Task 1 The Classical Period: Hadrian, Pantheon, ca. 118-125 C.E PDF

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Task 1 -The Classical Period: Hadrian, Pantheon, ca. 118-125 C.E...

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The Classical Period: Hadrian, Pantheon, ca. 118-125 C.E. Amie Bates

A1. Historical Events or Innovations Hadrian’s Pantheon, one of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings standing today, was completed in Rome during the Classical period in the year 125 CE. This period in history spanned nearly one thousand years between the 8th century BCE to the 3rd century C.E. and notably one of the most influential periods in modern Western culture. Ancient Greco-Roman civilizations of this time were innovators in many disciplines laying the foundation for modern science, philosophy, mathematics, government, architecture, literature, theater, and art. The Classical Age of Greece (480 BCE and 323 BCE) brought the emergence of democracy, the fundamentals of western philosophy, scientific methodology, classical art, theater, literature, and architecture. The ingenuity of the ancient Greeks inspired the cultural basis for classical Rome and modern Western civilization. The ancient Romans, while greatly influenced by classical Greece, were revolutionary in building and engineering technology, providing a myriad of contributions to modern civilization. One example of many is the use of Romance languages (Italian, French, Spanish, Portuguese, and Romanian), which derived from Latin, the language spoken by the Roman Empire. Also, Romans were remarkable engineers constructing miles and miles of aqueducts, roads, bridges, and tunnels. The invention of Roman concrete, coupled with improved ancient Greek architectural methods, created many historical structures, such as the Pantheon, which still stand today, a true testament of the Roman architectural ingenuity.

A2. Work Analysis The Pantheon, constructed by Emperor Hadrian as a temple to honor everything divine, is a monument of the polytheistic culture during the Classical period. The architectural design of the Pantheon is an example of both Roman and Classical Greek tradition. The front of the building, reminiscent of an ancient Greek temple, consists of a classical portico with sixteen columns under a sizeable triangular roof, or pediment. The columns’ design is one of the three distinct styles developed by the ancient Greeks called the Corinthian order (Becker, 2015). The rotunda, a cylindrical shaped building, topped with a massive dome is a display of Classical Roman architecture and engineering ingenuity constructed by a series of overlapping arches and layers of brick and Roman concrete (Moore, 1995). The height of the building is precisely the same as the width creating a perfect sphere within the rotunda, giving the impression of balance and harmony. The portico also an example of balance with the symmetrical placement of columns and pediment (Meunch, 2011).

A3. Contribution to Humanities The Pantheon, a marvel of Roman construction ingenuity, has been studied for its architectural and engineering design for centuries. It is one of the most well-preserved ancient structures in existence and its design has been a significant influence on Western architecture for nearly two thousand years. The Classical portico and dome inspired the design of many famous buildings such as the White House, the Jefferson Memorial, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., and continues to influence architecture and design in the modern-day.

References Becker, J. (2015). Greek architectural orders. Retrieved from https://smarthistory.org/greekarchitectural-orders/ Meunch, S. (2011). Engineering the Pantheon – Architectural, Construction, & Structural Analysis. Retrieved from https://brewminate.com/engineering-the-pantheonarchitectural-construction-structural-analysis/ Moore, D. (1995). The Pantheon. Retrieved from http://www.romanconcrete.com/docs/chapt01/chapt01.html...