Abstract
This paper looks at the occurrence of concrete and the arch. It expands to give the significance of both in addition to their benefit in the existence of Rome.
Introduction
The composition of concrete includes water, extrusive stones, extrusive ash,.and sedimentary rocks (Wayman, 2011). The creation was established by firing up sedimentary rocks into calcined lime and then add some water to it to achieve a burnt lime glue. Afterward, the extrusive ash which has parts in three was now added to the burnt lime glue thereby transforming into a lasting mortar. Mind you, extrusive stones would now be included in the lasting mortar to arrive at the concrete of Rome. The substance can now be molded to form an arch by selecting a cast of any sizing. This commixture of crunched extrusive ash, with calcined lime in that time, was known as cement. But the significance of the concrete in the day to day activities of Rome could be seen in construction for structuring out aqueducts for water supplies, the construction of walls, bridges, and vaults, etcetera, etcetera. Another significance resorted to the construction of secure buildings such as the Roman Pantheon and the Colosseum respectively. It also substituted for rubbled that was being used to fill-up walls including the construction of durable buildings structurally. Such buildings included personal houses, the amphitheater the triumphal arch, the massive aqueduct, the building for grains as well as the Roman basilica to name a few (Cartwright, 2018, para. 1).
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Each arch is indeed a construction that is elongated at the edge and thus is backed on each corner either by a support beam, wall, or handrail to bear the weight of a building or construction in a particular way (Collins, n.d ., para. 1; Muscato, n.d.). The construction was established by initially creating structures and sometimes even walls mostly on opposite wings. After having to stand on concrete slabs, fiberglass members within the size of an arch were made seen at the epicenter of the two opposite ends. After which builders constructed it now by casting concrete into the timber bracing or structuring to align the facade adequately while using rocks, and placing cemented paste in between the stones or rocks. However, the cuneiform rocks mounted in the middle were still that which barricaded in position the latter rocks which mean that in a nutshell automatically, everything indeed just holds no sway. But also this is the one which the other way round distributes the same load upward and descending. Not only that but, it was placed in the end but known as the cornerstone after construction was completed.
This arch assisted the Romans in quite some ways including permitting them to employ less construction material items across a vast expanse such as in the constructions involving connecting highways bridges and dams to name a few. The arch also reflected the love of the ruler the emperor to the masses indicating their significance to him. The arch also reflected the love of the ruler the emperor to the masses indicating their significance to him. This is seen in the construction of the Flavian Amphitheatre alternatively known as the Colosseum as Emperor Titus Flavius Vespasian built it with the people the masses in mind demonstrating how significant they were to him (Chappine, n.d., para. 2). The Roman arch is significant also because it improves structure durability. This durability of structure also leads to another significance of the arch which allowed the construction of significant structures such as durable homes, the Roman basilica, the Roman Colosseum, dams, roads, and connecting highway bridges. Another significance of the Roman arch was to make merry from warfare (Midford, 2014, p. 11, para. 1). For example, on its dedication on 25 July 315 CE, the Arch of Constantine was built by the Senate to honor the Great Emperor Flavius Constantine as a symbol of his victory over the tyrannical Maxentius (Midford, 2014, p. 22, para. 3). The sense of victory in and of itself is partly the reason why it is also known as the triumphal Roman arch to add to this. Even more, the triumphal Roman arch also showed off how affluent the emperor and his empire were worth (Midford, 2014, p. 12).
The consequence of employing the arches brought about the construction of dams, connecting bridges. This allowed for durable structures to be erected in Rome. Roman Architecture was also a consequence of employing the arches as well. Another consequence of employing the arch allowed for ordinary people such as artisans and the wretched ones in Roman society to being able to build more durable houses than they would have otherwise been able to. Employing arches also allowed for the construction of the aqueduct a dam-like structure that allowed the Roman polis to possess fresh clean water. The other consequence of employing arches allowed the construction of connecting highway bridges to transport and connect both people and places.
In a nutshell, the concrete and arches were extremely significant in the daily living of the Romans. It allowed for constructing durable structures. Such structures included dams, bridges, roads, highways, personal living houses, and so forth. They were made to be long-lasting structures. Today, we can find similar applications as either replicas or prototypes in our different societies where we find ourselves around the world without a doubt.
References
- Wayman, E. (2011, November 16). The Secrets of Ancient Rome’s Buildings. Smithsonian. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-secrets-of-ancient-romes-buildings-234992/
- Cartwright, M. (2018, March 14). Roman Architecture. Ancient. https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Architecture/
- Collins. (n.d.). Definition of 'arch': arch. CollinsDictionary. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/arch
- Muscato, C. (n.d.). The Roman Arch: Definition, Construction & History. Study. https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-roman-arch-definition-construction-history.html
- Chappine, P. (n.d.). The Roman Colosseum: History & Facts. Study. https://study.com/academy/lesson/the-roman-colosseum-history-facts-quiz.html
- Midford, S. (2014). Roman Imperial Triumphal Arches. Journal of the Classical Association of Victoria, 27, 11-26. https://classicsvic.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/midford.pdf
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