The ancient Romans also had a wealth of architectural knowledge which they inherited from their forefathers. This explains the use of hydraulic principles in ancient Roman architecture, inculcation of facilities like under floor heating, piped water etc.

Domes, vaults and arches are a prominent part of ancient Roman architecture. Examples of architectural finesse in Roman architecture include the aqueducts, the Baths of Diocletian and Caracalla, the basilicas and of course the Colosseum. The use of arches in ancient Roman architecture inspired not only buildings but also aqueducts and bridges. Some of the bridges built during the ancient period are still in use today. The arch was also used in the construction of churches. The arch was placed before the altar as a symbolism of the triumph of Christ and the afterlife.
                  

Several aqueducts which were constructed during the ancient period still stand intact today these include Aqueduct of Segovia, Aqua Claudia and Anio Novus. Another impressive part of ancient Roman architecture is the presence of buildings called insulae. These multi storied buildings were like the multistoried apartments of today and were meant to be low cost, functional spaces of accommodation. In spite of being simple and functional, these houses had an element of design and each apartment had its own private terrace and private entrance.

A main feature of ancient Roman architecture is that they were open to innovation. They used concrete and tiles in building structures. The ancient Romans made concrete using lime mortar, pozzolana, water, and stones. Marble was also widely used. The arches and domes were supported by great pillars. This meant that they were able to build huge buildings which could support a good deal of weight. The walls of buildings were often decorated with stucco and colored marbles and stones. The ancient Romans are also credited with the development of mosaic, a mix of colorful chips of stone and glass set into cement. The art and innovation of ancient Roman architecture still stand tall in the cities of Rome and attract millions of tourists each year.

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