ROM
370
ROM
ROD, a linear measure of 16| feet. Also a superficialmeasure of 272^ square feet, by which brickwork is usuallycalculated; the rod contains 272^ square feet of brickwork, abrick and half thick, or 306 cubic feet.
ROE-STONE, or Oolite, a variety of limestone, com-posed of small round globules, resembling the roes of fishes,imbedded in a calcareous cement. These globules are com-posed of concentric lamellae, and are evidently the result ofcrystallization. They vary in size from a grain of mustard-seed to that of a pea: when they are as large as the latter,it is called pea-stone. Roe-stone is one of the secondarylimestones, which may be considered as belonging to thechalk-formation. It lies under chalk in various parts of Eng-land, being separated from it by beds of sand and clay. Itis found also in many parts of Europe ; but, according toHumboldt, is not met with in South America . Some of thestrata of this stone are extensively used for purposes of archi-tecture : the most distinguished are the Ketten stone, in Nor-thamptonshire ; the Bath firestone, in Somsetshire; and Port-land stone, in the island of Portland. Portland stone is of ayellowish-white colour: the more compact varieties, whenclosely inspected, show a tendency to crystalline arrangement;it is composed of carbonate of lime, with a small admixtureof silex and alumine.
ROLL-MOULDING, a moulding in Gothic architectureof a circular section, though frequently interrupted or brokenby a fillet.
ROLLS, or Rollers, among carpenters, masons, &c., plaincylinders of wood, seven or eight inches in diameter, andthree or four feet long; used for the removing of beams, hugestones, and similar burdens, which are cumbersome, but notexceedingly heavy. These rollers are placed, successively,under the fore part of the masses to be removed; which, atthe same time, are pushed forward by levers, &c., appliedbehind.
When blocks of marble, or other excessively heavy loads,are to be removed, they use what they call endless rolls.These, to give them the greater force, and prevent theirbursting, are made of wood joined together by cross-quar-ters ; they are about double the length and thickness of thecommon roller, and, besides, are girt with several large ironhoops at each end. At a foot distance from the ends are fourmortises, or rather only two, but pierced through and through,into which are put the ends of long levers, which the work-men draw by ropes fastened to the ends, still changing themortise, as the roll has made a quarter of a turn.
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE. The early Romans canscarcely be said to have possessed any style of architectureof their own, but borrowed their ideas of building first fromthe Etruscans , and, at a later period, from the Greeks. Inthe time of Romulus, their buildings would seem to have beenof the most rude description, their dwelling-houses beingcomposed chiefly of straw, and thence termed culmina; andat a somewhat later period, even their temples were onlysmall square erections scarcely large enough to contain thestatue of the deity.
Ancus Martius was the first king who commenced worksof a larger class requiring skill in their construction, and hisfirst attempt was the construction of the city and port ofOstia, at the mouth of the Tiber . Tarquin the Elder broughtwith him the skill and enterprise of the Etruscans , and setabout improving the city with energy and perseverance ; hisfirst work was to erect the grand circus; he also constructedthe walls of the city with large hewn stones, and commencedthe great cloaca, or public sewer, as well as the temple ofJupiter Capitolinus, which was continued by Servius Tul-lius, who also enlarged the city. Tarquinius Superbus
yielded to none of his predecessors in the decora yft 3improvement of the city. During his reign the c c0l) si'completed, as was also the cloaca maxima, which a j D sdered one of the wonders of the world, and still Te ^ o3 . 1*a monument of the enterprising spirit of the Ta r( lwas constructed of wrought stone, and was of sU . C oU rdi 'sions, that a waggon loaded with hay could pass t >and was carried through rocks and under hills, and l’l ,ethe engineering difficulties overcome in its construe j a fteftemple of Jupiter Capitolinus was not comple‘ e ce d Wthe expulsion of the kings, but was considerably athis king. ^ rere .--tl' e
After this period, some of the principal works ^ a stcompletion of the Capitol, commenced by Tarq 1 -’ r el ! ®formation of the Campus Martius, and the outlet m* burf 9of the lake Alba. In the year 389, B.C., the city ^
by Brennus , which afforded an opportunity for r e UI1 for t3in a more convenient and sumptuous manner; aI) d fl 1nately, the opportunity was not taken advantage ’ t j ie y h®houses were erected after a more irregular plan t a pub*’previously been; for whereas, in the old c Y’ fica tionisewers ran under the roadway; in its re - e m .‘ r raflf> estreets were laid out without any reference to>t ye*
ment—a want of consideration, the effects of '
, tb«
Claudius, fWj
^DurinffV 1 a SUbsequem Period.tJurmg the censorship of Annius
Rome P to V CanT d 'T I*'* h the Rorn7n7; it extend-350 miles C and a i s an t o jj erwards *° «™ndusium, a le^ }4feet in seen at ^ le present day. * ftbt ee
thicknesses 3 feet dee P’ bein g com P osed Routed
together ti’ °^er one consisting of rough s tones g ^ r ;.
oul dimenlL SeC T d ° f S’ arel, and the third of stones of (]l6 .
appearance oT S ’ 30 accur ately pointed, as to hj th , ;first ZZ f ! Y ,ngIe stone - The credit of construct^,.- ‘ q d ct also belongs to this censor, by which a YV
• -n„,
of water was conveyed from Praeneste to jn
- leep subterraneous channel upwards of 1 we re eTeC „c&During the two first Punic wars, many ‘5 m P mn gTi$ ee
cll „ neI upwards of
an d Semp rof) ]- Uj er J t 7 Hh a bas,1 'ca, which he ri f’ ed £ r l,is°wn name. ere eted a second, which was called site
contributed mu cf f t U 0 ,v ! us F1 *ccus and A. Postumius
R, adorned it w ;.i, e em bellishment of the city; they Pjepublic ways and hr'.i^ 0rtlC03 ’ enlarged the circus, an j ie
m °re wealthyR 0 m'n?T ° U 0Utside ' At th ! 8 Knd^
country-residency f . b ? gaa to Iive out °f the city, and le
extent and 7’ 1 were > in ™ny cases, of con^j f ibe
magnificence of theT d ®? oration - To sucb an ext 7 Icic eT °in the habit of I f V . 1,Ias carried last, that we W
AJ 1 ‘his tmjy\° y , ms no Iess ^an two architects-
" ie but Hole taste had been exhibited ’* k
mostly o‘ t' ~ d '--.ii tl‘ eterlias
decoration of their buildings, which w ? r ?t)Ourh°° d ’ ..jjor, at best, of stone obtained in the neig . tiina te " rl
xi. _• _ j . . . i 1 i it__ i\onfirn6 in _
their conquests extended, and they became e
more costly buildings of their enemies, ‘ e 7 ar t, \ , 0 t °[tain more expanded ideas of magnificence.^ ffie r bl®’Macedonicus, the contemporary of Murnin > , 0 f c ot>”Corinth, was the first to build at Rome a ,.» ce3 vt e . - ttbut from this time most of the larger ^ G r e ^ of
structed of this material. At this P ell ° a ny ‘ j
and architects were introduced, and m c ' rr ied a ji>9 “brought thence to decorate Rome ; ■ Ob^^e-columns, 8cc., from the temple of « \to\inu s at .„ v r; r
Athens, to embellish that of Jupiter C a P, vy P°ff n rThe first permanent theatre was erect ® t a ilo"' edvious to his time, such erections were n