The Adaptation of Architecture to the Climate during the Roman Period According to Classical Authors

Abstract

In this paper we will study the relationship between climate and Roman architecture. Specifically, we will analyse the adaptation of Roman architecture to the climate. There are a lot of studies about Roman architecture but only a few focus on climate during the Roman Period. However, the adaptation of architecture is a question which has not been widely studied. In order to achieve this aim we have used the essays written by ancient authors: Pliny the Younger, Columella, Cato, Palladius, Varro and, above all, Vitruvius. In their writings they didn’t talk much about this question. However, they are not totally silent about it either. In certain paragraphs, they explained how to adapt the architecture, among other things, to the climate, through the position of the building.