Influence of Roman Architecture on Western Architecture

Echoes of the Roman Empire’s custom are found in cities across the western world. Countries and head of government have imitated the discrete form of Roman Architecture to endow with visual testimony on their power and authority (Rolfe, 2009). Especially good instances can be obtained in Paris. Napoleon positioned out to construct Paris to be an innovative Rome after he was crowned emperor in 1804 (Rolfe, 2009). The Arc de Triomphe, specially made in 1806 by Napoleon though not accomplished until 1836 is the most popular instance of the French borrowing of Roman formulas. Napoleon specially made a colossal detached column that was based directly on the Trajan’s column from the early 2^ndC. The Vendome column topped by Napoleon’s bronze figurine dressed in a roman Emperor’s style such as the Trajan on his column. Napoleon is shown holding a globe topped by a Nike or conquest figure while standing in the classical contrapposto stance. The Laurel wreath worn by Napoleon means that he is a conquering emperor. He decided to construct a Temple of Glory to his military. The outcome was what is currently referred to as the church of the Madeleine. Pierre-Alexandre Vignon, the architect, based clearly his building on the separate form of the Roman temple.

According to Rolfe (2009), the Roman architecture’s tradition has had a significant influence on American architecture. For instance, numerous courthouses across America can be viewed to be concerning the Roman architecture, a particularly outstanding example in the United States Supreme Court building in Washington. It was designed by Gilbert Cass and accomplished in 1935, the center of the building can be observed as being directly based on the type of Roman Temple such as the characteristics of being elevated on a dais and approached by a formal front staircase. The freestanding editorials alone come out on the Supreme Court building’s front like the Roman temple. The external side of the Supreme Court is fully clad in white mineral just like a lot of the other main communal structures in Washington. The choice of mineral was deliberate to echo the power of Greek and Roman official structural design.  The memoirs of Augustus explains how when Rome was transformed from a city of brick to a marble city by Augustus. The resolution to base design of courthouses in America on Roman temple is comprehensible when kept in mind that our lawful system traces its power back to the tradition of Roman law. The language of legal authority is still Latin.

According to Rodgers (1989), tombstones developed frankly from Roman forms to decorate numerous American cities. For instance, there is the Washington Square Arch in New York City derived from the tradition of Roman Triumphal Arches. Tombstone of Washington referred to as Baltimore was based undoubtedly on the facade of the Column of Trajan (Rodgers, 1989). When putting into consideration the famous location of American cities provided to equestrian figurines of great revolutionary or Civil War generals (Rolfe, 2009). I’Enfant based clearly his plans on Roman planning when he laid down the plan for Washington D.C. The Mall with its axial planning that originated from the capitol edifice down via the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial is based without a doubt on the Roman fora’s design (Harries, 2004).