Vitruvius

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio was a Roman writer, architect and engineer, active in the 1st century BC. He was the author of De architectura, known today as The Ten Books of Architecture, a treatise in Latin on architecture, and perhaps the first work about this discipline. He is believed to have served in the Roman army, probably under his sponsor, the emperor Caesar Augustus. Little is known about his life, though as he describes himself as an old man in his works, it is possible that he was active during the rule of Julius Caesar as well.

Related Topics:
Roman - Writer - Architect - Engineer - 1st century BC - De architectura - Latin - Architecture - Roman army - Caesar Augustus - Julius Caesar

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Mainly known for his writings, Vitruvius was himself an architect. Frontinus mentions him in connection with the standard sizes of pipes (Aq. I.25). The only building, however, that we know Vitruvius to have worked on is, as he himself tells us (de Arch. V.i.6), a basilica at Fanum Fortunae, now the modern town of Fano. The basilica has disappeared so completely that its very site is a matter of conjecture.

Related Topics:
Frontinus - Pipes - Basilica - Fano

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Vitruvius is sometimes loosely referred to as the first architect. It rather more accurate to describe him as the first Roman architect to have written on his field. He was less an original thinker or creative intellect than a codifier of existing architectural practice. It should be noted, though, that Vitruvius had a wider scope than would be usual for architects today. Roman architects practised a wide variety of disciplines; they could be described as being engineers, architects, artists, and craftsmen combined.

Related Topics:
Architect - Engineer - Artist - Craftsmen

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