Temple of Minerva Polias

The so-called Attic base is the form which most frequently occurs; and consists of two tori separated…

Rectangular block under the soffit of the cornice of the Greek Doric temple, which is studded with guttae. It is supposed to represent the piece of timber through which the wooden pegs were driven in order to hold the rafter in position, and it follows the sloping rake of the roof. In the Roman Doric order the mutule was horizontal, with sometimes a crowning fillet, so that it virtually fulfilled the purpose of the modillion in the Corinthian cornice.

Mutule, Side View

Rectangular block under the soffit of the cornice of the Greek Doric temple, which is studded with guttae.…

Rectangular block under the soffit of the cornice of the Greek Doric temple, which is studded with guttae. It is supposed to represent the piece of timber through which the wooden pegs were driven in order to hold the rafter in position, and it follows the sloping rake of the roof. In the Roman Doric order the mutule was horizontal, with sometimes a crowning fillet, so that it virtually fulfilled the purpose of the modillion in the Corinthian cornice.

Mutule, Front View

Rectangular block under the soffit of the cornice of the Greek Doric temple, which is studded with guttae.…

Ante-fixae, the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan, or Greek temple, as spaced they take the place of the cymatium and form a cresting along the sides of the temple. The face of the ante-fixae was richly carved with the anthemion ornament.

Ante-fixae

Ante-fixae, the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan,…

Ante-fixae (from Latin antefigere, to fasten before), the vertical blocks which terminate the covering tiles of the roof of a Roman, Etruscan, or Greek temple; as spaced they take the place of the cymatium and form a cresting along the sides of the temple. The face of the ante-fixae was richly carved with the anthemion ornament.

Ante-fixae

Ante-fixae (from Latin antefigere, to fasten before), the vertical blocks which terminate the covering…

The Overlap of Leaf is a Roman candelabrum design.

Overlap of Leaf

The Overlap of Leaf is a Roman candelabrum design.

The Roman Leaf design is shown as a capital of a column in Pantheon, Rome. The spoon-like roundings of the points of the leaves, as well as the deep incisions are designed to look good from a distance.

Roman Leaf

The Roman Leaf design is shown as a capital of a column in Pantheon, Rome. The spoon-like roundings…

The Roman Capital Leaf has rounder and broader tips.

Roman Capital Leaf

The Roman Capital Leaf has rounder and broader tips.

The Leaf Displayed is often used as a design on Roman reliefs, however, it is more richly developed on Florentine Pilasters.

Leaf Displayed

The Leaf Displayed is often used as a design on Roman reliefs, however, it is more richly developed…

The Roman Cup is an artificial foliage design that has serrated edges, made to look like natural desgins.

Roman Cup

The Roman Cup is an artificial foliage design that has serrated edges, made to look like natural desgins.

The Roman Ornament design is also called the "Medicean Pilaster".

Roman Ornament

The Roman Ornament design is also called the "Medicean Pilaster".

The Roman Ornament is a marble biga design that is from an imitation of an original in bronze.

Roman Ornament

The Roman Ornament is a marble biga design that is from an imitation of an original in bronze.

This Roman Ornament design comes from a "Florentine Pilaster". It is a richly decorated marble relief that comes from Uffizi, Florence.

Roman Ornament

This Roman Ornament design comes from a "Florentine Pilaster". It is a richly decorated marble relief…

The Laurel branches were found in a the silver treasure of Hildesheim, Rome.

Laurel Branches

The Laurel branches were found in a the silver treasure of Hildesheim, Rome.

These Laurel Design Fragment is a design found on a Roman marble relief.

Laurel Design Fragment

These Laurel Design Fragment is a design found on a Roman marble relief.

The Scroll ornament vine is a Roman relief design.

Scroll Ornament Vine

The Scroll ornament vine is a Roman relief design.

The Roman Ornament Vine is used as a vertical border.

Roman Ornament Vine

The Roman Ornament Vine is used as a vertical border.

This Roman column is a fragment taken from the Vatican, Rome.

Roman Column

This Roman column is a fragment taken from the Vatican, Rome.

The Roman Festoon is a bouquet of fruit shown between two animal skulls.

Roman Festoon

The Roman Festoon is a bouquet of fruit shown between two animal skulls.

The Roman Mortuary Tablet Festoon is found in the Vatican.

Roman Mortuary Tablet Festoon

The Roman Mortuary Tablet Festoon is found in the Vatican.

The Roman Leaf Festoon was hung as a decoration on the friezes of temples, alternating with the real skulls of slaughtered sacrificial animals.

Roman Leaf Festoon

The Roman Leaf Festoon was hung as a decoration on the friezes of temples, alternating with the real…

The Greek Griffin is associated with Antiquity and fire, usually appears on Candelabras and friezes. The Griffin has the body of a Lion and the head and wings of an Eagle.

Greek Griffin

The Greek Griffin is associated with Antiquity and fire, usually appears on Candelabras and friezes.…

The Roman Griffin has the body of a Lion and the head and wings of an Eagle. The Griffin is usually associated with Antiquity and fire, and appears on Candelabras and friezes.

Roman Griffin

The Roman Griffin has the body of a Lion and the head and wings of an Eagle. The Griffin is usually…

The Renaissance Griffin is associated with Antiquity and fire, it appears on Candelabras and friezes. The Griffin has the body of a Lion and the head and wings of an Eagle.

Griffin Renaissance

The Renaissance Griffin is associated with Antiquity and fire, it appears on Candelabras and friezes.…

Assyrian Eagle-Head.

Assyrian Eagle-Head

Assyrian Eagle-Head.

The Roman Chimaera is found in the Vatican.

Roman Chimaera

The Roman Chimaera is found in the Vatican.

This Ram head is found at a Roman altar.

Ram Head

This Ram head is found at a Roman altar.

This Young Eagle design is shown on a scutella or dish during the Roman times.

Young Eagle

This Young Eagle design is shown on a scutella or dish during the Roman times.

The Roman Eagle is shown on a pedestal of Trajan's column in Rome.

Roman Eagle

The Roman Eagle is shown on a pedestal of Trajan's column in Rome.

The Roman Eagle is found at the Vatican in Rome.

Roman Eagle

The Roman Eagle is found at the Vatican in Rome.

The Roman Eagle is in an oak garland a bas-relief. Originally located in Trajan's Forum, now is in SS. Apostoli, Rome.

Roman Eagle

The Roman Eagle is in an oak garland a bas-relief. Originally located in Trajan's Forum, now is in SS.…

The Sitting Eagle is a modern design.

Sitting Eagle

The Sitting Eagle is a modern design.

Romanesque Heraldic Eagle

Romanesque Heraldic Eagle

Romanesque Heraldic Eagle

The Gothic Heraldic Eagle was designed by French Architect Viollet-le-Duc.

Gothic Heraldic Eagle

The Gothic Heraldic Eagle was designed by French Architect Viollet-le-Duc.

This Gothic Heraldic Eagle comes from an oil painting.

Gothic Heraldic Eagle

This Gothic Heraldic Eagle comes from an oil painting.

This Gothic Heraldic Eagle was designed by Albrecht Durer.

Gothic Heraldic Eagle

This Gothic Heraldic Eagle was designed by Albrecht Durer.