The Best Preserved of Ancient Roman Monuments Pantheon

The pantheon is one of the best preserved of ancient roman monuments. The construction materials were ahead of its time, and is similar to modern concrete. The pantheon is the only structure of its age and size to have survived the passing of time. It was first built as a temple to all gods and then later it was turned into a church. There are italian kings and poets buried there.

The pantheon had the largest unsupported dome in the world and the most spectacular archicital element which includes a hole at the top called the oculus is the only source of light and is the connection between the temple and the gods above. During construction, they made concessions for the rain that would occasionally fall through by slanting the floors to the water would drain if it hit the floor. There were no other windows in the oculus. On the exterior there are sixteen columns weighing 60 tons each. The columns came from egypt granite quarry and floated by barge down the Nile river. The colosseum is the largest amphitheater in the roman world. It was built in a quick time period for such a large project, 10 years by jewish slaves. The colosseum was built with several materials, travertine, limestone, concrete amongst others. It has over eight entrances and could seat up to 50,000 people.

The colosseum was used for games often was wild animals were used and killed throughout the games. It is said that over 500,000 people lost their lives along with 1 million animals. By the first century BC, the "classic" villa took many architectural forms, with many examples employing atrium or peristyle, for enclosed spaces open to light and air. Upper class, wealthy Roman citizens in the countryside around Rome and throughout the Empire lived in villa complexes, the accommodation for rural farms. The villa-complex consisted of three parts. The pars urbana where the owner and his family lived. This would be similar to the wealthy-person's in the city and would have painted walls.

The pars rustica where the chef and slaves of the villa worked and lived. This was also the living quarters for the farm's animals. There would usually be other rooms here that might be used as store rooms, a hospital and even a prison. The villa fructuaria would be the storage rooms. These would be where the products of the farm were stored ready for transport to buyers. Storage rooms here would have been used for oil, wine, grain, grapes and any other produce of the villa. Other rooms in the villa might include an office, a temple for worship, several bedrooms, a dining room and a kitchen.