List of ancient Greek and Roman roofs

The list of ancient roofs comprises roof constructions from Greek and Roman architecture, ordered by clear span. Roof constructions increased in clear span as Greek and Roman engineering improved. Most buildings in classical Greece were covered by traditional prop-and-lintel constructions, which often required interior colonnades for support. In Sicily, truss roofs are believed to have appeared as early as 550 BC. Their potential was fully realized during the Roman Empire, which saw trussed roofs spanning over 30 meters in width, covering the rectangular spaces of monumental public buildings such as temples, basilicas, and later churches. These spans were three times as large as the widest prop-and-lintel roofs and were only exceeded by the largest Roman domes.

Almost no original classical roofs survive. The two best known exceptions, both circular or nearly so, are the small stone roof of the Tower of the Winds in Athens (perhaps 1st century BC) and the large Roman concrete roof of the Pantheon, Rome.

Greek roofing

+ List of ancient Greek monuments by descending largest clear span Image Monument Location Region Date Type of roof Width between cella walls Clear span between colonnades Largest clear spanTemple of Olympian Zeus (or Olympeion)AgrigentoSicilyTruss Conjectured by Temple of HeraclesAgrigentoSicilyTruss Temple ESelinunteSicilyTruss ParthenonAthensGreeceProp-and-lintel S. BiagioAgrigentoSicilyTruss AtheneSyracuseSicilyTruss ErechtheionAthensGreeceProp-and-lintel Treasury of GelaOlympiaGreeceTruss Temple of Athena AleaTegeaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of ZeusOlympiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple CSelinunteSicilyTruss MegaronGaggeraSicilyTruss AtheniansDelosGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple DSelinunteSicily Truss Temple of HeraAgrigentoSicilyTruss Temple of ConcordiaAgrigentoSicilyProp-and-lintel Temple ASelinunteSicilyTruss Temple of ApolloDelphiGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple GSelinunteSicilyTruss Temple FSelinunteSicilyTruss Temple of IsthmiaIsthmiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of PoseidonSounionGreeceProp-and-lintel HeraionAt the mouth of the Sele River near PaestumItaly, LowerProp-and-lintel ArtemisKalydonGreeceProp-and-lintel Kardaki TempleCorfuGreeceProp-and-lintel Second Temple of HeraPaestumItaly, LowerProp-and-lintel Temple of Athena/CeresPaestumItaly, LowerProp-and-lintel ApolloDelosGreeceProp-and-lintel BasilicaPaestumItaly, LowerProp-and-lintel Tavole PalatineMetapontumItaly, Lower Bouleuterion (S)OlympiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Bouleuterion (N)OlympiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of ApolloBassaeGreeceProp-and-lintel RhamnousAtticaGreeceProp-and-lintel MetroonOlympiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of HeraOlympiaGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of Hephaestus (or Theseion)AthensGreeceProp-and-lintel ArtemisCorcyraGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of AsclepiusEpidaurosGreeceProp-and-lintel Temple of AphaiaAeginaGreeceProp-and-lintel ApolloSyracuseSicilyTruss ApolloCorinthGreeceProp-and-lintel

Roman roofing

+ List of Roman monuments by descending clear span Image Monument Location Region Date Type of roof Clear spanThrone room of the Flavian PalaceRome Italy, CentralTruss Roman TheatreAosta Italy, UpperTruss DiribitoriumRome Italy, CentralTruss Coenatio IovisRome Italy, CentralTruss Constantine's BasilicaTrier GermanyTruss Odeon of AgrippaAthens GreeceTruss Temple of Venus and Roma Rome Italy, CentralTruss Basilica UlpiaRome Italy, CentralTruss Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the WallsRome Italy, CentralTruss Old St. Peter's BasilicaRome Italy, CentralTruss

See also Record-holding roofs in antiquity Ancient Greek architecture Ancient Roman architecture List of Ancient Greek temples

References

Sources

Further reading

External links Traianus – Technical investigation of Roman public works