ROMAN ARCHITECTURE 97 ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH posed of straw; and at a later period, ilar buildings. The requirements of such their temples were only small square edifices as these naturally led to the buildings, scarcely large enough to con- practice of composition and grouping, as tain the statues of their deities. The one uniform plan of building would not first king who constructed works of a have been suitable for such a variety of large class requiring architectural skill purposes. Another cause of variety lay was Ancus Martius. His first attempt in the employment of the arch, which was the building of the city and port of allowed much greater latitude in com- Ostia, at the mouth of the Tiber. Dur- positions than the entablature of the ing the time of Tarquin the Elder the Greeks. The semi-circular form of the city was much improved by the skill arch next led to quite a new feature in and enterprise of the Etruscans the architectural design — namely, the dome great Circus was built, and the walls of — a feature which gave a totally distinct the city constructed of large hewn stones, character to buildings in which it was The great Cloaca, or public sewer, was employed. The Pantheon is the most re- also commenced, together with the tern- markable example of this arrangement, pie of Jupiter Capitolinus. The decora- The circular plan of building became tion and improvement of the city was also a favorite one for tombs and mau- greatly increased during the reign of solea. Among the most noted of these Tarquinius Superbus; but the Capitol was the mausoleum of Hadrian, remains was not finished till after the expulsion of which now form the well-known castle of the kings. During the first two of St. Angelo; and the tomb of Caecilia Punic Wars many temples were erected; Metella. A characteristic feature in but they do not appear to have been of Roman architecture, and one that en- great magnificence. Altogether, very lit- tered largely in the system, is the em- tle taste had been shown in the Roman ployment of order above order in the buildings till their conquests extended same building. The style of architec- and they became intimate with the more ture called the Roman order was in- costly buildings of their enemies. Metel- vented by the Romans from the Ionic lus Macedonicus, the contemporary of and Corinthian orders; and hence it is Mummius, the victor of Corinth, was the sometimes called the Composite order, first who built a temple of marble at Rome; but from that time most of the ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH, the larger edifices were built of that mate- name of that community of Christians rial. < Grecian art and architects were who profess the same faith, partake of also introduced about the same period, the same sacraments and sacrifice, and Under Julius _ Csesar, many new and are united under one head, the Pope or magnificent buildings were erected; and Bishop of Rome and successor of St. during the Golden Age, under Augustus, Peter, and under the bishops subject to most of the finest edifices were built; him. Its essential parts are the Pope, architects flocked from all quarters, and bishops, pastors — so far as they are especially from Greece, to beautify the priests — and laity. The distinctive char- city. It was said of Augustus "that he acteristic of the Roman Church is the found Rome built of brick and left it of supremacy of the papacy. Its doctrines, marble." Under Vespasian and the An- like those of the rest of Christendom, tonines architecture flourished, as the are chiefly found in the articles of the remains of the Coliseum and the temples Nicene Creed. After the Council of of Antoninus and Faustina testify. Af- Trent Pope Pius IV. added to the formal ter this period, however, architecture profession of faith the articles on tran- declined till Constantine transferred the substantiation, invocation of saints, and seat of government to Byzantium, when others which chiefly distinguish the Ro- a new style was introduced. man from other Christian communities. In comparing Greek and Roman archi- The Immaculate Conception of the Vir- tecture there can be no doubt that the gin Mary and papal infallibility were former greatly excels in the matter of defined as articles of faith in 1854 and taste. Among the Greeks, moreover, re- 1870 respectively. One great and cen- ligion was almost the sole purpose for tral object of faith and worship is the which architecture seemed to exist; while Mass, which is the mystical sacrifice of among the Romans their temples were the body and blood of Christ, instituted neither so extensive nor so numerous as by Himself at the Last Supper, and is their buildings of public utility or con- essentially the same as the Sacrifice of venience. Besides a large number of the Cross. Scripture and tradition are engineering works, there are still the appealed to in support of this and other remains in Rome of fora, baths, palaces, doctrines, as the Seven Sacraments, the circi, theaters, amphitheaters, libraries, honor due to the Blessed Virgin, Purga t halls of justice, triumphal arches, com- tory, Invocation of Angels and Saints, memorative columns, mausolea, and sim- etc. There is a great distinction be-
