Influence of Roman Art in Modern Life

Art was a huge component of the Roman way of life. They used paintings and enormous murals made of small stone called mosaics to decorate their houses, shops, and temples. The statues of the Romans were either carved out of marble or cast in metal. Marble was costly and needed a great deal of talent to cut. Thus it served as a status symbol. Bronze was considerably more distinguished since it was more expensive.

The influences of Roman art in modern life can be found in banks, government buildings, and even tiny houses. They often appear in porches with Doric columns or a mosaic shower floor derived from a Roman original, either from the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii or Herculaneum.

Ancient Greek sculpture had a significant effect on Roman sculpture, and it was exceedingly realistic, meaning it sought to appear as natural and real as possible. As a result, reliefs covered most temples and major government structures. Reliefs are marble panels with highly carved backgrounds that allow the figures to stand out virtually three-dimensionally.

These panels presented stories and portrayed events from Roman mythology and history. Roman-style reliefs have had a significant influence throughout Christian history. Reliefs depicting events from the Bible can be seen in many of the world's most prominent and influential churches. Statues were created to glorify Gods, heroes, and actual people in Roman civilization.

Ancient Roman literature has had a significant impact on much of modern literature. Poets like Ovid, Virgil, and Horace wrote works that have lasted for centuries during an era popularly known as the "Golden Age of Roman Poetry." Ovid's Metamorphoses influenced authors like Dante, Milton, Shakespeare, and Chaucer. The ancient Romans intrigued Shakespeare, evident in his plays, notably Antony, Cleopatra, and Julius Caesar.

The ancient Romans spoke Latin, which expanded worldwide as Roman political authority grew. Latin served as the foundation for a collection of languages known as the "Romance languages." French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Romanian, and Catalan are among them. The English language has several Latin root words. The Latin alphabet is the basis for the English alphabet. In addition, a significant amount of Latin is still employed in today's legal system.

Despite being significantly inspired by ancient Greece, the Romans improved upon borrowed Greek art and ideas. The Romans continued to utilize columns like the Greeks, but the shape grew more beautiful, intricate, and less structural. The ancient Romans built curved roofs and large-scale arches to hold greater weight than the Greeks' post-and-beam structure. The gigantic bridges and aqueducts built by the Romans were built on top of these arches. Large amphitheaters, such as the Colosseum, were also created by the game-loving ancients. The core idea that the Romans devised is the circular form and tiered seating that we see today in sports stadiums.

The Romans created cement with volcanic ash and volcanic rock, a strong construction material. The usage of this ash, according to modern experts, is the reason that monuments like the Colosseum are still standing today. Underwater buildings built by the Romans proved to be much more durable. When seawater reacts with volcanic ash, crystals form and fill the concrete fractures. Modern builders strengthen concrete with steel to make it as long-lasting as this. As a result, scientists are studying Roman concrete today to replicate the ancient master builders' achievements.