Antiquitates Almae Urbis Romae

1618

de Beer Itb 1618 P

[Rome]: Ex typographia Camera Apostolica, sumptibus Hieronymi Bonae

In his work, De Architectura, Vitruvius (c. 80-15 BC) outlined what he thought was the ideal education for an architect and the principles of firmitas – durability; utilitas – usefulness; and venustas – beauty, in architecture. After his treatise resurfaced during the Renaissance it dominated architectural theory for the next 300 years. Andrea Palladio (1508-80) was heavily influenced by Vitruvius’s work. The above volume shows the Pantheon, which still stands in Rome 2000 years after it was first built and has the ‘largest unreinforced concrete dome’ in the world. The concrete was poured continuously, from the bottom of the dome to the top, so that it was seamless. The production, transport and distribution of all the concrete must have been a logistical nightmare.