Knowra Roman arch Roman arch A curved structure built from wedge-shaped blocks that transfers loads outward and downward into its supports. Roman builders used arches extensively in bridges, aqueducts, gates, and monumental buildings.
Voussoir : A wedge-shaped stone or brick used to build an arch or vault. Each voussoir presses against its neighbors, directing the arch’s load toward the supports.
Roman aqueduct : A Roman water-supply system that carried water by gravity from a source to settlements. Rows of arches let aqueduct channels cross valleys while maintaining a gentle gradient.
Arch : A curved structural form that spans an opening and transfers loads toward its supports. The Roman arch is a historically distinctive use of this broader structural form.
Etruscan architecture : The architecture of the ancient Etruscans, a civilization of central Italy before Roman dominance. Romans adopted and developed arch-building techniques associated with Etruscan construction.
Romanesque architecture : A medieval European architectural style characterized by massive walls, rounded arches, and substantial piers. Roman building forms and the rounded arch informed Romanesque churches and monasteries.
Keystone : The central, uppermost voussoir that closes an arch. In a typical stone arch, placing the keystone completes the ring of interlocking blocks.
Roman bridge : A bridge built in the Roman world, often using stone arches to span rivers and valleys. The arch made durable masonry spans possible without continuous supports across the water.
Barrel vault : A continuous vault formed by extending an arch along a straight axis. Roman builders extended arches into barrel vaults to cover long interior spaces.
Roman architecture : The building traditions of ancient Rome, spanning engineering, public works, temples, and domestic structures. The Roman arch was one of the defining structural tools of Roman architecture.
Gothic architecture : A medieval architectural style known for pointed arches, rib vaults, and extensive use of windows. Gothic builders favored pointed arches to alter proportions and manage structural forces.
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