Roman Building: Materials and Techniques (French: La Construction Romaine: matériaux et techniques) is a treatise on Roman construction by French architect and archaeologist Jean-Pierre Adam, first published in 1984. A second edition was published in 1989, and an English translation by Anthony Mathews was published in 1994. The book comprehensively studies architecture across the Roman empire throughout its history, focusing on technique rather than design.[1]

Roman Building: Materials and Techniques
AuthorJean-Pierre Adam
Original titleLa Construction Romaine: matériaux et techniques
TranslatorAnthony Mathews
LanguageFrench
SubjectAncient Roman architecture, ancient Roman engineering
GenreNonfiction
Publication date
1984
Publication placeFrance
Published in English
1994
Pages360 (English translation)[1]
ISBN0-7134-7167-0

Contents

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The book has 11 chapters:[2]

  • Surveying
  • Materials
  • Construction using Large Stone Blocks
  • Structures of Mixed Construction
  • Masonry Construction
  • Arches and Vaults
  • Carpentry
  • Wall Covering
  • Floors
  • Civil Engineering
  • Domestic and Commercial Architecture

Reception

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When the translation was released, several reviewers of Roman Building such as classicist Nigel Spivey commended it for its thorough, accurate coverage. These English-speaking academics noted its ambitious scope beyond almost all previous scholarly works: it treated all areas of construction technique throughout ancient Rome's history across all of Roman territory.[1][3] While classicist Roger Ulrich was among them, he noticed that the French author emphasized Italy, Gaul and North Africa in his choice of examples, and within Italy the well-preserved cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum.[1] He also faulted the treatise's sometimes inaccurate handling of Latin technical terminology.[4]

Citations

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  1. ^ a b c d Ulrich 1995, p. 499.
  2. ^ Adam 1994, p. 5.
  3. ^ Spivey 1995, p. 244.
  4. ^ Ulrich 1995, p. 500.

Bibliography

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