AN EMPIRE CARVED IN STONE

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the powerful political and ideological language embodied in the architecture and structures of the Ancient Roman Empire. The author presents Roman architecture as a "floating" text rather than merely construction: the Romans asserted their dominance through spectacles, triumphal arches, and monumental buildings such as the Colosseum. The invention of concrete, the role of aqueducts, oaths, and epigraphy are each interpreted as "criminal texts" of the Roman Empire. The paper provides a qualitative analysis of architecture as a political tool, as well as the role of architecture and engineering in the broader context of human history. These structures remain captivating and culturally significant even today; colonnades and monuments continue to resonate in our time.

Keywords

Roman Empire, architecture, buildings, epigraphy, Colosseum.