Art History - The Roman Empire - Terms

Front 1

forum

Back 1

The public square of an ancient Roman city.

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basilica

Back 2

In roman architecture, a public building for legal and other civic proceedings, rectangular in plan with an entrance usually on a long side.
In Christian architecture, a church somewhat resembling the Roman basilica, usually entered from one end and with an apse at the other.

Front 3

cuirass

Back 3

A military leather breastplate

Front 4

concrete

Back 4

A building material invented by the Romans and consisting of various proportions of lime, mortar, volcanic sand, water, and small stones.

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tetrarchy

Back 5

Greek, "rule by four"
A type of Roman government established in the late third century CE by Diocletian in an attempt to foster order by sharing power with potential rivals.

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arch

Back 6

A curved structural member that spans an opening and is generally composed of wedge-shaped blocks (voussoirs) that transmit the downward pressure laterally.

Front 7

What year was Pompeii destroyed?

Back 7

On August 24, 79 CE

Front 8

How was Pompeii destroyed

Back 8

On August 24, 79 CE, the Mount Vesuvius, a long-dormant volcano, suddenly erupted. Many properous towns around the Bay of Naples (the ancient Greek city of Neapolis) among them Pompeii, were buried in a single day.