Build Like a Roman

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!

This is the trailer for the Build Like a Roman podcast.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

This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is about Roman plumbing, from the infrastructure to the delivery of it and the materials used.☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanPhotos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVycL_zl1zl/This Episodes Translations:Aquaeductus = water pipe or water tubeCloaca Maxima = Great SewerCurator Aquarum = Water commissionerLibratores = Surveyoraqua sub pressione = Pressure engineeringcastellum aquae divisorium = water distribution terminalquinaria = A measurement of waterFurtum aquae = Water theftVitium =  a fault, defect, or point of illegal tampering in the systemPlumbum = LeadAes = BronzeTubuli fictiles = Terracotta pipesRedemptor = a type of combined contractor, and project managerFor 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.

Did you know that the Romans - and others, such as the Greeks - used asbestos as a woven fibre?They valued its fireproof nature and used it accordingly. They may also be the first culture to have recorded using PPE! ☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearomanBuild Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episodeexplores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, andmortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind survivingstructures.Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials beforediving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in theRoman world.For 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.