Vitruvius

  • Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (c.88-c.26 BCE) was a Roman Military Engineer who described in ten books called De Architectura, how the Romans built their Aqueducts and other Great Works. He also described Catapults and Roman Town Planning.
  • This knowledge was lost until he was rediscovered later during the Renaissance (c.1300-1700 CE).

Roman Military Engineers

  • The Engineers were attached to the Roman Legion who built most of the infrastructure in the Roman Provinces such as the Forts, Roads, Ports, Bridges, Public Buildings, Towns, Canals, Aqueducts, Viaducts and the Dams.
  • The engineers were called ‘Immunes’ (i.e., immune from regular soldiers duties). Their officers were called ‘Architecti’.
  • Vitruvius was a Roman military engineer and his 10 Books called De Architectura, cover everything from constructing aqueducts, bridges and ports to building siege machines.

Works

  • De Architectura libri decem
    • Meaning ‘The ten books on Architecture’.
    • In this work he describes the construction of Aqueducts and the machines used in the building of great Works.

Aqueducts of Rome

Sundials and Waterclocks

  • Book IX describes every known Sundial with its Greek inventor, and types of Water Clock.
  • The Anaphoric Clock:
    • Vitruvius describes an anaphoric clock in Alexandria in Book IX, Chap.8. 8-15.
    • It was probably a waterclock, identical or certainly very similar to the Tower of Winds in Athens.
    • The clock had a rotating field of stars behind a wire frame which indicated the time of day.
    • The wire frame and star map were constructed using Stereographic Projection.

Waterwheels and Catapults

  • Book X.

Technique of moving giant Stone Blocks

  • Book X.
  • Vitruvius cites two examples of how to move stone blocks:
  • A cylindrical column:
    • Two bolts were inserted, one at each end of the column, turning it into an axle.
    • Two shafts were then attached, one to each end.
    • Oxen were then attached to the shafts with chains and harnesses
    • The block started to rotate and could be hauled any distance.
  • For a square Stone Block:
    •  A wooden wheel was constructed around each square end.
    • A bolt was inserted into each hub and attached to a shaft.
    • Oxen were attached by chains and harnesses.
    • Again, the block rotated behind them like an axle.
  • This would explain how the enormous stone Trilithons were moved at the Baalbeck Roman Temples.

Vitruvian Method

  • This was a detailed explanation of Vitruvian Method of Shipbuilding, by building the shell of the ship first.
    • Phase 1. Build the ship’s profile.
    • Phase 2. Build the Keel and flat bottom up to the second order of cincti.
    • Phase 3. Build the sides up to the third whale.
    • Phase 4. Build the Ribs, first those with crossbeams, then those without.

 

Posted in .