Roman
The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external language of classical Greek architecture for their own purposes, which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new architectural style. The two styles are often considered one body of classical architecture. Sometimes that approach is reproductive, and sometimes it hinders understanding by causing us to judge Roman buildings by Greek standards, particularly when we take a point of view limited to external appearance almost alone.
Certainly, the Romans absorbed Geek influence in many aspects closely related to architecture, for example in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining. But at this point so too should we note Roman indebtedness to their Etruscan neighbours and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for their future architectural solutions, for example in terms of hydraulics and in the construction of arches.
The Roman use of the arch together with their improvements in the use of concrete and construction of vaulted ceilings also enabled huge (covered) public spaces such as the public baths and basilicas. The Romans also based much of their architecture on the dome, such as Hadrian's Pantheon in the city of Rome, and the Baths of Diocletian
Innovation started in the first century BC, with the invention of concrete, a strong and readily available substitute for stone. Tile-covered concrete quickly supplanted marble as the primary building material and more daring buildings soon followed, with great pillars supporting broad arches and domes rather than dense lines of columns suspending flat architraves. The freedom of concrete also inspired the colonnade screen, a row of purely decorative columns in front of a load-bearing wall. In smaller-scale architecture, concrete's strength freed the floor plan from rectangular cells to a more free-flowing environment. Most of theses developments are ably described by Vitruvius writing in the first century AD
Arch of Titus
The Arch of Titus stands in the Forum in Rome, the symbolic heart of the Roman empire.
It marks the conquest of Jerusalem by the Emperor Titus. This was a major military success, and the arch is elaborately decorated with carved relief panels showing his triumphal procession.
Triumphal arches were completely a new building type, set up to commemorate great victories in the service of Rome. Like much Roman architecture, they were a supreme expression of power and empire.
