Roman Architecture

The power embodied by the roman architecture scene attracted Constantine and his planners into using basilicas as the worship building for christens so as to separate them from pagans and highlight the new status that Christianity held in Rome. Therefore roman Architecture is worth mentioning to ruminate this powerful aspect. Numerous European cities still stand reminders of the ancient Rome’s power and the prejudice of roman supremacy is still noticed across the western world. Architecture was essential to the Rome’s success. Both recognized architecture such as basilicas and temples and its useful buildings such as bridges and conduits served significant duties in unification of the empire. Roads construction with bridges facilitated communication across the far-flung empire. Romans were enabled by the aqueducts such as the Pont du Gard to provide sufficient water supply to its cities. Its cities were protected by city walls such as the one in Autun. A network of administrative centers was provided by cities and served as observable symbols of power across the empire. Romans founded quite a number of European cities and towns with London and Paris being most notable (Garth, 1994). The symbolic authority power of the roman architecture led to the assent to superiority of Christianity over paganism during Constantine’s reign.

The constructions in these cities handed out Roman authority unswervingly and circuitously. For instance, administrative functions were served by a type of building referred to as basilica. Exemplification of this category of buildings was done by the Basilica Ulpia built by the Emperor Trajan at the starting of 2^ndC AD. An apse, which was used as the seat of the magistrate held responsible for law special consideration was the characteristic element of these basilicas. An image of the emperor, the source of law usually accompanied the magistrate. The seated Pontius Pilate sided by images apparently; the emperor is shown by the 6^thC illustration of Christ being judged. The hemispherical line on top of the scene is explained well by viewing this as an echo of the form of the apse. The concept of Roman authority the church in a Roman city placed across for the empire’s citizens. The connection with power was a significant foundation for the application of the basilica type as the normal form of the Christian church since the time of Emperor Constantine. Notably, emperors had a significant say in the construction of religious buildings for the purpose of worship and its expansion. Pagan emperors built pagan temples all over their jurisdiction areas and it was therefore apparent that Constantine as the first Christian empowered would build churches to expand Christianity. Constantine’s decision to use basilicas as churches ultimately led to construction of more basilicas during his reign.