Roman Builders: A Study in Architectural Process [Paperback]

Rabun Taylor (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521005833 | ISBN-13: 978-0521005838 | Publication Date: January 27, 2003

How were the architectural ideas behind great Roman building projects carried out in practice? Each major phase of the building process is considered in the building histories of the Baths of Caracalla, the Pantheon, the Coliseum, and the great temples at Baalbek. New hypotheses are advanced on the raising of monolithic columns, the construction sequence of the Coliseum, and the vaulting of the Pantheon. The illustrations include archival and original photographs, as well as numerous explanatory drawings.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...an original and involving book, well written and readable despite the technical nature of the subject, and will be of interest to anyone--scholar, teacher, student, architect, engineer, layperson, tourist--with an interest in Roman architecture and construction." The Classical Outlook

"Profusely illustrated with both photographs and diagrams, many executed by the author, this is an important study of architectural process and should enhance any architectural collection as well as any general academic collection in architecture, history or the humanities." E-STREAMS

"This handsome book provides a fresh new look at the material culture of Roman building. Essential." Choice

"We come away...with a much clearer understanding of Roman technology in action, what it could and could not do, and of the astonishing effort involved in such contructions. Read Taylor, and you will know full well why there was not a Pantheon in every town." Classical World, George W. Houston, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Book Description

How were the architectural ideas behind great Roman bu ilding projects carried out in practice? Roman Builders is the first, general interest book to address this question using the Baths of Caracalla, the Pantheon, the Coliseum , and the great temples at Baalbek as physical documents for their own building histories. Each major phase of the building process is considered. New hypotheses are advanced on the raising of monolithic columns, the construction sequence of the Coliseum, and the vaulting of the Pantheon. The illustrations include archival and original photographs, as well as numerous explanatory drawings.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (January 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521005833
• ISBN-13: 978-0521005838
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #765,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very informative and full of fascinating details, May 31, 2011

By 

dark life "dunkelleben" (modesto, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roman Builders: A Study in Architectural Process (Paperback)

great work, I enjoyed reading this book which has lots of details on how Romans had built their monuments such as Pantheon.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Ugh!, March 2, 2011

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History Nut (Virginia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Roman Builders: A Study in Architectural Process (Paperback)

I could not stand this book. It was for a facinating class in ancient architecture, but it was simply terrible. Informative, I will give it that, but don't count on it holding your attention for long.