Basilica of Maxentius, Rome, Italy, 312 AD

It is evident that the Romans lived like they were gods, and this is because they built like they were gods – colossal, majestic, and structurally remarkable. When studying Roman buildings, it is extremely common to become fascinated with their accomplishments, from the mastery of materials to their ambitious scale of structural grandeur. The Basilica of Maxentius is a prime example of the Romans’ structural ingenuity and the godly level to which they perceived themselves to be a part of.

The remains of the Basilica of Maxentius in Rome, Italy.

Covering an area of almost 70,000 square feet and rising above the ground approximately 115 feet, there is no doubt that the Basilica of Maxentius is one of the most impressive buildings of Ancient Rome. It earns the title as one of the largest concrete structures built in ancient Rome, and remains the title as the tallest structure still standing from the Roman Forum.1 The construction started in 308 AD by the emperor at the time, Maxentius, but completed by "Constantine the Great" after his defeat over Maxentius in the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD.3 This marked a turning point for building in the city of Rome, as the empire began to see a decline in the construction of large vaulted public monuments like that of the basilica.

Traditionally, basilicas were used as public market places and courthouses, acting as roofed extensions of the forum. However, traditional basilicas were built with a flat roof; the Basilica of Maxentius was built with a folded roof, allowing a diminution of the overall weight of the structure and decreasing the horizontal forces exerted on the outer arches. Under the roof, the building consisted of a central nave covered by three groin vaults suspended over 110 feet above the floor on four large piers. It ended in an apse at the western end containing the colossal statue of Constantine, fragments of which are now held in a courtyard in a museum in Rome.   

Proposed section of the Basilica of Maxentius.

The horizontal forces of the groin vaults were held by moderately large nearby aisles (75x56 feet). These aisles were spanned by 3 semi-circular barrel vaults perpendicular to the nave, and narrow arcades ran parallel to the nave beneath the barrel vaults.2 The nave itself covered an area of 21,528 square feet (83x265 feet). Running the length of the southern end of the basilica was a projecting “prostyle” porch with four columns (tetrastyle).

Floor plan of the Basilica of Maxentius.

The Basilica of Maxentius is emblematic for many reasons, from the construction of the Roman forum, to the rebirth of an empire. Most importantly, it serves as a representation of the Roman ingenuity of construction, their mastery of materials, and implementation of unique design. The basilica is a prime example of how Romans used certain techniques that had been formed and matured over time and applied them successfully on a scale that went unmatched. However, even this godly structure is no match for the forces of nature. After an earthquake in 847 AD, the south and central sections of the basilica were destroyed; later on, the nave collapsed in 1349 AD from another earthquake. Only one of the eight 66-feet high columns survived the tremors of these earthquakes and was transported by Pope Paul V to Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.2

Today, the Basilica of Maxentius is a half-cut structure, with the north aisle being exposed, revealing 3 concrete barrel vaults. The ceilings of the barrel vaults are covered with octagonal ceiling coffers showing, yet again, the structural skills of the Romans.

Octagonal ceiling coffers of the Basilica of Maxentius.

Valued for its use of large concrete vaults and referred to as one of the greatest engineering achievements of Rome, what remains of the Basilica of Maxentius can only give us a partial gratitude of the magnificance with which the basilica once stood.

                           

₁ Ramos, Katleiah. "Basilica of Maxentius." Engineering Rome. Engineering Rome, 19 Sept. 2013. Web.

₂ Norris, Shawn T. "BASILICA OF MAXENTIUS AND CONSTANTINE: A BUILDING FOR EVERY NEED." Rome Across Europe. Rome Across Europe, 21 June 2016. Web.

₃ Roth, Leland M. Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History, and Meaning. New York, NY: Icon Editions, 1993. Pg. 30, 222. Print.

The Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia

Stretching from the Nile River in Egypt to the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in modern Iraq, the Fertile Crescent, deemed the “cradle of civilization”, embraces the birthplace of agriculture, urbanization, writing, trade, science, history and organized religion.

Apart from its literal meaning of a crescent-shaped area with fertile soil, the term “Fertile Crescent” was first conceived by Egyptologist James Henry Breasted in 1916 in his works Ancient Times: A History of the Early World; in his book, he described the fertile crescent region as “approximately a semi-circle, with the open side toward the south, having the west end at the south-east corner of the Mediterranean, the centre directly north of Arabia, and the east end at the north end of the Persian Gulf.”1 Since then, the phrase has been widely used to describe the land, also known as Mesopotamia.

Map of the Mesopotamia region encompassing the Fertile Crescent. 

The Fertile Crescent was first populated in c. 10,000 BCE, which is when the domestication of animals and the cultivation of the land began. By 4500 BCE, agricultural crops were being produced, an irrigation system was fully developed and the cultivation of wool-bearing sheep was practiced widely. Around the same time, the first cities began to rise: Eridu, Sumerians, then Uruk. As civilizations migrated onto the land, further cultivation of wheat, rye, barley and legumes and some of the earliest beer in the world were being produced. In fact, the most ancient evidence of beer brewing was found to be made by the Sumerians, who settled in northern-day Iran. By 2300 BCE, the invention of soap from tallow and ash grew very popular as personal hygiene was assessed to define one’s standing in the community and in the judgement of the gods; which is an addition to the other artifacts that were being created at the time such as wall paintings, vases and other ceramics. 2

The first cultural empire on the Fertile Crescent was established in 2334 BCE, and lasted to 2279 BCE; this was the rule of Sargon of Akkad, also known as Sargon the Great. Through his rule, religious literature, such as hymns, art works and eventually great building projects were completed, such as the construction of roads and the restoration of Babylon. By 2000 BCE, the infamous (from the Bible’s perspective) empire of Babylon controlled the Fertile Crescent. 2

As time progressed, the region became home to many well-known civilizations who built their empire on this middle eastern region; some of its inhabitants consisted of: the Assyrians in 600 BCE, the Neo-Babylonian Chaldean Empire in 580 BCE, the empire of Cyrus the Great in 539 BCE, the Achaemenid Empire, also known as The First Persian Empire, the empire of Alexander the Great in 334 BCE, and the Parthians, among others. Through these realms, architectural marvels of ancient Meopotamia began to arise.

Among these architectural marvels was the alleged construction of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar II. 2 Made of mud brick, waterproofed with lead, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon earned its title as one of the seven wonders of the world. According to ancient sources, the king had the Hanging Gardens built for his wife Amytis to comfort her homesickness.

Image of possible view of The Hanging Gardens of Babylon(L). Drawing of site plan of the Gardens(R).

Other architectural marvels arose through the progression of civilization in the Fertile Crescent as well. Works such as the Ziggurat during the time period of Sumer and Akkad, the temple of Tell Harmal durng the Babylonian empire, the Khorsabad Palace during the Assyrian empire, amongst many others, exemplified as the architectural progression of ancient civilizations who inhabited The Fertile Crescent.

Today, The Fertile Crescent, has lost most of its beauty and function, as the area of use of the region have decreased from a once covered 5,800-7,700 square miles of fertile marshlands, to a measly 580-770 square miles. Appeals have been made from numerous environmental groups and regional farmers to stop drainage and damming projects, but were unfortunately ignored by the governments of Syria, Turkey and Iraq. 3 Eventually, what was once considered the bountiful, fruitful, luscious land deemed the foundation of civilization and according to biblical studies, where the Garden of Eden was located, has become dry, cracked plains of sun-baked clay.

                           

1 Breasted, James Henry. Ancient Times, a History of the Early World: An Introduction to the Study of Ancient History and the Career of Early Man. Boston: Ginn, 1916. Print. Pg. 101.

2 Mark, Joshua J. "Fertile Crescent." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 02 Sept. 2009. Web.

3 National Geographic News. "Ancient Fertile Crescent Almost Gone, Satellite Images Show." National Geographic. National Geographic Society, 18 May 2001. Web.