1. Roman Engineering Haterius’ Crane
Stage 30: Haterius
Roman Engineering
Haterius’ Crane

2. Haterius
Inscriptions on the family tomb suggest a member of the family was a building contractor.
One of the contracts was for an arch to commemorate the popular Emperor Titus
His personal names are unknown

3. Haterius’ Crane Crane is carved on the family tomb of Haterius
These machines were certainly cumbersome, slow, and liable to accidents, but with skilled crews in charge they worked well

4. Construction Work
Haterius would have been helped by an architect who provided the design and technical advice. Haterius would have to supply the materials and engage the workmen.
Most of the workers were slaves and poor free men working as unskilled, occasional labor, but there were also craftsmen like carpenters and stonemasons.
The carpenters: 1) put up framework 2) and temporary support 3) and scaffolding and made molds to shape concrete.
Masons 1) quarried the stone 2) transported it, 3) preparation of stone 4) carve the decoration

5. Tools
Many modern tools are inherited almost unchanged from the Romans: mallets, chisels, crowbars, trowels, saws, and planes
Main difference:
not electric, so more
laborious

6. Cement
made of lime mortar, fine sand, and clay. These were combined with water to make a smooth paste.
Used as a thin, but effective, adhesive layer between bricks or stones

7. Cement Revised
opus caementicium (aka concrete): cement mixed with rubble (stone chips, broken bricks, and pieces of tile)
Concrete was strong enough to span large spaces without any additional support from pillars, and that it could carry the weight of a heavy superstructure
Used on aqueducts, Pantheon, and the Flavian Amphitheater

8. Composite of Materials

9. The Wonders of Concrete

10. The Wonders of Concrete!

11. The wonders of concrete

12. Not convinced yet?
Check out YouTube:

13. Decorating Cement Concrete could be hidden:
sandwiched between two faces of more expensive material, covered with plaster or stucco and painted in bright colors.

14. Insulae built of brick and timber - rickety and easily caught on fire
Augustus fixes a height limit of 70 feet for the insulae and organized brigades to protect them

15. The Great Fire of Rome
Fires did break out, however, as in AD 64 the great fire of Rome during the reign of Nero. Tacitus, the historian describes it:
The flames, which in full fury fell on the level districts first, then shot up to the hills and sank again to burn the lower parts, kept ahead of all remedial measures, traveling fast, the town being an easy prey owing to the narrow, twisting lanes, and formless streets.

16. BOOOOO Nero!

17. The Aftermath Only 4 of the 14 districts remained intact
Nero blames new religious group for the fire!
Another fire in 80 AD added to the problems
The Flavian emperors were responsible to restore the city
Domitian completed the restoration of the Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus on the Capitoline Hill and the construction Flavian Amphitheater
He build more temples, a stadium, a concert hall, Titus’ arch, and a palace on the Palatine

18. Brick to Marble
Augustus claimed: “urbem latericiam accepi, marmoream reliqui-” I found Rome built of brick and left it made of marble”
Augustus exaggerates! between all the marble buildings there were the ordinary dwellings that Juvenal described as being “propped up with sticks”
Romans began to use concrete, cranes and arches adventurously

19. Emperors and Building Projects
Emperors use $ and buildings to gain favor of the people
Domitian was desperate for the people’s favor; ergo, he had many buildings built

20. City of Marble