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laid not poured like modern concrete. The first documented evidence of its
use is from 3rd century BCE Cosa and its first use in Rome seems to have
been a 2nd century BCE warehouse. Also in the 2nd century BCE it was
discovered that by using pozzolana (concrete made using volcanic

sand, pulvis puteolanus), which had a high silica content, the concrete
could set under water and was even stronger than normal concrete. By the
1st century BCE its use seems widespread in foundations, walls, and

vaults. Perhaps the best example of its possibilities in construction is the
Sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Palestrina.
Aqueducts & Bridges - These sometimes massive structures, with
single, double, or triple tiers of arches, were designed to carry fresh water

to urban centres from sources sometimes many kilometres away. The ear-
liest in Rome was the Aqua Appia (312 BCE), but the most impressive ex-
ample is undoubtedly the Pont du Gard near Nimes (c. 14 CE). Roman

bridges could make similar use of the arch to span rivers and ravines. Con-
structed with a flat wooden superstructure over stone piers or arches, ex-
amples still survive today. One of the best preserved is the granite Tagus

Bridge at Alcantara (106 CE) which has arches spanning over 30 metres.
Basilicas - The basilica was adopted by the Christian church but was
conceived by the Romans as a place for any large gathering, with the most

common use being law courts. They were usually built along one side of
the forum, the city’s market place, which was enclosed on all sides by col-
onnades. The basilica’s long hall and roof was supported by columns and
piers on all sides. The columns created a central nave flanked on all sides

by an aisle. A gallery ran around the first floor and later there was an apse
at one or both ends. A typical example is the Severan Basilica at Lepcis
Magna (216 CE).

Baths - Roman baths display the typical Roman ability for creating
breath-taking interior space using arches, domes, vaults, and buttresses.
The largest of these often huge complexes were built symmetrically along
a single axis and included pools, cold and hot rooms, fountains, libraries,

under-floor heating, and sometimes inter-wall heating through terracotta
piping. Their exteriors were usually plain, but within they were often
sumptuous with the lavish use of columns, marble, statues and mosaics.

One of the finest and certainly best surviving examples is the Baths of
Caracalla in Rome (completed 216 CE).
Private Homes - Perhaps more famous for their richly decorated inte-

rior walls using fresco and stucco, Roman private residences could also
enchant with atrium, peristyles, gardens and fountains, all ordered in har-

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