The Greatest Gift: "Opus Caementicium" Quiz

Answer: Lime

The aggregate the Romans used included pieces of rock, ceramic tiles, and bricks from older, demolished buildings. After being mixed with water, the mortar, which consisted of gypsum or lime, would harden over time. In some areas pozzolana, also called pit sand, was used.

It was common in ancient times for prominent Romans to construct tombs along the Appian Way. The original covering of the tomb in the picture has been removed to show the bare concrete.

Answer: "Opus Reticulatum"

Placed at a forty-five degree angle, the diamond-shaped bricks were normally made of tuff or tufa, which is a rock made from consolidated volcanic ash pushed out during a volcanic eruption. "Opus" (term for a piece of art) and "reticulatum" (net-like), translates to net-work; the design was named because the Romans believed the brickwork resembled a net. This design was prevalent in the first century BC.

The example of "opus reticulatum" in the picture comes from a wall in the city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Answer: "Opus Latericium"

Latin for "brickwork", "opus latericium" was the design used during the imperial era in Rome. A Roman architect, Vitruvius, used this term for structures that were built with unfired bricks.

A new Appian Way was constructed in 1784 that was parallel with the old one; now the older section of road that dates back to Roman times is called the "Via Appia Antic". The building is an example of a tomb, built along the old stretch of the road, which dates back to ancient Rome.

Answer: Herringbone

Generally, this decorative pattern was used in the construction of pavement, but it was also used as a pattern on walls and as firebacks in hearths. This design was also used during the Middle Ages, as evidenced at Usk Castle in Wales, and into the Renaissance. Filippo Brunelleschi used this pattern in constructing the dome of the Cathedral of Florence.

Believed to be the world's oldest shopping mall, Trajan's Market was constructed in the Roman Forum in the 100s AD. The multi-level structure included shops, offices, and even a library! The herringbone pattern was used to pave the floor of the market.

Answer: "Opus Incertum"

One of the earliest Roman architectural styles, "opus incertum" first utilized irregularly-shaped rocks and careful placement to make the concrete work look as plain as possible. Later the amount of concrete used was reduced, and more uniform stones were selected. This made the exterior look even plainer.

In ancient times the Italian town of Terracina was strategically located for the defense of the city of Rome. The summit of the city has a massive terrace, on which stood The Temple of Jupiter Anxur. Built during the first century BC, the temple was dedicated to Jupiter as a young man.

Answer: "Opus Mixtum"

Also called "opus compositum", "opus mixtum", or "mixed work", combines many different styles. A very popular method of brickwork used during the time of Emperor Hadrian, it usually mixes "opus reticulatum" and "opus latericium" or "opus vittatum" and "opus testaceum".

The design in the picture is from the remains of a Roman amphitheatre in Naples. Ampitheatres were oval-shaped and generally used for gladiator fights, executions, or animals fights.

Answer: "Opus Sectile"

"Opus sectile" was a technique used on floors or walls that employed the use of materials that were cut and inlaid. Commonly used materials included glass, marble and mother of pearl. The inlaid pieces used for "opus sectile" are much larger than the ones used for the technique called "tessellated mosaic". Other civilizations, such as Egypt, also used this technique.

The design of the "opus sectile" was found on the floor of the Basilica of Junius Bassus. Built on the Esquiline Hill, the basilica is considered to be the source of some of the best examples of this type of work.

Answer: "Opus Africanum"

The "opus africanum" technique was also used in Carthaginian architecture, and is common in North Africa. It has also been found on buildings in Sicily and southern Italy.

In the picture, the metroon, any building dedicated to a mother goddess, was built for Cybele, who was known in Rome as the "Magna Mater". The Romans officially adopted her cult after much discussion during the Second Punic War, which was fought against Carthage in Africa. Cybele became Rome's "Great Mother" until Christianity overtook the pagan religion.

Answer: "Opus Quadratum"

A very early style of Roman architecture, the "opus quadratum" dates back to the time of the ancient Etruscans, before the beginning of the Roman Republic. At that time mortar was not used and the blocks were uneven. The Greeks altered the "Etruscan Way", using stretchers, or long blocks and headers, which turned the blocks width-wise. Once the Romans invented concrete, walls in this style were common.

Answer: Pantheon

In architecture, having a coffered dome, which is also called a lacunar ceiling, meant that it was made of sunken panels, done in some type of geometric shape. The panels in the Pantheon dome are square. This method was employed to try and lighten some of the weight that the dome had to carry, while keeping the integrity of the framework.

First commissioned during the reign of Augustus, and destroyed by fire in 80 AD, the Pantheon was rebuilt in 126 AD during the reign of Hadrian. As its name implies, the Pantheon was built as a temple for all the gods. Since Roman times it has been used as a Christian church as well as a tomb.