Discover why Roman concrete structures have survived millennia while our modern buildings crumble within decades. Learn the ancient secrets of volcanic ash, self-healing properties, and how scientists are racing to recreate this lost technology before our infrastructure crisis worsens.
Roman innovations, including concrete, aqueducts, roads, arches, and public baths, have profoundly shaped architecture, sanitation, and military strategies in modern society.
An arch is a curved structural member that spans an opening and supports loads from above, characterized by wedge-shaped blocks known as voussoirs. The central block, or keystone, locks the arch in place, ensuring stability. Arches are renowned for their ability to span wide openings and carry substantial loads, making them integral to architectural innovation.
In the annals of engineering history, few materials have left as profound an impact as Roman concrete, or opus caementicium. This ancient innovation revolutionized construction techniques and laid the groundwork for some of the most iconic structures in the Roman Empire.
