Archive for the ‘Roman Architecture’ Category
The Roman Architecture
The Architecture of Ancient Rome adopted the external Greek architecture for their own purposes, which were so different from Greek buildings as to create a new architectural style. The two styles are often considered one body of classical architecture. This approach is considered reproductive, and sometimes it hinders scholars’ understanding and ability to judge Roman buildings by Greek standards, particularly when relying solely on external appearances. The Romans absorbed Greek influence, apparent in many aspects closely related to architecture; for example, this can be seen in the introduction and use of the Triclinium in Roman villas as a place and manner of dining. The Romans, similarly, were indebted to their Etruscan neighbors and forefathers who supplied them with a wealth of knowledge essential for future architectural solutions, such as hydraulics and in the construction of arches. Social elements such as wealth and high population densities in cities forced the ancient Romans to discover new (architectural) solutions of their own. The use of vaults and arches together with a sound knowledge of building materials, for example, enabled them to achieve unprecedented successes in the construction of imposing structures for public use. Examples include the aqueducts of Rome, the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla, the basilicas and perhaps most famously of all, the Colosseum. They were reproduced at smaller scale in most important towns and cities in …
Southern France – Rose Wine, Roman Ruins and Hemingway
During the height of the Roman Empire, from the 1st century BC to 1st century AD, its territories extended through out southern France, most notably in the Gard Department. Engineering marvels, that helped extend Roman control over the southern border of France and the Mediterranean, are now in ruins and scattered across the landscape in the Gard department. One of the most majestic and notable Roman structures is the Pont du Gard, an aqueduct that channeled water from the Eure River near Uzes, across the Gardon River down to the south and the town of Nimes.
Today, the Pont du Gard sits majestically stretched over the Gardon River, like a beautiful piece of sculpture. It is surrounded by a natural environment, forests on either side, the river flowing beneath its limestone arches and the sun turning the aqueduct into a beautiful warm ochre color. Three tiers of arches create one of the tallest pieces of Roman architecture in France and the slight angle that has been created to provide momentum to the water, give the bridge a lopsided appearance. Ancient olive trees, hundreds of years old, are entrenched near the foot of the perfectly engineered arches that form the centuries old bridge. The white pebble riverbed cuts a wide path through the rugged forest weaving like a snake down to the villages below, allowing the passage of its precious cargo, water.
Closer towards the Mediterranean, the Gard department meets the ocean in a series of coastal marshes called the Camargue. The marsh is surrounded by channels of fresh water that form a natural environment that is home to pink flamingoes and wild horses. Aigues Mortes is an ancient village in the Petite Camargue surrounded by medieval walls built during the 1200’s. During the first week in October, in preparation for the running of the bulls, the village gets loud. Rock bands play in the center downtown waiting for the release of the bulls inside the city walls. The town is also the setting for “The Garden of Eden” written by Ernest Hemingway.
Gard department has two regions of wine; the Costeries de Nimes and Vin de Pays des Sable du Golfe du Lion. The prevalent wine of both of these regions is a rose wine. The rose wines seem to flourish in the hot humid climate and the sandy soils that is typical of the Camargue, a salt marsh area south of Nimes and Uzes, that runs parallel to the Mediterranean coast.
The major independent wine producer in this area is Listel. Established in 1883, they were one of the few vineyards that survived the Phylloxera fungus that decimated France in the late 1800’s. It was the eco climate of the Camargue and the periodic flooding of salt marshes that prevented the fungus from being established on the Listel vines. Today Listel produces 80% of the Rose wines from the Camargue on their 5,000 acre domain and is very proud that their vines do not have any American rootstock.
sophialathan 