List of Roman domes

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The Pantheon in Rome. Largest dome in the world for more than 1,300 years. Pantheon dome.jpg
The Pantheon in Rome. Largest dome in the world for more than 1,300 years.
Oculus of the Pantheon Pantheon oculus.jpg
Oculus of the Pantheon

This is a list of Roman domes. The Romans were the first builders in the history of architecture to realize the potential of domes for the creation of large and well-defined interior spaces. [1] Domes were introduced in a number of Roman building types such as temples, thermae, palaces, mausolea and later also churches. Semi-domes also became a favoured architectural element and were adopted as apses in Christian church architecture. [2]

Contents

Monumental domes began to appear in the 1st century BC in Rome and the provinces around the Mediterranean Sea. Along with vaults and trusses, they gradually replaced the traditional post and lintel construction which makes use of the column and architrave. The construction of domes was greatly facilitated by the invention of concrete, a process which has been termed the Roman Architectural Revolution. [3] Their enormous dimensions remained unsurpassed until the introduction of structural steel frames in the late 19th century (see List of largest domes). [1] [4] [5]

Domes

All diameters are clear span in m; for polygonal domes applies to the in-circle diameter. Main source is Jürgen Rasch's study of Roman domes (1985).

Diameter 
(m)
Name,
Part
LocationBuiltShape of dome,
Ground plan
Material,
Roof construction
Shell
Thickness ST 
(m)
ST to 
Curtain Wall
Thickness CWT 
(m)
CWT to 
Diameter Oculus  DO
(m)
DO to 
Comments/
Other Characteristics
~ 43.45 [6] Pantheon Rome 126 AD Rotunda Concrete,
Lead plate roofing
~ 1.35
1:32
~ 5.93
1:7.3
8.95
1:4.9
Largest dome of the world until 1436; largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world till present; [7] archetype of Western dome construction to this day [4] [8]
~ 38.20 [9] Temple of Apollo Lake Avernus 1st c.
~ 35.08 [5] Baths of Caracalla,
Caldarium
Rome 3rd c. Amphoras Eight pillars; largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
~ 29.50 [10] Temple of Diana Baiae 2nd c.1.20
1:25
~ 5,70 [11]
1:5.2
~ 26.30 [10] Temple of Venus Baiae 2nd c. -~ 2.90 [12]
1:9.1
Outer wall pillars
~ 25.04 [13] Mausoleum of Maxentius Rome 4th c.Rotunda
~ 25.00 [14] Baths of Agrippa,
'Arco della Ciambella'
Rome ~ 1st c. BC Rotunda First Thermae in Rome with central dome; [14] largest dome of the world
~ 24.15 [10] Arch of Galerius and Rotunda Thessaloniki 4th c.Brick~ 1
1:24
6.00
1:4
Largest brick dome of the world
~ 23.85 [10] Sanctuary of Asclepius Pergamon 2nd c.Brick -3.35
1:7.1
Earliest monumental brick dome; [15] largest brick dome of the world
~ 23.70 to
~ 19.80 [16]
St. Gereon's Basilica Cologne 4th c.Oval with eight niches and apse Later medieval structure with Roman building fabric largest occidental dome between Hagia Sophia and Florence Cathedral [17]
~ 23.65 [10] Temple of Minerva Medica Rome 4th c. Decagon Concrete with brick ribs0.56
1:42
~ 2.60 [12]
1:9.1
Outer wall pillars
~ 22.00 [18] Baths of Antoninus Carthage 2nd c. Polygon Seven domes with diameters between 17 and 22 m [18]
~ 22.00 [19] Rotunda at the Hippodrome Constantinople 5th c. Rotunda with ten niches
~ 22.00 [20] Baths of Diocletian,
San Bernardo
Rome ~ 300 Concrete with brick ribs
~ 21.65 or
21.25 [21] [22]
Baths of Diocletian,
'Planetarium'
Rome ~ 300Umbrella dome,
Octagon
Concrete with inner brick covering4.20
1:5.1
~ 21.55 [22] Temple of Mercury Baiae ~ 1st c. BC Concrete [23] 3.65
1:5.9
Earliest monumental dome; [24] largest dome of the world
~ 20.18 [10] Mausoleum of Helena Rome 4th c.Ceramic amphora incorporated into dome's base0.90
1:22
2.40
1:8.4
~ 19.80 [21] Baths of Caracalla,
Side building
Rome 3rd c. Octagon Preliminary form of the pendentive dome [21]
~ 19.40 [21] Baths of BacuccoNear Viterbo 4th c.Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 19.30 [22] Baths of Diocletian,
Tepidarium
Rome ~ 3003.68
1:5.2
~ 18.38 [10] Pantheon Ostia 3rd c. -1.98
1:9.3
~ 18.00 [16] Church of Euphemia Constantinople 5th c. Hexagon
~ 16.75 [25] Hadrian's Villa,
'Serapeum'
Tivoli 2nd c.Umbrella dome Concrete Hollow space system
~ 16.45 [18] Imperial Baths,
Tepidarium
Trier 4th c. Concrete
~ 15.70 [18] Basilica of San Vitale Ravenna 6th c.Clay pipe,
Wooden roof construction
~ 15.60 [22] Nymphaeum in Albano Laziale ?1st c. Concrete 2.08
1:7.6
Earliest evidence for hollow spaces at dome's base for reduction in weight [26]
~ 15.00 to
~ 13.00 [15]
Southern baths Bosra 3rd-4th c. Octagon Concrete
~ 15.00 [16] Western baths Jerash 2nd c. Square Voussoir One of the earliest stone domes with square plan; [16] largest stone dome of the world
~ 14.70 [10] Heroon of Romulus at the Roman Forum Rome 4th c.Lead plate roofing0.90
1:16
~ 1.80
1:8.2
3,70
1:4.0
~ 14.50 [10] Temple of Portunus Porto ~ 3rd c. Concrete with inner brick covering -~ 2.20
1:6.6
~ 13.71 [10] Mausoleum of Tor de' Schiavi Via Prenestina 4th c.0.60
1:23
2.60
1:5.3
Four openings at dome's base
~ 13.48 [24] Domus Aurea Rome 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon
Concrete 5.99
1:2.3
First dome with octagonal plan; earliest in palace architecture [24]
~ 13.35 [10] Mausoleum of Diocletian Split ~ 300Brick,
Tiled roof
0.68
1:20
3.40 [11]
1:3.9
Double-walled dome [13]
~ 12.90 [13] Chapel of Saint Aquilino Milan 4th c.Brick
~ 12.33 [27] Tempio della Tosse Tivoli 4th c. Concrete with brick ribs1.30
1:9
2.08
1:5.9
2.10
1:5.9
~ 12.00 [20] Hadrian's Villa,
Summer Triclinium (Exedra)
Tivoli 2nd c. Concrete with inner brick covering
~ 12.00 [18] Baths of Aquae FlavianaeEl Hammam3rd c.Clay pipes Largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
~ 12.00 [16] Church of Hodegetria Constantinople 5th c. Hexagon
~ 12.00 [16] Skeuophylakion Constantinople ~ 5th c. Dodecagon
~ 11.90 [10] Baptistery Nocera Superiore
Campania
6th c.Eight rectangular dome windows
~ 11.90 [28] Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus'
Tivoli 2nd c.Double-walled dome with spacing for ceiling heating [28]
~ 11.50 [29] Red Basilica Pergamon ~ 2nd c.BrickTwo Rotunda; largest brick dome of the world
~ 11.50 [27] Santa Costanza Rome 4th c. Concrete with brick ribs,
Tiled roof directly resting on dome shell
~ 0.70
1:16
1.45
1:7.9
Tambour [30]
~ 11.50 [16] Mor Gabriel Monastery Tur Abdin 6th c.Brickyes
~ 11.47 [27] Praetorium Cologne 4th c. Octagon -2.00 [11]
1:5.7
~ 11.10 [27] Gordian's Villa Rome,
Via Prenestina
3rd c. Octagon -~ 1.35 [11]
1:8.2
Preliminary form of the pendentive dome; [21] eight openings at dome's base
~ 11.00 [5] Therme d’Allance??
~ 10.80 [27] Mausoleum of Gallien Rome,
Via Appia
3rd c. Rotunda with six niches -~ 1.60
1:6.8
~ 10.70 [27] Mausoleum of CentocelleCentcelles,
near Tarragona
4th c.Brick and stone~ 0.40
1:27
~ 1.90
1:5.6
~ 10.40 to
~ 9.40 [25]
Hadrian's Villa,
small baths
Tivoli 2nd c. Elliptical dome with wavelike rim
~ 10.00 [25] Gordian's Villa,
Hall
Via Prenestina~ 2nd c.
~ 10.00 [26] Villa delle Vignacce Via Latina 2nd c.Ceramic amphora at dome's baseEarliest known use of amphora at dome's base [26]
~ 19.85 [18] Cathedral,
Baptistery
Ravenna 5th c.
~ 19.50 [31] Rotunda of St. George, Sofia Sofia early 4th c.RotundaBuilt by the Romans in the 4th century, it is a cylindrical domed structure built on a square base.
1~ 9.50 [21] Hadrian's Villa,
Piazza d'Oro (vestibule)
Tivoli 2nd c.Umbrella dome~ 1,90
1:5.0
1~ 9.50 [19] Praetextat catacomb,
'Calventier tomb'
Rome 3rd c. Rotunda with six niches
1~ 9.00 [15] Capito Thermae,
Laconicum
Miletus 1st c. Concrete
1~ 9.00 [16] Small Roundtemple Baalbek 3rd c.
1~ 8.50 [19] Domus Augustana Rome 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon
One of the earliest cloister vaults with octagonal curtain walls [19]
~ 18.10 [27] Torraccio del Palombaro Rome,
Via Appia
~ 4th c.~ 0.90
1:9
2,30
1:3.5
~ 1.50
1:5.4
1~ 7.70 [21] Baths of Maxentius Rome 4th c.Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 17.60 [5] Domus Flavia Rome 1st c.
1~ 7.60 to
~ 6.20 [19]
Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus'
?2nd c. Cloister vault,
Uneven octagon
1~ 6.80 [16] NymphaeumRiza,
Epirus
~ 250-350 Dodecagon
1~ 6.75 [21] Temple of Venus,
Annex building
Baiae 2nd c.Flat umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 16.65 [22] Hall of Thermae Pisa?~ 2nd c. Cloister vault with eight windows,
Octagon
2.00
1:3.3
~ 16.52 [24] Stabian Thermae,
Laconicum
Pompeii ~ 1st c. BCCone vault (early form of the dome) Concrete yesOldest known concrete domes [24]
1~ 6.00 [18] Hunting Thermae Leptis Magna ~ 200 Cloister vault with eight windows
~ 15.86 [18] Arch of Marcus Aurelius Tripoli ? Cloister vault Voussoir
1~ 5.70 [10] Water Castellum Pompeii ~30 BC-
14 AD
Flat dome
~ 15.40 [21] Octagon near 'Temple of Mercury' Baiae 2nd c.Umbrella dome,
Octagon
1~ 5.40 [13] San Vitale,
Stair towers
Ravenna 6th c.Brick
~ 15.20 [16] Sedia del Diavolo,
Tomb
Rome,
Via Nomentana
2nd c. Square
1~ 4.70 [19] Tabularium Rome ~ 1st c. BC Cloister vault,
Square
Earliest cloister vault [16]
~ 14.41 [25] Temple of Venus,
Annex building
Baiae 2nd c.Umbrella dome above circular ground plan0.59
1:7.5
1~ 4.40 [32] Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Ravenna 5th c.Tiled roof
1~ 4.00 [10] Tomb at Casal de' Pazzi Rome,
Via Nomentana
2nd c.In-circle dome,
Square
Concrete Preform of pendentive dome; [10] hollow space system
~ 11.65 [24] Villa of the Mysteries,
Laconicum
Pompeii ~ 1st c. BCCone vault (early form of the dome)Brick and clay (upper calotte)Concrete wall shell [33]
~ ? [19] Mausoleum of Constantine at the Church of the Holy Apostles Constantinople 4th c.Presumably Rotunda with twelve niches

Half-domes

Diameter Name,
Part
LocationBuiltShape of dome,
Ground plan
Material,
Roof construction
Shell
thickness (ST)
ST to 
Curtain wall
thickness (CWT)
CWT to 
Comments/
Other characteristics
~ 30.00 [6] Baths of Trajan Rome ? Largest dome(s) of the world
~ 22.00 [6] Baths of Diocletian,
Two apse halls
Rome ~ 300
~ 18.50 [6] Trajan's Forum Rome ?
~ 15.80 [18] Santi Cosma e Damiano,
Apse
Rome 6th c.
~ 11.00 [15] Nymphaeum Jerash 2nd c. Concrete
1~ 9.60 [15] Basilica,
Apse
Bostra ~ 3rd c. Concrete, inside covered with ashlar
1~ 8.00 [15] Cathedral,
Annex rooms
Bostra 6th c. Concrete
1~ 5.70 [13] Pantheon,
Front niches
Rome 2nd c.

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 Rasch 1985 , p. 117
  2. Buildner. "How Roman architecture influenced modern architecture". architecturecompetitions.com. Retrieved 2023-09-06.
  3. Lechtman & Hobbs 1986
  4. 1 2 Mark & Hutchinson 1986 , p. 24
  5. 1 2 3 4 Heinle & Schlaich 1996 , p. 27
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rasch 1985 , p. 119
  7. Romanconcrete.com
  8. Müller 2005 , p. 253
  9. Bishop 1977 , p. 92
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Rasch 1985 , p. 129
  11. 1 2 3 4 Corner
  12. 1 2 Pillar
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Rasch 1985 , p. 123
  14. 1 2 Heinz 1983 , pp. 60–64
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rasch 1985 , p. 125
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Rasch 1985 , p. 126
  17. Schäfke 1985 , pp. 100 & 118
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rasch 1985 , p. 124
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rasch 1985 , p. 127
  20. 1 2 Rasch 1985 , p. 138
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rasch 1985 , p. 130
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 Rasch 1985 , p. 136
  23. Mark & Hutchinson 1986 , p. 33
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rasch 1985 , p. 118
  25. 1 2 3 4 Rasch 1985 , p. 133
  26. 1 2 3 Rasch 1985 , p. 135
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Rasch 1985 , p. 128
  28. 1 2 Rasch 1985 , p. 139
  29. Rasch 1985 , p. 137
  30. Rasch 1985 , p. 120
  31. "Rotunda St. George, Sofia City". bulgariatravel.org. Archived from the original on 2014-05-20.
  32. Rasch 1985 , p. 134
  33. Rasch 1985 , p. 122

Sources

Main source
Further sources