Villa of Mysteries H.Keles

                             Villa of Mysteries

Image by Archnet.com

Other than the villa of Doomed, there is villa of mysteries, which has gained fame for being the most important decorative fresco gatherings in the history of the Roman world. The villa was discovered in 1909. At that moment, the villa was at risk of losing its decorations to earth quakes and other potentially damaging elements. It was endangered by volcanic ash, approximately 30 feet. The initial villa was constructed in the second century BC. However, the current version is believed to have been set between 70 and 60 B.C. In A.D. 62, there was an earthquake that destroyed the preliminary version of the villa. This led to an extensive remodeling of the villa of mysteries. The renovation included numerous specifications has its previously space formed from a noble villa to an active farmhouse.

Some of the retained features of the former version include the plasterwork of the vestibule even though they have faded.  There are masonry benches on either sides of the vestibule. The villa of mysteries features corridors that open off both the north and south sides of the vestibule. It should be noted that the corridor opening to the north is relatively narrower and opens up to a significantly rather large room. A function on one of its walls characterizes this large hall as one of its domain features.

The villa of mysteries has aperistyle colonnade that is supported by 16 fluted Doric columns. We have a high boundary wall gapping the space between the columns. The high boundary walls are painted with red panels on a white ground situated in the lower black frieze. On the upper zone, we have a frieze made up of green blocks. A red entablature surmounts the green blocks.

A semi-ruinous conditioned room opens off the North West corner. This room leads to another odd shaped room with an apse on one of its walls and four niches that are rectangular in shape. The building’s masonry alters fronting the labarum niche. Interestingly, this niche has two statuettes: Hercules and another one for an ancient goddess. There is tetra style atrium whose roof is supported by four central brick columns. The atrium is decorated with gray mosaic floor that has white, red and gray marble chips.  We have adjoining Orcus whose access is the South Western corner of the perystyle. This room has second style decoration forms and yellow panels. The second style decorations entail fluted columns, festoons of garlands and illusionary architecture. The floor is mosaic in nature and has a single black border.

 Image by archnet.com shows distinctive elevation lines and floor plan perspective

Over the years, efforts have been made to conserve the walls, floors and frescoes of the villa. At team individuals with different expertise background have come together to correct the damaged caused by previous conservators and also restore the villa to its former remarkable interior. These experts include architects, chemists, physicist and archaeologists.

Work Cited:

1.

http://www.art-and-archaeology.com/timelines/rome/empire/vm/villaofthemysteries.html

Hammer, C.,Longfellow, B.,&Swetnam-Burland, M.(2000). The Villa of Mysteries in Pompeii:ancient ritual, modern muse.E.K. Gazda(Ed). Kelsey Museum of Archaelogy.

The Greek Agora

The Greek Agora

Image by Ancient-Greece.org

            The structure Agora dates back to its well-grounded origins in Greek architecture. The word Agora defines to the meaning of “assembly” in termsof signifying the importance behind “marketplace”.  The Agora stands tall and well rounded, as its current habitat is located in the northwest slope of the Acropolis. In the modern understanding the Agora was originally defined as “marketplace” Which lead to many other understandings regarding the space function and environmental effect. The Agora of Athens is presently seen and identified as the heart of the city. The Agora’s past function specialized in lifestyle services from residential areas to commercial options. The Agora was a dominant trade market place in use for more than 5,000 years. The current landmark has suffered countless buildings disasters as well has various constructional damage. If the current day archaeological site is noted there are still two basic land structures that still stand till this day. The social energy of the place was always very dominant. People from all spectrums of nature and tradition would come together to share university and even discuss political and religious culture. This creates physical opportunity widening the lenses of many drifted workers and landowners.

Image by archnet.com displays elevation and floor plan perspectives.

            The civic center located in the back entrance of the Agora was officially seen as one of the most important part of the ancient city. . The modest Temple of Hephaestus, which is the top, conserved ancient Greek shrines from the Orthodox era, and the impressive Stoa of Attalo. The building of the Hellenistic was rebuilt from the earth up based on its ancient exterior.

 The rich foundation of the Agora and its past function will forever serve as one of the most important areas. This is because the marketplace was a divine location in which thousands of people would come to trade not only goods but also commodities and tradition.  This divine sense of exchange soon took part in the bigger picture in terms of not only economic growth in Greek but also the actual expansion of man. Retail traders served, as a middleman between the people of Agora and the merchants. The market place became a production of social value. The processes of Agora resulted in the product of skilled artisans, merchants, politicians etc. The Agora of Athens is still defined as a prime example of democratic establishment.

Its excavations have been intensely studied and closely evaluated by the Greek Archaeological Society in the 19^th century. This research has answered in past design or structural concerns. The Romans constructed the most recognized building after their invasion to create civic buildings. The land of Agora at Athens ranges roughly over 6 acres.

The giant statues and huge lumps of marble create a difficult eye to not catch. Complementary with the harsh ruins in the middle of the archaeological site however, two impressive buildings stand witnesses to its past beauty. Philosophy in Agora gave great foreign social influence. The wise ideas and many ideal bringing are of different leaders and breadwinners soon would become its own idea of philosophy and trade. This architectural piece leads to many other physical inspirations from universities to philosophical debates. Agora would be considered one of the finest forms of prehistoric trade architecture. The usage of its space was always predominating when it came to economic growth for the entire nation.

Work Cited:

1.     http://ancient-greece.org/archaeology/agora.html

2.     http://www.ancient.eu/agora/