Editing Ancient Roman architecture (section)

=== Domes ===
{{main|History of Roman and Byzantine domes}}
{{further|List of Roman domes}}
[[File:Pantheon, Rome (15235769992).jpg|thumb|Dome of the [[Pantheon, Rome|Pantheon]], inner view]]
The Romans were the first builders in the [[history of architecture]] to realize the potential of [[dome]]s for the creation of large and well-defined interior spaces.{{sfn|Rasch|1985|p=117}} Domes were introduced in a number of Roman building types such as [[Roman temple|temples]], [[thermae]], [[palace]]s, [[mausolea]] and later also churches. Half-domes also became a favored architectural element and were adopted as [[apse]]s in Christian [[sacred architecture]].

Monumental domes began to appear in the 1st century BC in [[Rome]] and the [[Roman province|provinces]] around the [[Mediterranean Sea]]. Along with [[vault (architecture)|vaults]], they gradually replaced the traditional [[post and lintel]] construction which makes use of the [[column]] and [[architrave]]. The construction of domes was greatly facilitated by the invention of [[Roman concrete|concrete]], a process which has been termed the [[Roman architectural revolution]].{{sfn|Lechtman|Hobbs|1986}} Their enormous dimensions remained unsurpassed until the introduction of [[structural steel]] frames in the late 19th century (see [[List of the world's largest domes]]).{{sfn|Rasch|1985|p=117}}{{sfn|Mark|Hutchinson|1986|p=24}}{{sfn|Heinle|Schlaich|1996|p=27}}