.: Architectural Columns Trace Back To Roman Times
By:Ken Charnly
Architectural columns used in design in our modern world owe a debt of gratitude to ancient Roman architects. The Romans were the first culture to widely use architectural columns, and they did so with frequency, making Roman architectural columns easily recognized throughout the world.
The purposes of architectural columns in the Roman Empire were both practical and functional, providing support for the structures where they were included. But, they also were used for ascetic reasons. Roman architects, like the aristocrats who approved and financed their work, were concerned with things of beauty. Architectural columns allowed them to add beauty in a previously underused way.
A basilica, a roofed hall with a large central area called a nave, flaked by side rooms, would often use architectural columns. The first basilicas were used for business meetings and legal proceedings. This type of building was later adapted by the Christians and became a standard design for church buildings, most utilizing architectural columns throughout the first several centuries of Christianity, and many still in use today.
The center of the city of Rome was the forum, and this held true of other Roman cities. This was an open area surrounded by shops and was the primary meeting place of the town. It also held the Senate, the office of public records, the basilica, religious buildings and civic buildings. All of the buildings used around the forum, as a rule used architectural columns.
The Roman influence was seen throughout the middle ages in the building of palaces by the nobility and of cathedrals by the church. Many of these magnificent buildings have survived until modern times, and it is very common to see the Roman touch in the use of architectural columns for support of the large structures, as well as for decorative uses. In fact, many of the cathedrals of Europe took many years to build, with countries and districts trying to out do each other in the magnificence of their cathedrals, the height of the architectural columns, and their devotion to the cause of the church. Piety was a virtue in the middle ages for individuals, but they believed their cathedral buildings should be large and magnificent.
To see the influence the architectural columns of Roman times have had on us today simply take a walk around the campus of any university that is more than fifty years old. At the very least the administration building, and probably most of the classroom buildings will use architectural columns as well. Even fraternity houses, which often copy pre Civil War southern mansions make wide use of architectural columns. The Roman influence on our architecture is now, and always has been obvious if you only look.
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Ken Charnley is a personal finance enthusiast with http://www.online-loans-pro.com/ dedicated to quality information on online loans. For all your online loan needs visit and Apply For Loans Online
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