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This claim: “Credited as the home of the first highrise apartment buildings, Shibam has become a symbol for the rise and resilience of middle eastern culture in
by sologoub 9y ago
This claim: “Credited as the home of the first highrise apartment buildings, Shibam has become a symbol for the rise and resilience of middle eastern culture in the desolation of the surrounding desert.” appears to be false as Roman Insula reportedly reached over 9 stories high and predate these buildings: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insula_(building)# https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insula_(building)#
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- abuabdullah 9y agoOver 9 stories? Your source says: "The insulae could be up to six or seven stories high, and despite height restrictions in the Imperial era, a few reached eight or nine stories"
- sologoub 9y ago"High-rise apartments flourished in classical antiquity. Ancient Roman insulae there and in other imperial cities reached 10 and more storeys. Beginning with Augustus (r. 30 BCE-14 CE), several emperors attempted to establish limits of 20–25 m for multi-storey buildings, but met with only limited success." [Reference: Gregory S. Aldrete: "Daily Life in the Roman City: Rome, Pompeii and Ostia", 2004]
- mmjaa 9y agoInsulae aren't necessarily sky-scrapers, though, right? They kind of build up on a larger composite base, and are a bit more massive - and lower in general - whereas the Shibam seem to have a smaller base, but taller reach, as a whole.