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== Roman art == {{Main|Roman art}} [[File:Roman_fresco_Villa_dei_Misteri_Pompeii_009.jpg|thumb|right|Fresco from the [[Villa of the Mysteries]], [[Pompeii]], c. 80 BC]] The Etruscans were responsible for constructing some of Rome's earliest monumental buildings, and Roman temples and houses were initially modeled closely on Etruscan prototypes. Etruscan influence is evident in Roman temples, particularly in the use of a raised podium and the strong emphasis on the front façade over the remaining three sides. Similarly, large Etruscan houses were organized around a central hall, a layout later adopted in Roman domestic architecture as the ''[[atrium (architecture)|atrium]]'' house. Etruscan architectural influence gradually declined during the Roman Republic, as Rome increasingly absorbed elements from the broader Mediterranean world, especially [[Ancient Greek architecture|Greek architecture]]. Since Etruscan architecture was itself influenced by the Greeks, the Roman adoption of Hellenistic styles was not an abrupt cultural shift. From the 3rd century BC onward, especially after the Roman conquest of Syracuse in 211 BC, a significant influx of Greek artworks and craftsmen entered Rome, exerting a decisive influence on Roman architectural development. By the time [[Vitruvius]] composed his architectural treatise ''De Architectura'' in the 1st century BC, Greek architectural theory and models had become dominant. As the Roman Empire expanded, Roman architectural styles spread widely and were used for both public structures and, in wealthier cases, private residences. While local tastes influenced decorative details, the overall style remained distinctly Roman. In many regions, Roman and indigenous architectural elements coexisted within individual buildings, reflecting a syncretic vernacular tradition. [[File:Statue-Augustus.jpg|thumb|left|190px|The [[Augustus of Prima Porta]], 1st century AD]] By the 1st century AD, [[Rome]] had become the largest and most advanced city in the world. The Romans developed innovative technologies to improve urban infrastructure, including sanitation, transportation, and construction. They engineered extensive aqueduct systems to supply the city with freshwater and constructed sewers to manage waste. While the wealthiest Romans resided in large, gardened villas, the majority of the population lived in multi-story apartment blocks made from stone, concrete, and brick. Roman engineers discovered that mixing volcanic ash from Pozzuoli (near Naples) with lime and water produced an exceptionally durable form of cement. This allowed them to develop robust concrete structures, including large apartment buildings known as [[Insula (building)|''insulae'']]. Wealthy homes were often decorated with elaborate wall paintings depicting garden landscapes, mythological or historical narratives, and scenes of daily life. Floors were adorned with intricate mosaics composed of small, colored tiles arranged into decorative patterns or figural imagery. These artworks not only enhanced the brightness and apparent spaciousness of rooms but also served to display the owner's social status and cultural sophistication.<ref>Alex T. Nice, Ph.D., former Visiting Associate Professor of Classics, Classical Studies Program, Willamette University. Nice, Alex T. "Rome, Ancient." ''World Book Advanced.'' World Book, 2011. Web. 30 September 2011.</ref> In the Christian period of the late Empire (c. 350–500 AD), wall painting, floor and ceiling mosaics, and funerary sculpture continued to flourish, while free-standing sculpture and panel painting declined—likely due to changing religious sensibilities.<ref name="Piper, p. 261">Piper, p. 261.</ref> After [[Constantine the Great]] moved the imperial capital to [[Byzantium]] (renamed [[Constantinople]]), Roman art absorbed Eastern influences, giving rise to the [[Byzantine art|Byzantine]] style. Following the [[Sack of Rome (410)|sack of Rome in the 5th century]], many artisans relocated to the Eastern capital. Under Emperor [[Justinian I]], Roman artistic traditions reached a final, monumental expression with the construction of the [[Hagia Sophia]] and the creation of the famed mosaics of [[Ravenna]], which employed thousands of craftsmen.<ref>Piper, p. 266.</ref>
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