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A few things struck me when I first went to Rome. - How colorful Roman architecture was in its heyday. Some of the preserved interiors are full of rich wall pa
by bane 6y ago
A few things struck me when I first went to Rome.
- How colorful Roman architecture was in its heyday. Some of the preserved interiors are full of rich wall paintings with some fairly modern abstract bits in the them. It's nothing like we see today.
- How much brick the Romans used. I remember wandering around looking at some ruins and dismissing some walls as "must be some 19th century stuff" only to realize that those brick walls were the original from a couple thousand years ago.
- How close Rome was to mass manufacturing. I remember learning for the first time how many Roman statues were the result of the client choosing a precarved heroic torso they liked from a dealer, and then an artist producing a suitable custom bust to fit the headless torso. The two were simply fitted together and voila, instant statue and less posing time for busy patrons.
- Roman glassware. The first time I saw it in a museum I passed it by, again thinking it must be some late 19th century early 20th century stuff. Romans just had pottery and such didn't they? No! Their tableware would not look too outlandish sitting at a place setting in a modern context today -- or at least as suitable flower vases.
- CoolGuySteve 6y ago> Their tableware would not look too outlandish sitting at a place setting in a modern context today -- or at least as suitable flower vases. Don't underestimate the gaudy tortured glass of an Italian nonna. It's a tale as old as time.
- lostlogin 6y agoYou are very much correct. It's very much like something I'd expect to see in a junk store or very elderly person's home. The wiki on Roman glass has some examples. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_glass https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_glass
- carlob 6y agoRegarding mass-production: I once saw an exhibition entirely devoted to brands in ancient Rome. Here's an article in English about it https://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/07/05/made-in-roma-romans-branded-products/ https://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/07/05/made-in-roma-roman...
- 082349872349872 6y agoOld phrases on new flip-flops: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d7/a5/24/d7a5244d6b3a8567340fa3b4c6c58ed5.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d7/a5/24/d7a5244d6b3a8567340f...
- jaclaz 6y agoRegarding glasswares Romans were already into mass-manufacturing many items, once they managed to use mould techniques with blowed glass, common items became inexpensive: https://www.ancient.eu/article/592/roman-glass/ https://www.ancient.eu/article/592/roman-glass/ The technique, see page 9 of this (Italian) pdf: http://s580172868.sito-web-online.it/risorse/VetroNotizie_2006_11_Moretti.pdf http://s580172868.sito-web-online.it/risorse/VetroNotizie_20... allowed for quick producing.
- HarryHirsch 6y agoSee here a video from the Villa Borg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaODucearU8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaODucearU8 Also Ennion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdwqnvqEi0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYdwqnvqEi0 Here is the incredible Bill Gudenrath producing Roman glass: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWZh7RXkW0I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWZh7RXkW0I
- jbay808 6y agoA lot of brick and stone architecture from later centuries made use of scavenged Roman bricks, too.
- lostlogin 6y agoTheir bricks are almost more like a tile. I can't seem to find anything good about why this was done. It must change the concrete to brick ratio significantly and something has made their buildings last a fair while.
- est31 6y ago> thinking it must be some late 19th century early 20th century stuff. I'm always surprised by how modern the tutankamun cabinet looks. You'd think 19th century, but it's 3 thousand years old. http://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/table.jpg http://www.touregypt.net/images/touregypt/table.jpg > How close Rome was to mass manufacturing Indeed! Check out the Barbegal mills https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Mus%C3%A9e_de_l%27Arles_antique%2C_Arles%2C_France_%2816168385326%29.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Mus%C3%A... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbegal_aqueduct_and_mills https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbegal_aqueduct_and_mills
- dehrmann 6y agoI'm somewhat surprised by the colors because pigments have changed a lot in two millennia. Art history loves to point out how much more vibrant paintings become as new pigments are discovered and invented.
- fsloth 6y agoAnd civil engineering! They had standard valves and whatnot as part of their elaborate water utility system. Unfortunately this link was the best I found. But man, as not a civil engineer you could very well convince me those are early 20th century: https://www.valvemagazine.com/web-only/categories/manufacturing/4947-ancient-roman-valves.html https://www.valvemagazine.com/web-only/categories/manufactur...