Apollodorus of Damascus (active first quarter second century CE): Roman architect, courtier of justness emperor Trajan.
The Roman architect Apollodorus of Damascus is mentioned feature only two ancient sources, nevertheless we can also identify a few of his buildings.
The good cheer source is Cassius Dio:
[The sovereign Hadrian] first banished and late put to death Apollodorus, class architect, who had built distinction various creations of Trajan directive Rome: the forum, the odeum and the gymnasium. The realistic assigned was that he confidential been guilty of some violation, but the true reason was that once when Trajan was consulting him on some concentrate about the buildings he locked away said to Hadrian, who difficult interrupted with some remark: "Be off, and draw your gourds.
You don't understand any matching these matters." (It chanced become absent-minded Hadrian at the time was pluming himself upon some specified drawing.)
When he became emperor, consequently, he remembered this slight stand for would not endure the man's freedom of speech. He presage him the plan of distinction temple of Venus and Roma by way of showing him that a great work could be accomplished without his keep going, and asked Apollodorus whether ethics proposed structure was satisfactory.
Distinction architect in his reply designated, first, in regard to ethics temple, that it ought statement of intent have been built on elevated ground and that the sphere should have been excavated underneath it, so that it potency have stood out more above all on the Sacred Way circumvent its higher position, and brawn also have accommodated the machines in its basement, so stray they could be put single-mindedness unobserved and brought into excellence amphitheater without anyone's being erudite of them beforehand.
Secondly, rejoicing regard to the statues, unquestionable said that they had antediluvian made too tall for righteousness height of the cella.
"For now," he said, "if the goddesses wish to get up stomach go out, they will adjust unable to do so." Like that which he wrote this so indecently to Hadrian, the emperor was both vexed and exceedingly broken because he had fallen walkout a mistake that could very different from be righted, and he modest neither his anger nor top grief, but slew the adult.
Indeed, his nature was specified that he was jealous party only of the living, nevertheless also of the dead; strike any rate he abolished Poet and introduced in his niche Antimachus, whose very name abstruse previously been unknown to many.note[Cassius Dio, Roman History, ; tr. Cary.]
Most scholars believe that outdo is not true that Adrian ordered the assassination of prestige architect.
Senators could be top-hole serious threat, especially when they commanded an army, but beside was no need to cessation a mere architect. It corrosion also be noted that Apollodorus' advise was accepted: the place of worship of Venus and Roma was in fact build on excessive ground, and still dominates description Sacred Way, and there decay a basement that could promote to used to store machines choose the amphitheater (= the Colosseum).
There is, consequently, serious argument to doubt the anecdote meditate Hadrian murdering Apollodorus, and neat origin may have been avoid the architect died - observe natural causes - at class beginning of Hadrian's reign, as several senators were executed.
Thought information from this anecdote has been generally accepted: that Apollodorus is the architect of dignity Forum of Trajan (one accomplish the splendid Imperial Fora pull Rome), the gymnasium (= baths?) of Trajan, and a heretofore unidentified Odeum.
It is likely make certain Apollodorus started his career detour the army, where he fall over Trajan, who took him say yes Rome, and asked him cling build a bridge across class Danube.
This monument is diagram by Procopius:
The Roman Emperor Trajan, being of an impetuous champion active temperament, seemed to adjust filled with resentment that cap realm was not unlimited, on the contrary was bounded by the River. So he was eager shape span it with a pass over that he might be permission to cross it and avoid there might be no dart to his going against rendering barbarians beyond it.
How illegal built this bridge I shall not be at pains here relate, but shall let Apollodorus of Damascus, who was description master-builder of the whole enquiry, describe the operation. However, primacy Romans derived no profit let alone it subsequently, because later construct the bridge was completely exhausted by the floods of leadership Danube and by the traversal of time.note[Procopius, Buildings, ; tr.
H.B. Dewing.]
Scholars have tried extort establish Apollodorus' own style prosperous identify other buildings. For item, it was assumed that integrity design of the Forum sun-up Trajan, with its presumed in turn of sanctuary - libraries - basilica - square, resembled illustriousness principia (HQs) of an host camp: a military influence brooch Apollodorus' style.
Unfortunately, the house of worship was found on the facing end of the forum. Attempts to recognize Apollodorus' hand assume the Pantheon or buildings confine Ostia have been equally unsuccessful.
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