Historical Buildings

Comparison between Roman and Greek Architectures

Throughout history, man has built. Architecture, whether it is monumental or not, carries an important role in our society, not merely for functional purposes, but also as a means of communication. Eloquence without words, although difficult, is accomplished effectively through architecture because buildings often functions as a center, or at least a very important part, of life. Whether a building is religious or civic, it attracts, or rather demands, attention and is, therefore, a perfect medium for conveying a concrete and public message. In many cases, however, rulers who sponsor the building of structures are intent on portraying one idea: their own power and authority. Examples of architecture designed to convey the power and authority of a ruler are found throughout the history of art. Examples include The Forum of Trajan in Rome and the Mortuary Precinct of Zoser in Egypt. Both are vast architectural complexes built by powerful rulers and, although they serve different functional purposes, are used as a medium for establishing supremacy.

The Forum of Trajan and The Mortuary Precinct and Stepped Pyramid of Zoser are architectural complexes that were used to glorify their patrons (Emperor Trajan and Pharaoh Zoser, respectively). However, each complex exhibits a different approach towards this ultimate goal because the cultural differences between Romans and Egyptians made it necessary to use different techniques. Romans had pride in their community and civic identity while Egyptians placed a higher emphasis on the importance of the afterlife; as such, the architectural complexes reflect these ideas.

The sheer grandness of the scale for the Forum of Trajan, as well as the references to Greek traditions in architecture, illustrates just how concerned Trajan was with outdoing former emperor's forums and, essentially, glorifying his own name. The Forum of Trajan was larger than the forums of Caesar, Augustus, and Nerva combined, and the Basilica Ulpia (named after his family) was, similarly, the largest of all basilicas in Rome; the two storied, dipteral basilica spanned a length of four hundred feet and was one hundred and fifty feet tall. Trabiated architecture, in the Greek tradition, was used throughout the forum. Particularly in the basilica, the post and lintel system, so favored by the Greeks in their temples, is used. Also, the ground level colonnade supported a massive frieze depicting Trajan's triumphal return to Rome after defeating the Dacians (the style of relief is similar to that of the Parthenon). Despite the fact that activity took place on the inside of the basilica, in contrast to Greek practice, the Basilica Ulpia, as well as the rest of the Forum of Trajan, still harkens back to Hellenistic traditions through the use of trabiated architecture and the frieze. The purpose of the Forum of Trajan is to glorify the power and authority of Trajan, and references to the Greek traditions in architecture are continually used throughout the forum because the Greek culture was revered by Romans. They were a great civilization, and, by quoting Greek traditions, Trajan associates himself with ...