Apollodorus of Damascus

Apollodorus of Damascus (Ancient Greek: Ἀπολλόδωρος ὁ Δαμασκηνός) was an architect and engineer from Roman Syria, who flourished during the 2nd century AD. As an engineer he authored several technical treatises, and his massive architectural output gained him immense popularity during his time. He is one of the few architects whose name survives from antiquity, and is credited with introducing several Eastern innovations to the Roman Imperial style, such as making the dome a standard. He is also known as Apollodorus Mechanicus.

Early life

Apollodorus was born in Damascus, Roman Syria. Sources refer to him as ethnically Nabatean, although other sources refer to him as Greek. Little is known of his early life, but he started his career as a military engineer before meeting future emperor Trajan in Damascus, then being summoned to Rome by him when he was a consul in 91 AD, after his twentieth birthday, and later accompanying him during the Second Dacian War in 105 AD.

Work

Apollodorus was Trajan's favoured architect and engineer.

In Rome he designed and oversaw the construction of:

• Trajan's Forum and Markets
• Temple of Trajan
• Trajan's Column (the first monument of its kind)

Outside the capital, Apollodorus designed the:

• Trajan's Bridge across the Danube
• Alconétar Bridge over the Tagus in Spain
• triumphal arch of Trajan at Benevento
• Arch of Trajan at Ancona.
• Trajan's Trophy near Adamclisi, Romania

He is the author of Siege Engines (Πολιορκητικά), dedicated to an unnamed emperor, likely Trajan.

Style

Fiorella Festa Farina, Director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Damascus, described the technical prowess of Apollodorus as stemming from his cultural roots and the architectural tradition of Syria, modes of thought." He was known for his practical and robust designs. It was likely due to his influence that domes became a standard element in Roman architecture.

Death

Cassius Dio reports that Apollodorus offended Hadrian by dismissing and ridiculing the emperor's forays into architecture, which led to his banishment and death (although doubts have been raised concerning the veracity of Dio's claim).

See also

• Trajan's Market
• Trajan's Column
• Temple of Trajan
• Trajan's Bridge
• Trajan's Forum
• Pantheon, Rome

Notes

References

• This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Apollodorus". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 186.
• Abdulkarim, Maamoun (2003). Apollodorus of Damascus and Trajan's Column. L'Erma di Bretschneider. ISBN 978-8-8826-5233-3.
• James Grout: 'Apollodorus of Damascus,' part of the Encyclopædia Romana
• Cassius Dio 'Roman History' 69.3,4

External links

• Media related to Apollodorus of Damascus at Wikimedia Commons
• * Apolodoro de Damasco (1867). "Πολιορκητικα". In Carle Wescher; Anselme Petetin (eds.). Poliorkētika kai poliorkiai diaphorōn poleōn. Poliorcétique des Grecs. Traités thēoriques.Récits historiques. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

1. Temple of Jupiter, Damascus
2. Trajan's Forum
3. Apollodorus
4. Trajan's Bridge
5. Damascus
6. List of people from Damascus
7. Apollodorus (crater)
8. Trajan's Market
9. Arch of Trajan (Ancona)
10. Oltenia
11. Umayyad Mosque
12. Temple of Trajan
13. Trajan's Column
14. AD 110
15. AD 104
16. Jefferson Memorial
17. Taberna
18. Pantheon, Rome
19. Odeon of Domitian
20. 332