On Architecture, Volume I: Books 1-5

by Vitruvius, Frank Granger

Overview

The Renaissance man avant la lettre.

Vitruvius (Marcus V. Pollio), Roman architect and engineer, studied Greek philosophy and science and gained experience in the course of professional work. He was one of those appointed to be overseers of imperial artillery or military engines, and was architect of at least one unit of buildings for Augustus in the reconstruction of Rome. Late in life and in ill health he completed, sometime before 27 BC, De Architectura which, after its rediscovery in the fifteenth century, was influential enough to be studied by architects from the early Renaissance to recent times.

In On Architecture Vitruvius adds to the tradition of Greek theory and practice the results of his own experience. The contents of this treatise in ten books are as follows. Book 1: Requirements for an architect; town planning; design, cities, aspects; temples. 2: Materials and their treatment. Greek systems. 3: Styles. Forms of Greek temples. Ionic. 4: Styles. Corinthian, Ionic, Doric; Tuscan; altars. 5: Other public buildings (fora, basilicae, theaters, colonnades, baths, harbors). 6: Sites and planning, especially of houses. 7: Construction of pavements, roads, mosaic floors, vaults. Decoration (stucco, wall painting, colors). 8: Hydraulic engineering; water supply; aqueducts. 9: Astronomy. Greek and Roman discoveries; signs of the zodiac, planets, moon phases, constellations, astrology, gnomon, sundials. 10: Machines for war and other purposes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674992771
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	01/01/1931
Series:	Loeb Classical Library , #251
Edition description:	7th printing/1st pub.1931
Pages:	368
Product dimensions:	4.25(w) x 6.38(h) x 0.80(d)
Language:	Latin

About the Author

Frank Stephen Granger (1864–1936) was Professor of Classics and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

Bibliography

On Architecture

Book I. Architectural Principles

Book II. Evolution Of Building: Use Of Materials

Book III. Ionic Temples

Book IV. Doric And Corinthian Temples

Book V. Public Buildings: Theatres (And Music), Baths, Harbours

Index

Illustrations

Plate A. Winds And Direction Of Streets

Plate B. Plans Of Temples

Plate C. Ionic Order

Plate D. Corinthian Order

Plate E. Doric Order

Plate F. Musical Scales

Plate G. Theatre

Plate H. Plan Of Stabian Baths, Pompeii