Build Like a Roman

Roman Blacksmiths, Faber Ferrarius were at the heart of Roman construction. Without them, life would have been so much more difficult, not only for the masons, carpenters, plasterers an so on, but basically for everyone.This episode looks at how they worked.  GlossaryAnvilA heavy iron block used as a working surface for shaping hot metal with hammersBellowsA leather-and-wood device used to force air into a fire, increasing temperature. Essential for ironworking and smelting.BloomA porous lump of iron produced in a bloomery furnace. It contained iron mixed with slag and impurities and required further hammering and refining before use.Bloomery ProcessThe main ancient method of producing iron. Iron ore and charcoal were heated together in a furnace with forced air from bellows to chemically reduce the ore into metallic iron.CarburisationA process where iron is heated in a carbon-rich environment, allowing carbon to diffuse into the surface and create steel-like properties.CharcoalWood heated in low oxygen conditions to produce a cleaner, hotter-burning fuel than ordinary wood. Widely used in ancient metalworking.CokeA carbon-rich fuel derived from coal. Common in later historical blacksmithing, though not normally associated with the Roman period.CollegiaRoman professional associations or organised groups connected with trades, religion, burial arrangements, and civic identity.Cramp / ClampAn iron fixing used to connect masonry blocks together. Often sealed in lead to reduce corrosion and movement.Crucible SteelHigh-carbon steel produced in sealed ceramic crucibles. Ancient Indian crucible steel later became associated with “wootz” and Damascus steel.Damascus SteelA later Middle Eastern steel famous for patterned blades, often produced using imported crucible steel ingots from India or Central Asia.Diodorus SiculusA 1st-century BC Greek historian who described iron production on the island of Elba.FabricaeLarge Roman military workshops used for manufacturing and repairing weapons, tools, armour, and equipment.Faber FerrariusLatin term meaning “iron worker” or blacksmith.FerrumLatin word for iron.FreedmanA formerly enslaved person who had legally obtained freedom.GaulThe Roman name for the region broadly corresponding to modern France and surrounding areas.HammermanA worker whose main role involved striking and shaping hot metal with hammers during forging operations.Hematite (Fe₂O₃)A common iron ore consisting mainly of iron oxide.Julius PolluxA 2nd-century AD Greek scholar who compiled the Onomasticon, a technical vocabulary of crafts, tools and professions.Limonite / Meadow OreA low-grade iron ore formed in bogs and wetlandsMagnetite (Fe₃O₄)A naturally magnetic iron oreMartensiteA very hard crystalline structure formed in steel during rapid cooling or quenching.MetallurgyThe extraction, refinement and working of metals.OreNaturally occurring rock containing useful metal compounds.QuenchingRapid cooling of hot metal, usually in water or oil, to alter hardness and strength.ReductionA chemical process in which oxygen is removed from metal ore during smelting, leaving metallic iron behind.Seric IronA term used in classical sources for highly valued eastern iron or steel imports. Some scholars associate it with early Indian crucible steel.SlagWaste material and impurities separated from metal during smelting and forging.SwageA shaped metalworking tool used to form or finish metal during forging.Wootz SteelA type of ancient Indian crucible steel known for high carbon content and excellent cutting performance. Often associated with later Damascus steel.Wrought IronLow-carbon iron worked by hammering and forging. Tougher and softer than steel.Primary SourcesThe Digest of JustinianNatural History - Pliny the ElderVitruvius. Ten Books on ArchitectureAdam Rogers (2015). The Archaeology of Roman Britain: Biography and Identity. London: Routledge.

Series one has finished. What's coming up in series 2?Here is a brief description of what's coming up in series two (and three) as well as a little about the first series.Thank you for your support in producing this podcast!Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/BuildLikeARoman☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearoman

Introducing the first episode of "Build like an Egyptian" series from "Build Like an Ancient".Applehttps://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/build-like-an-ancient/id1887035779Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/312nAy9fvUvZaQbc2TWbFm?si=LF-PiVspT_mxLtZB9Bd-wAThe Egyptians - Mud Men and the First Monuments!To the surprise of many people, the ancient Egyptians built far more in sun dried mud-brick, than they ever id in monumental stone.See our photos on Instagram for this episode https://www.instagram.com/p/DW2YHHJiBpChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_DjoserTechnical Glossary: Egyptian Mudbrick & Plaster• Db.t: The Egyptian word for mudbrick. Often written with the brick determinative. Refers to the material itself, not just the shape.• Hib: Egyptian term for a refined clay plaster, often mixed with powdered limestone. Smoother and brighter than plain mud plaster.• Mastaba: Arabic for "bench." The modern term for the flat-topped, rectangular tombs of the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods.• Battered wall: A wall that slopes inward as it rises. Increases stability and sheds water.• Nile alluvium: The clay-rich silt deposited by the annual Nile flood. The base material for mudbrick.• Temper: Material (sand, straw, chaff) added to clay to reduce shrinkage and improve drying.• Gypsum plaster: A plaster made from calcined gypsum (calcium sulphate). The dominant finishing plaster in Pharaonic Egypt due to low firing temperature and suitability in dry climates.• Lime plaster: Plaster made from calcined limestone (calcium oxide). Requires higher firing temperatures (700-900°C). Rare before the Ptolemaic period.• Stratigraphy: In plaster analysis, the sequence of layers. Egyptian plasters show deliberate layering: coarse mud base, fine clay levelling, gypsum finish.• Silt (The Bulk): This is the "Goldilocks" particle size—smaller than sand but larger than clay. It provides the volume.• Clay (The Binder): Pure Nile silt actually contains about 30% to 50% clay. This is the "glue." Without the clay content, the bricks would just crumble into dust once they dried.• Organic Matter: The Nile "mud" was rich in decomposed plant matter, which acted as a natural plasticiser, making the mix easier to mould. It also helped (marginally) with tensile strength

So what is a Fresco?There were several types, most of which, most people haven't heard of.Would you be surprised that many of the Roman frescos that we "Ohh" and "Ahhh" over today, were considered ridiculous and tacky, but some Roman authorities of the time?Listen to this episode and learn something new about Roman Frescoes.Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIBSuVl-4T/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanGlossary for this episodeA seccoPainting carried out on dry plaster, using a binder such as glue, egg, or wax to help the pigment adhere. It allows finer detail than true fresco, but is less durable.AlbarariiRoman plasterers who applied and polished the fine white finishing coats on walls and ceilings.Buon fresco“True fresco.” Pigment mixed with water is applied to fresh lime plaster while it is still damp and setting, so the colour bonds into the wall surface itself.CalciteA mineral form of calcium carbonate.FrescoA general term often used loosely for wall paintingFresco seccoLiterally “dry fresco.” Another way of saying painting done on dry plaster rather than into a fresh lime surface.Hybrid fresco-secco workflowThe combination of a durable fresco base with additional details painted later in secco. This seems to have been common in Roman wall painting.InsulaeRoman apartment blocksLimeThe key binding material in Roman plaster and mortar. It was central to both construction and decoration.Lime washA thin coating of lime, often tinted, used to brighten or colour a wall. It could be simple, economical, and very common.Marble aggregateSmall crushed marble fragments used in fine Roman plasters to improve finish, density, and sheen.Mezzo frescoA term used for painting onto plaster that is no longer freshly wet but still damp enough to take pigment.MosaicA floor or wall surface made from small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic. In Roman interiors, mosaics often worked visually with painted walls.Pictor imaginariusA specialist painter, especially one responsible for more refined or figurative wall painting.PigmentThe colouring material used in paint. Roman pigments could be cheap local earths or imported luxury substances.PlasterA coating of lime mixed with sand, marble dust, or other aggregates, applied in layers to walls and ceilings. In Roman interiors it formed the decorative skin of the building.PozzolanaVolcanic ash used in Roman mortars and concrete. More associated with structural work than fine painted plaster, but part of the broader Roman lime technology.SandiariiWorkers involved in transporting or handling sand and other raw materials used in plaster and mortar preparation.SinopiaA red ochre underdrawing or marking-out method. The term is often associated with later painting practice, though marking-out techniques in general were also used by the Romans.String lineA line snapped or pressed onto a plaster surface to guide straight borders, panels, or architectural designs.StuccoIn the Roman ContextFine decorative plasterTrompe l’oeilA painting technique designed to “fool the eye” by creating the illusion of depth, architecture, or open space on a flat surface.VitruviusRoman architect and authorWhitewash / whitewashingA simple lime-based coating used to whiten and brighten walls. In Roman interiors this could be a finished surface in its own right or a base for further decoration.Sources:Vitruvius, De Architectura (Book VII)Pliny the Elder, Natural History (Book XXXV)August Mau, Pompeii: Its Life and Art (1899)Roger Ling, Roman Painting (1991)Donatella Mazzoleni & Umberto Pappalardo, Domus: Wall Painting in the Roman House

Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures.Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the Roman world.For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity of the original builders.There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics, history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did the work!From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!

What were Roman floors like?We know about their mosaics, but what about clay tile? Stone slabs, mortar floors or floorboards?Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWj65iAl9ce/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanGlossary for this episodepavimentum → floor / pavement (the visible finished surface)pavire → to beat down / ram / compactstatumen → foundation layer of large stonesrudus → compacted rubble layer bound with limenucleus → fine levelling layer (lime + crushed pottery/aggregate)contignatio (contignationes) → timber floor structure / framed floor systemtignum → beam / timbertessera (tesserae) → small cubes used in mosaicsopus tessellatum → standard mosaic work (medium tesserae)opus vermiculatum → fine mosaic work (very small tesserae, high detail)emblema (emblemata) → central mosaic panel (often pre-made and inserted)opus sectile → cut-stone flooring (shaped pieces fitted together)opus spicatum → herringbone brick/tile patternbasoli → large stone paving blocks (often basalt, used for streets/heavy use)opus signinum → lime + crushed terracotta with occasional insertscocciopesto → lime + crushed terracotta (no inserts)opus → “work” / construction method (e.g. stonework, brickwork)Sources:Vitruvius, De ArchitecturaPrimary source for Roman floor construction (Book VII, pavements; layered systems: statumen, rudus, nucleus).Pliny the Elder, Natural HistoryReferences to opus signinum and crushed ceramic flooring materials.Roger Ling, Roman PaintingIncludes discussion of decorative interiors and mosaic techniques.David S. Neal, Roman Mosaics in BritainKey work on mosaic types, techniques, and regional variation.

What was Roman window glass like?Well, to start with it had bubbles in it, you couldn't really see through and it was expensive.Listen to this episode to learn about Roman glass, what was it, where it was made, and by whom.Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWW4wx2lzbW/☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanSources:Archaeological StudiesIan Freestone (University College London): Freestone is widely considered the world's leading authority on the chemical provenance of Roman glass. Patrick Degryse, Glass-making in Antiquity: Isotope Analysis (2014): The definitive scientific text on using strontium and neodymium isotopes to track Roman glass back to specific Mediterranean beaches.Allen, D. (2002), Roman Window Glass: A specialized study that looks specifically at the architectural use of glass. Ancient Historical SourcesPliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia (Natural History), Book 36: This is the most famous source. Pliny describes the accidental discovery of glass by Phoenician merchants on the River BelusStrabo, Geographica: Writing in the early 1st century AD, strabo notes the unique properties of the sand to be melted into glass, highlighting the Levant's industrial dominance.Diocletian Edict on Maximum Prices (301 AD): A massive document of regulated prices across the empire. Shipwreck EvidenceThe Embiez Shipwreck (France): A 3rd-century wreck that was carrying nearly two tons of raw glass chunks and blocks from the East.The Grado Shipwreck (Adriatic Sea): Famous for carrying a massive cargo of cullet (broken glass) meant for recycling. 

Want to know what a 'Party wall' actually is? Give this a listen.This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is looking at Roman Wattle and Daub, Opus Craticium. A building style that was probably for more widespread than we'd think.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos for this episode on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWBM5Ftl46c/This Episode's Translations:Opus Caementicium – Roman concreteOpus Craticium – Timber-frame wall with wattle or lath and plasterCraticii – Woven branch framework (wattle)Harundo – Reed used for lathingAssulae / Asseres – Wooden lath stripsTector – PlastererTrulla – Plasterer’s trowelTrullissatio – First coat of plasterFaber Tignarius – CarpenterParies Communis – Party wall (shared wall)Ambitus – Passage between neighbouring housesInsula – Roman apartment buildingPartire – “To divide,” origin of the word party in party wallFor students of archaeology, history, and art history — and foranyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Romanbuildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that'stypically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these stillexist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativityof the original builders.There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Constructionhistory, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who didthe work!From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!Hosted by Darren McLean.ktwsba7h