List of Roman domes 

The Pantheon in Rome. Largest dome in the world for more than 1700 years
Oculus of the Pantheon

This is a List of Roman domes. The Romans were the first builder in the history of architecture to realise the potential of domes for the creation of large and well-defined interior spaces.1 Domes were introduced in a number of Roman building types such as temples, thermae, palaces, mausolea and later also churches. Half-domes became a favoured architectural element and were adopted as apses in Christian sacred architecture.

Monumental domes began to appear in the 1st century BC in Rome and the provinces around the Mediterranean. Their construction was greatly facilitated by the invention of concrete, a process which has been termed the Roman Architectural Revolution.2 Domes, along with vaults, gradually replaced the traditional post and lintel construction during the time of the empire. Their enormous dimensions remained unsurpassed until the introduction of structural steel frames in the late 19th century (see List of the world's largest domes).134

Contents

Domes

All diameters are clear span in m. For polygonal domes applies the in-circle diameter. Main source is Jürgen Rasch's study of Roman domes (1985).

Diameter ⌀ Name,
Part		 Location Built Shape of dome,
Ground plan		 Material,
Roof construction		 Shell
thickness (ST)
ST to ⌀		 Curtain wall
thickness (CWT)
CWT to ⌀		 Diameter Oculus (DO)
DO to ⌀		 Comments/
Other characteristics
~ 43,45 5 Pantheon Rome ~ 2nd c. Rotunda Concrete,
Lead plate roofing		 ~ 1,35
~ 1:32		 ~ 5,93
~ 1:7,3		 ~ 8,95
~ 1:4,9		 Largest dome of the world until 1881; largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world till present;6 archetype of Western dome construction to this day37
~ 35,08 4 Baths of Caracalla,
Caldarium		 Rome ~ 3rd c. Amphoras Eight pillars; largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
~ 29,50 8 'Temple of Diana' Baiae ~ 2nd c. ~ 1,20
~ 1:25		 ~ 5,70 9
~ 1:5,2
~ 26,30 8 'Temple of Venus' Baiae ~ 2nd c. ~ - ~ 2,90 10
~ 1:9,1		 Outer wall pillars
~ 25,04 11 Mausoleum of Maxentius Rome ~ 4th c.
~ 25,00 12 Baths of Agrippa,
'Arco della Ciambella'		 Rome ~ 1st c. BC Rotunda First Thermae in Rome with central dome;12 largest dome of the world
~ 24,15 8 Rotunda of St. George Thessaloniki ~ 4th c. Brick ~ 1
~ 1:24		 ~ 6,00
~ 1:4		 Largest brick dome of the world
~ 23,85 8 Sanctuary of Asclepius Pergamon ~ 2nd c. Brick ~ - ~ 3,35
~ 1:7,1		 Earliest monumental brick dome;13 largest brick dome of the world
~ 23,70 to
~ 19,80 14		 St. Gereon's Basilica Cologne ~ 4th c. Oval with eight niches and apse Later medieval structure with Roman building fabric largest occidental dome between Hagia Sophia and Florence Cathedral15
~ 23,65 8 'Temple of Minerva Medica' Rome ~ 4th c. Decagon Concrete with brick rips ~ 0,56
~ 1:42		 ~ 2,60 10
~ 1:9,1		 Outer wall pillars
~ 22,00 16 Baths of Antoninus Carthage ~ 2nd c. Polygon Seven domes with diameters between 17 and 22 m16
~ 22,00 17 Rotunda at the Hippodrome Constantinople ~ 5th c. Rotunda with ten niches
~ 22,0018 Baths of Diocletian,
San Bernardo		 Rome ~ 300 Concrete with brick rips
~ 21,65 oder
~ 21,25 1920		 Baths of Diocletian,
'Planetarium'		 Rome ~ 300 Umbrella dome,
Octagon		 Concrete with inner brick covering ~ 4,20
~ 1:5,1
~ 21,55 20 'Temple of Mercury' Baiae ~ 1st c. BC Concrete21 ~ 3,65
~ 1:5,9		 Earliest monumental dome;22 largest dome of the world
~ 20,18 8 Mausoleum of Helena Rome ~ 4th c. Ceramic amphora incorporated into dome's base ~ 0,90
~ 1:22		 ~ 2,40
~ 1:8,4
~ 19,80 19 Baths of Caracalla,
Flankenbauten		 Rome ~ 3rd c. Octagon Preliminary form of the pendentive dome19
~ 19,40 19 Baths of Bacucco Near Viterbo ~ 4th c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 19,30 20 Baths of Diocletian,
Tepidarium		 Rome ~ 300 ~ 3,68
~ 1:5,2
~ 18,38 8 'Pantheon' Ostia ~ 3rd c. ~ - ~ 1,98
~ 1:9,3
~ 18,00 14 Church of Euphemia Constantinople ~ 5th c. Hexagon
~ 16,75 23 Hadrian's Villa,
'Serapeum'		 Tivoli ~ 2nd c. Umbrella dome Concrete Hollow space system
~ 16,45 16 Imperial Baths,
Tepidarium		 Trier ~ 4th c. Concrete
~ 15,70 16 Basilica of San Vitale Ravenna ~ 6th c. Clay pipe,
Wooden roof construction
~ 15,60 20 Nymphaeum in Albano ? ~ 1st c. Concrete ~ 2,08
~ 1:7,6		 Earliest evidence for hollow spaces at dome's base for reduction in weight24
~15,00 to
~13,00 13		 Southern baths Bostra ~ 3rd-4th c. Octagon Concrete
~ 15,00 14 Western baths Gerasa ~ 2nd c. Square Voussoir One of the earliest stone domes with square plan;14 largest stone dome of the world
~ 14,70 8 'Heroon of Romulus' at the Roman Forum Rome ~ 4th c. Lead plate roofing ~ 0,90
~ 1:16		 ~ 1,80
~ 1:8,2		 ~ 3,70
~ 1:4,0
~ 14,50 8 'Temple of Portunus' Porto ~ 3rd c. Concrete with inner brick covering ~ - ~ 2,20
~ 1:6,6
~ 13,71 8 Mausoleum at Tor de'Schiavi Via Prenestina ~ 4th c. ~ 0,60
~ 1:23		 ~ 2,60
~ 1:5,3		 Four openings at dome's base
~ 13,48 22 Domus Aurea Rome ~ 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon		 Concrete ~ 5,99
~ 1:2,3		 First dome with octagonal plan; earliest in palace architecture22
~ 13,35 8 Mausoleum of Diocletian Split ~ 300 Brick,
Tiled roof		 ~ 0,68
~ 1:20		 ~ 3,40 9
~ 1:3,9		 Double-walled dome11
~ 12,90 11 Chapel of Saint Aquilino Milan ~ 4th c. Brick
~ 12,33 25 'Tempio della Tosse' Tivoli ~ 4th c. Concrete with brick rips ~ 1,30
~ 1:9		 ~ 2,08
~ 1:5,9		 ~ 2,10
~ 1:5,9
~ 12,00 18 Hadrian's Villa,
Summer Triclinium (Exedra)		 Tivoli ~ 2nd c. Concrete with inner brick covering
~ 12,00 16 Baths of Aquae Flavianae El Hammam ~ 3rd c. Clay pipes Largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware
~ 12,00 14 Church of Hodegetria Constantinople ~ 5th c. Hexagon
~ 12,00 14 Skeuophylakion Constantinople ~ 5th c. Dodecagon
~ 11,90 8 Baptistery Nocera,
Campania		 ~ 6th c. Eight rectangular dome windows
~ 11,90 26 Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus'		 Tivoli ~ 2nd c. Double-walled dome with spacing for ceiling heating26
~ 11,50 27 'Red Basilica' Pergamon ~ 2nd c. Brick Two Rotunda; largest brick dome of the world
~ 11,50 25 Santa Costanza Rome ~ 4th c. Concrete with brick rips,
Tiled roof directly resting on dome shell		 ~ 0,70
~ 1:16		 ~ 1,45
~ 1:7,9		 Tambour28
~ 11,50 14 Mor Gabriel Monastery Tur Abdin ~ 6th c. Brick ~ yes
~ 11,47 25 Praetorium Cologne ~ 4th c. Octagon ~ - ~ 2,00 9
~ 1:5,7
~ 11,10 25 Gordian's Villa Rome,
Via Prenestina		 ~ 3th c. Octagon ~ - ~ 1,35 9
~ 1:8,2		 Preliminary form of the pendentive dome;19 eight openings at dome's base
~ 11,00 4 Therme d’Allance ? ~ ?
~ 10,80 25 Mausoleum of Gallien Rome,
Via Appia		 ~ 3rd c. Rotunda with six niches ~ - ~ 1,60
~ 1:6,8
~ 10,7025 'Mausoleum at Centcelles' Centcelles,
near Tarragona		 ~ 4th c. Brick and stone ~ 0,40
~ 1:27		 ~ 1,90
~ 1:5,6
~ 10,40 to
~ 9,40 23		 Hadrian's Villa,
small baths		 Tivoli ~ 2nd c. Elliptical dome with wavelike rim
~ 10,00 23 Gordian's Villa,
Hall		 Via Prenestina ~ 2nd c.
~ 10,00 24 'Villa delle Vignacce' Via Latina ~ 2nd c. Ceramic amphora at dome's base Earliest known use of amphora at dome's base24
~ 9,85 16 Cathedral,
Baptistery		 Ravenna ~ 5th c.
~ 9,5019 Hadrian's Villa,
Piazza d'Oro (vestibule)		 Tivoli ~ 2nd c. Umbrella dome ~ 1,90
~ 1:5,0
~ 9,50 17 Praetextat catacomb,
'Calventier tomb'		 Rome ~ 3rd c. Rotunda with six niches
~ 9,00 13 Capito Thermae,
Laconicum		 Miletus ~ 1st c. Concrete
~ 9,00 14 Small Roundtemple Baalbek ~ 3rd c.
~ 8,50 17 Domus Augustana Rome ~ 1st c. Cloister vault,
Octagon		 One of the earliest cloister vaults with octagonal curtain walls17
~ 8,10 25 'Torraccio del Palombaro' Rome,
Via Appia		 ~ 4th c. ~ 0,90
~ 1:9		 ~ 2,30
~ 1:3,5		 ~ 1,50
~ 1:5,4
~ 7,7019 Baths of Maxentius Rome ~ 4th c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 7,60 4 Domus Flavia Rome ~ 1st c.
~ 7,60 to
~ 6,20 17		 Hadrian's Villa,
'Heliocaminus'		 ? ~ 2nd c. Cloister vault,
Uneven octagon
~ 6,80 14 Nymphaeum Riza,
Epirus		 ~ 250-350 Dodecagon
~ 6,7519 'Temple of Venus',
Annex building		 Baiae ~ 2nd c. Flat umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 6,65 20 Hall of Thermae Pisa ? ~ 2nd c. Cloister vault with eight windows,
Octagon		 ~ 2,00
~ 1:3,3
~ 6,52 22 Stabian Thermae,
Laconicum		 Pompeii ~ 1st c. BC Cone vault (early form of the dome) Concrete ~ yes Oldest known concrete domes22
~ 6,00 16 Hunting Thermae Leptis Magna ~ 200 Cloister vault with eight windows
~ 5,86 16 Arch of Marcus Aurelius Tripoli ~ ? Cloister vault Voussoir
~ 5,70 8 Water Castellum Pompeii ~30 BC-
~14 AD		 Flat dome
~ 5,40 19 Octagon near 'Temple of Mercury' Baiae ~ 2nd c. Umbrella dome,
Octagon
~ 5,40 11 San Vitale,
Stair towers		 Ravenna ~ 6th c. Brick
~ 5,20 14 'Sedia del Diavolo',
Tomb		 Rome,
Via Nomentana		 ~ 2nd c. Square
~ 4,70 17 Tabularium Rome ~ 1st c. BC Cloister vault,
Square		 Earliest cloister vault14
~ 4,41 23 'Temple of Venus',
Annex building		 Baiae ~ 2nd c. Umbrella dome above circular ground plan ~ 0,59
~ 1:7,5
~ 4,40 29 'Mausoleum of Galla Placidia' Ravenna ~ 5th c. Tiled roof
~ 4,00 8 Tomb at Casal de' Pazzi Rome,
Via Nomentana		 ~ 2nd c. In-circle dome,
Square		 Concrete Preform of pendentive dome;8 hollow space system
~ 1,65 22 'Villa of the Mysteries',
Laconicum		 Pompeii ~ 1st c. BC Cone vault (early form of the dome) Brick and clay (upper calotte) Concrete wall shell30
~? 17 Mausoleum of Constantine at the Church of the Holy Apostles Constantinople ~ 4th c. Presumably Rotunda with twelve niches


Half-domes

Diameter ⌀ Name,
Part		 Location Built Shape of dome,
Ground plan		 Material,
Roof construction		 Shell
thickness (ST)
ST to ⌀		 Curtain wall
thickness (CWT)
CWT to ⌀		 Comments/
Other characteristics
~ 30,00 5 Baths of Trajan Rome ~ ? Largest dome(s) of the world
~ 22,00 5 Baths of Diocletian,
Two apse halls		 Rome ~ 300
~ 18,50 5 Trajan's Forum Rome ~ ?
~ 15,80 16 Santi Cosma e Damiano,
Apse		 Rome ~ 6th c.
~ 11,00 13 Nymphaeum Jerash ~ 2nd c. Concrete
~ 9,60 13 Basilica,
Apse		 Bostra ~ 3rd c. Concrete, inside covered with ashlar
~ 8,00 13 Cathedral,
Annex rooms		 Bostra ~ 6th c. Concrete
~ 5,70 11 Pantheon,
Front niches		 Rome ~ 2nd c.

References

  1. ^ a b Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.117
  2. ^ Heather Lechtman, Linn Hobbs (1986)
  3. ^ a b Robert Mark, Paul Hutchinson (1986), p.24
  4. ^ a b c d Erwin Heinle, Jörg Schlaich (1996), p.27
  5. ^ a b c d Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.119
  6. ^ Romanconcrete.com
  7. ^ Werner Müller (2005), p.253
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.129
  9. ^ a b c d Corner
  10. ^ a b Pillar
  11. ^ a b c d e Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.123
  12. ^ a b Werner Heinz (1983), p.60-64
  13. ^ a b c d e f Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.125
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.126
  15. ^ Werner Schäfke (1985), p.100 & 118
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.124
  17. ^ a b c d e f g Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.127
  18. ^ a b Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.138
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.130
  20. ^ a b c d e Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.136
  21. ^ Robert Mark, Paul Hutchinson (1986), p.33
  22. ^ a b c d e f Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.118
  23. ^ a b c d Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.133
  24. ^ a b c Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.135
  25. ^ a b c d e f g Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.128
  26. ^ a b Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.139
  27. ^ Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.137
  28. ^ Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.120
  29. ^ Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.134
  30. ^ Jürgen Rasch (1985), p.122

See also

Other organizational lists

Sources

Main source

Further sources

External links