The Pantheon at Rome 9, figs. I, 2) has also the circular ground plan, which, unless the surroundings gave occasion for its simple solidity, probably bore previously an external decoration with rich and elegant forms, while its attached portico repeats the Grecian temple-system, and thus by reminiscence characterizes the building as a temple (A/. io, 8).
Erected in 27 B. C. by the architect Valerins of Ostia, it was originally dedi cated to Jupiter Ultor, and formed part of the Baths of Agrippa.
Architectural Activity of this Period.—The reign of Augustus, who in matters of art and knowledge was himself one of the most illustrious men of his time, gave its name to epochs of high culture, and was for Rome a period of the most developed architectural activity. Augustus himself vaunted that he found a city of brick and left one of marble. We have mentioned (p. So) that he completed the magnificent structures begun by Caesar. The erection of new monumental public edifices stands in noticeable relation to the increase and constant development of the city. The public life of Rome exacted the extension of the sites set apart for these structures, and a forum which Augustus built bore his name.
Basilicas.—As the citizens gathered in multitudes under the open sky upon the forum to talk of public affairs and to execute their business, roofed and enclosed spaces for similar purposes became necessary. These were pro vided in the basilicas, the name of which bears witness to their Greek origin. They were essentially immense lofty halls divided by ranges of columns into a nave and several aisles and furnished with galleries above the outer aisles. The multitudes swayed to and fro in this ample space, while usually from a semicircular projecting addition upon one of the shorter sides, sep arated from the main room by columns, the judge dispensed justice, and was always at hand to settle litigation. Vitruvius, an architect of this period to whom we are indebted for his De Archifectura—a very remarkable work upon architecture—describes in the first chapter of the fifth book the plan of basilicas in general, which should be built near the forum, in the warmest places possible, so that they could be comfortably occupied by the merchants in winter. The length should be twice or thrice the width.
He describes a basilica built by himself at Fano which differed somewhat from the accustomed form, as an example of which lie mentions that of Julia Aquiliana.
The Basilica at Fano had a nave z zo feet long by 6o in width. Columns 5 feet in diameter and 5o feet high, with capitals, separated the nave from the galleries, which were 20 feet wide. Piers 20 feet high at the back of these columns bore the joists of the galleries of the side-aisles, and above these piers rose again to the height of IS feet, bearing the roof of the aisles, above which light was admitted into the nave below the architrave of the principal columns. The columns on the longer sides were eight in number, and on the shorter sides four, reckoning the angle-columns. Upon one side the two middle columns were omitted, so as not to hide the por tico of the Temple of Augustus. The tribunal-niche was not semicircular, but segmental, and had a depth of only 15 feet, against a width of 46 feet. The most peculiar part of this basilica was the arrangement of the high columns which in front of the aisles bore the roof of the nave, while in other basilicas two rows of columns were superposed.
In Pompeii there is a basilica in which the tribune is not semicircular, but by an internal projection on one of the short sides is situated in the gallery, which was here of double width. The attempted restorations also show here columns which extend the entire height, but without galleries over the aisles. Other basilicas remain at Aquino, Palestrina, Palmyra, and Pergamum.
the characteristic decoration of the Roman city belong the great arches (O/. ro), some of which were erected in especially con spicuous parts of the city as triumphal memorials in commemoration of glorious battles, while others formed entrances to the markets and com mercial forums, and, as their facades faced both sides, were called " Arches of Janus." Arches were consecrated by Augustus at Susa, Rimini, and Aosta to commemorate his triumphs over the people of the mountains.