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List of Roman domes

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The Pantheon in Rome. Largest dome in the world for more than 1,300 years
Oculus of the Pantheon.

This is a list of Roman domes. The Romans were the first builders in the history of architecture to realize the potential of domes for the creation of large and well-defined interior spaces.[1] Domes were introduced in a number of Roman building types such as temples, thermae, palaces, mausolea and later also churches. Semi-domes also became a favoured architectural element and were adopted as apses in Christian church architecture.

Monumental domes began to appear in the 1st century BC in Rome and the provinces around the Mediterranean Sea. Along with vaults and trusses, they gradually replaced the traditional post and lintel construction which makes use of the column and architrave. The construction of domes was greatly facilitated by the invention of concrete, a process which has been termed the Roman Architectural Revolution.[2] Their enormous dimensions remained unsurpassed until the introduction of structural steel frames in the late 19th century (see List of largest domes).[1][3][4]

Domes

All diameters are clear span in m; for polygonal domes applies to the in-circle diameter. Main source is Jürgen Rasch's study of Roman domes (1985).

Diameter ⌀
(m) 		Name,
Part 		Location Built Shape of dome,
Ground plan 		Material,
Roof construction 		Shell
Thickness ST 
(m)
ST to ⌀ 		Curtain Wall
Thickness CWT 
(m)
CWT to ⌀ 		Diameter Oculus DO
(m)
DO to ⌀ 		Comments/
Other Characteristics
~ 43.45 [5] Pantheon Rome 126 AD Rotunda Concrete,
Lead plate roofing 		~ 1.35
1:32 		~ 5.93
1:7.3 		8.95
1:4.9 		Largest dome of the world until 1881; largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world till present;[6] archetype of Western dome construction to this day[3][7]
38.20 [8] Temple of Apollo Lake Avernus 1st c.
~ 35.08 [4] Baths of Caracalla,
Caldarium 		Rome 3rd c. Amphoras Eight pillars; largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
29.50 [9] Temple of Diana Baiae 2nd c. 1.20
1:25 		~ 5,70 [10]
1:5.2
26.30 [9] Temple of Venus Baiae 2nd c. - ~ 2.90 [11]
1:9.1 		Outer wall pillars
25.04 [12] Mausoleum of Maxentius Rome 4th c. Rotunda
25.00 [13] Baths of Agrippa,
'Arco della Ciambella' 		Rome 1st c. BC Rotunda First Thermae in Rome with central dome;[13] largest dome of the world
24.15 [9] Arch of Galerius and Rotunda Thessaloniki 4th c. Brick ~ 1
1:24 		6.00
1:4 		Largest brick dome of the world
23.85 [9] Sanctuary of Asclepius Pergamon 2nd c. Brick - 3.35
1:7.1 		Earliest monumental brick dome;[14] largest brick dome of the world
~ 23.70 to
~ 19.80 [15] 		St. Gereon's Basilica Cologne 4th c. Oval with eight niches and apse Later medieval structure with Roman building fabric largest occidental dome between Hagia Sophia and Florence Cathedral[16]
23.65[9] Temple of Minerva Medica Rome 4th c. Decagon Concrete with brick ribs 0.56
1:42 		~ 2.60 [11]
1:9.1 		Outer wall pillars
~ 22.00 [17] Baths of Antoninus Carthage 2nd c. Polygon Seven domes with diameters between 17 and 22 m[17]
~ 22.00 [18] Rotunda at the Hippodrome Constantinople 5th c. Rotunda with ten niches
~ 22.00 [19] Baths of Diocletian,
San Bernardo 		Rome ~ 300 Concrete with brick ribs
21.65 or
21.25 [20][21] 		Baths of Diocletian,
'Planetarium' 		Rome ~ 300 Umbrella dome,
Octagon 		Concrete with inner brick covering 4.20
1:5.1
21.55 [21] Temple of Mercury Baiae 1st c. BC Concrete[22] 3.65
1:5.9 		Earliest monumental dome;[23] largest dome of the world
20.18 [9] Mausoleum of Helena Rome 4th c. Ceramic amphora incorporated into dome's base 0.90
1:22 		2.40
1:8.4
~ 19.80 [20] Baths of Caracalla,
Side building 		Rome 3rd c. Octagon Preliminary form of the pendentive dome[20]
~ 19.40 [20] Baths of Bacucco Near Viterbo 4th c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
19.30 [21] Baths of Diocletian,
Tepidarium 		Rome ~ 300 3.68
1:5.2
18.38 [9] Pantheon Ostia 3rd c. - 1.98
1:9.3
~ 18.00 [15] Church of Euphemia Constantinople 5th c. Hexagon
16.75 [24] Hadrian's Villa,
'Serapeum' 		Tivoli 2nd c. Umbrella dome Concrete Hollow space system
16.45 [17] Imperial Baths,
Tepidarium 		Trier 4th c. Concrete
15.70 [17] Basilica of San Vitale Ravenna 6th c. Clay pipe,
Wooden roof construction
~ 15.60 [21] Nymphaeum in Albano Laziale ? 1st c. Concrete 2.08
1:7.6 		Earliest evidence for hollow spaces at dome's base for reduction in weight[25]
~ 15.00 to
~ 13.00 [14] 		Southern baths Bosra 3rd-4th c. Octagon Concrete
~ 15.00 [15] Western baths Jerash 2nd c. Square Voussoir One of the earliest stone domes with square plan;[15] largest stone dome of the world
14.70[9] Heroon of Romulus at the Roman Forum Rome 4th c. Lead plate roofing 0.90
1:16 		~ 1.80
1:8.2 		3,70
1:4.0
~ 14.50 [9] Temple of Portunus Porto ~ 3rd c. Concrete with inner brick covering - ~ 2.20
1:6.6
13.71 [9] Mausoleum of Tor de' Schiavi Via Prenestina 4th c. 0.60
1:23 		2.60
1:5.3 		Four openings at dome's base
13.48 [23] Domus Aurea Rome 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon 		Concrete 5.99
1:2.3 		First dome with octagonal plan; earliest in palace architecture[23]
13.35 [9] Mausoleum of Diocletian Split ~ 300 Brick,
Tiled roof 		0.68
1:20 		3.40 [10]
1:3.9 		Double-walled dome[12]
12.90 [12] Chapel of Saint Aquilino Milan 4th c. Brick
12.33 [26] Tempio della Tosse Tivoli 4th c. Concrete with brick ribs 1.30
1:9 		2.08
1:5.9 		2.10
1:5.9
~ 12.00 [19] Hadrian's Villa,
Summer Triclinium (Exedra) 		Tivoli 2nd c. Concrete with inner brick covering
~ 12.00 [17] Baths of Aquae Flavianae El Hammam 3rd c. Clay pipes Largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
~ 12.00 [15] Church of Hodegetria Constantinople 5th c. Hexagon
~ 12.00 [15] Skeuophylakion Constantinople ~ 5th c. Dodecagon
11.90 [9] Baptistery Nocera Superiore
Campania 		6th c. Eight rectangular dome windows
~ 11.90 [27] Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus' 		Tivoli 2nd c. Double-walled dome with spacing for ceiling heating[27]
11.50 [28] Red Basilica Pergamon ~ 2nd c. Brick Two Rotunda; largest brick dome of the world
11.50 [26] Santa Costanza Rome 4th c. Concrete with brick ribs,
Tiled roof directly resting on dome shell 		~ 0.70
1:16 		1.45
1:7.9 		Tambour[29]
~ 11.50 [15] Mor Gabriel Monastery Tur Abdin 6th c. Brick yes
11.47 [26] Praetorium Cologne 4th c. Octagon - 2.00 [10]
1:5.7
11.10 [26] Gordian's Villa Rome,
Via Prenestina 		3rd c. Octagon - ~ 1.35 [10]
1:8.2 		Preliminary form of the pendentive dome;[20] eight openings at dome's base
11.00 [4] Therme d’Allance ? ?
~ 10.80 [26] Mausoleum of Gallien Rome,
Via Appia 		3rd c. Rotunda with six niches - ~ 1.60
1:6.8
10.70 [26] Mausoleum of Centocelle Centcelles,
near Tarragona 		4th c. Brick and stone ~ 0.40
1:27 		~ 1.90
1:5.6
~ 10.40 to
~ 9.40 [24] 		Hadrian's Villa,
small baths 		Tivoli 2nd c. Elliptical dome with wavelike rim
~ 10.00 [24] Gordian's Villa,
Hall 		Via Prenestina ~ 2nd c.
~ 10.00 [25] Villa delle Vignacce Via Latina 2nd c. Ceramic amphora at dome's base Earliest known use of amphora at dome's base[25]
9.85 [17] Cathedral,
Baptistery 		Ravenna 5th c.
9.50 [30] Rotunda of St. George, Sofia,
 Sofia early 4th c. Rotunda Built by the Romans in the 4th century, it is a cylindrical domed structure built on a square base.
~ 9.50 [20] Hadrian's Villa,
Piazza d'Oro (vestibule) 		Tivoli 2nd c. Umbrella dome ~ 1,90
1:5.0
~ 9.50 [18] Praetextat catacomb,
'Calventier tomb' 		Rome 3rd c. Rotunda with six niches
~ 9.00 [14] Capito Thermae,
Laconicum 		Miletus 1st c. Concrete
~ 9.00 [15] Small Roundtemple Baalbek 3rd c.
~ 8.50 [18] Domus Augustana Rome 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon 		One of the earliest cloister vaults with octagonal curtain walls[18]
8.10 [26] Torraccio del Palombaro Rome,
Via Appia 		~ 4th c. ~ 0.90
1:9 		2,30
1:3.5 		~ 1.50
1:5.4
~ 7.70 [20] Baths of Maxentius Rome 4th c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
7.60 [4] Domus Flavia Rome 1st c.
~ 7.60 to
~ 6.20 [18] 		Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus' 		? 2nd c. Cloister vault,
Uneven octagon
~ 6.80 [15] Nymphaeum Riza,
Epirus 		~ 250-350 Dodecagon
~ 6.75 [20] Temple of Venus,
Annex building 		Baiae 2nd c. Flat umbrella dome,
Octagon
6.65 [21] Hall of Thermae Pisa ? ~ 2nd c. Cloister vault with eight windows,
Octagon 		2.00
1:3.3
6.52 [23] Stabian Thermae,
Laconicum 		Pompeii 1st c. BC Cone vault (early form of the dome) Concrete yes Oldest known concrete domes[23]
~ 6.00 [17] Hunting Thermae Leptis Magna ~ 200 Cloister vault with eight windows
5.86 [17] Arch of Marcus Aurelius Tripoli ? Cloister vault Voussoir
~ 5.70 [9] Water Castellum Pompeii 30 BC-
14 AD 		Flat dome
5.40 [20] Octagon near 'Temple of Mercury' Baiae 2nd c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 5.40 [12] San Vitale,
Stair towers 		Ravenna 6th c. Brick
5.20 [15] Sedia del Diavolo,
Tomb 		Rome,
Via Nomentana 		2nd c. Square
~ 4.70 [18] Tabularium Rome 1st c. BC Cloister vault,
Square 		Earliest cloister vault[15]
4.41 [24] Temple of Venus,
Annex building 		Baiae 2nd c. Umbrella dome above circular ground plan 0.59
1:7.5
~ 4.40 [31] Mausoleum of Galla Placidia Ravenna 5th c. Tiled roof
~ 4.00 [9] Tomb at Casal de' Pazzi Rome,
Via Nomentana 		2nd c. In-circle dome,
Square 		Concrete Preform of pendentive dome;[9] hollow space system
1.65 [23] Villa of the Mysteries,
Laconicum 		Pompeii 1st c. BC Cone vault (early form of the dome) Brick and clay (upper calotte) Concrete wall shell[32]
? [18] Mausoleum of Constantine at the Church of the Holy Apostles Constantinople 4th c. Presumably Rotunda with twelve niches

Half-domes

Diameter ⌀ Name,
Part 		Location Built Shape of dome,
Ground plan 		Material,
Roof construction 		Shell
thickness (ST)
ST to ⌀ 		Curtain wall
thickness (CWT)
CWT to ⌀ 		Comments/
Other characteristics
~ 30.00 [5] Baths of Trajan Rome ? Largest dome(s) of the world
~ 22.00 [5] Baths of Diocletian,
Two apse halls 		Rome ~ 300
~ 18.50 [5] Trajan's Forum Rome ?
~ 15.80 [17] Santi Cosma e Damiano,
Apse 		Rome 6th c.
~ 11.00 [14] Nymphaeum Jerash 2nd c. Concrete
~ 9.60 [14] Basilica,
Apse 		Bostra ~ 3rd c. Concrete, inside covered with ashlar
~ 8.00 [14] Cathedral,
Annex rooms 		Bostra 6th c. Concrete
~ 5.70 [12] Pantheon,
Front niches 		Rome 2nd c.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Rasch 1985, p. 117
  2. ^ Lechtman & Hobbs 1986
  3. ^ a b Mark & Hutchinson 1986, p. 24
  4. ^ a b c d Heinle & Schlaich 1996, p. 27
  5. ^ a b c d Rasch 1985, p. 119
  6. ^ Romanconcrete.com
  7. ^ Müller 2005, p. 253
  8. ^ Bishop 1977, p. 92
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rasch 1985, p. 129
  10. ^ a b c d Corner
  11. ^ a b Pillar
  12. ^ a b c d e Rasch 1985, p. 123
  13. ^ a b Heinz 1983, pp. 60–64
  14. ^ a b c d e f Rasch 1985, p. 125
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Rasch 1985, p. 126
  16. ^ Schäfke 1985, pp. 100 & 118
  17. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rasch 1985, p. 124
  18. ^ a b c d e f g Rasch 1985, p. 127
  19. ^ a b Rasch 1985, p. 138
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i Rasch 1985, p. 130
  21. ^ a b c d e Rasch 1985, p. 136
  22. ^ Mark & Hutchinson 1986, p. 33
  23. ^ a b c d e f Rasch 1985, p. 118
  24. ^ a b c d Rasch 1985, p. 133
  25. ^ a b c Rasch 1985, p. 135
  26. ^ a b c d e f g Rasch 1985, p. 128
  27. ^ a b Rasch 1985, p. 139
  28. ^ Rasch 1985, p. 137
  29. ^ Rasch 1985, p. 120
  30. ^ [http://bulgariatravel.org/en/object/344/Rotonda_Sveti_Georgi
  31. ^ Rasch 1985, p. 134
  32. ^ Rasch 1985, p. 122

Sources

Main source
  • Rasch, Jürgen (1985), "Die Kuppel in der römischen Architektur. Entwicklung, Formgebung, Konstruktion", Architectura, vol. 15, pp. 117–139
Further sources
  • Bishop, John (1977), "The Pantheon: Design, Meaning, and Progeny (Review)", Art Journal, vol. 37, no. 1, p. 92
  • Heinle, Erwin; Schlaich, Jörg (1996), Kuppeln aller Zeiten, aller Kulturen, Stuttgart, ISBN 3-421-03062-6{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Heinz, Werner (1983), Römische Thermen. Badewesen und Badeluxus im römischen Reich, München, pp. 60–64, ISBN 3-7774-3540-6{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Lechtman, Heather; Hobbs, Linn (1986), "Roman Concrete and the Roman Architectural Revolution. Ceramics and Civilization", in Kingery, W. D. (ed.), High Technology Ceramics: Past, Present, Future, vol. 3, American Ceramics Society
  • Mark, Robert; Hutchinson, Paul (1986), "On the Structure of the Roman Pantheon", Art Bulletin, vol. 68, no. 1, pp. 24–34, doi:10.2307/3050861, JSTOR 3050861
  • Müller, Werner (2005), dtv-Atlas Baukunst I. Allgemeiner Teil: Baugeschichte von Mesopotamien bis Byzanz (14th ed.), München, ISBN 3-423-03020-8{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Schäfke, Werner (1985), Kölns romanische Kirchen. Architektur, Ausstattung, Geschichte (5th ed.), Köln, ISBN 3-7701-1360-8{{citation}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
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