Thamugadi, meet Pikillacta

For this week’s blog, I was asked to explore two archaeological sites, Thamugadi and Pikillacta, and compare and contrast them. 

First, the site of Thamugadi, or Timgad, was a Roman colony founded in 100 CE by the emperor Trajan. The colony was a home for retired legionaries in the region of North Africa (Algeria). It was planned with a grid-like pattern and as a large square legionary camp that was divided into 12 equal blocks. This was unusual because the city of Rome is not planned at all; it is very organic. The reason for the grid pattern was to control the flow of traffic and to invoke a military presence. It was also planned this way to represent the hierarchal order within the colony; the centre for the elite, and going down the social classes the further outward. This was to maintain status and roles within society (the centre was for administrators). There was a basilica, curia (senate house), temple, a 4,000 seat theatre, public baths and two main avenues (cardo and decumanus). Some of the structures in the colony emulated those from the city of Rome and may have been integrated to recognize the authority and power of the Roman Empire. 

Around 200 CE, with a population of 15,000, Thamugadi had sprawled to accommodate the growth of the Empire. Eventually, the site was completely abandoned in 7th century CE. Most of the ruins are well preserved, the Arch of Trajan being one of the most prominent. 

Thamugadi (Timgad)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Timgad_Trajan.jpg

(accessed January 30, 2013).

Arch of Trajan-Thamugadi
http://www.robertabarresi.com/timgad2.jpg
(accessed January 30, 2013).

Thamugadi (Timgad)

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMCyyikRlmCybqh5ANKU93rMulGezuVO2WbmlRF7sv-xLWMIFbVu8E5Ebvr5TX7slmpFwp2uOrHGCzghUK0AD5rLk3JFUR0cV6LWpoXwdWM9H6wW6yk_-isY9D_dI4YOXMXiQN13Tlt9Om/s1600/Timgad.jpg

(accessed January 30, 2013).

The other site Pikillacta, is located in Cuzco, Peru in the Lucre Basin. Pikillacta was part of the Wari Empire, though, unlike Thamugadi, the function of the site is still unknown. Based on the architecture of the site, it may have been used as an administrative and/or military centre. 

Similar to Thamugadi, Pikillacta has a large rectangular plan and a grid-like pattern that is also well preserved. Patio groups, niched halls and smaller, conjoined buildings are similar characteristics among Pikillacta and other Wari sites (such as Viracochapampa), and like the Roman Empire’s colonies, may be symbols of empirical power. 

This site, unlike Thamugadi, is incomplete. Of the four sectors, only Sector 2 was completed and actually occupied. 

Pikillacta has narrow gates, high walls, and walk-ways that force one to walk a certain path which gives the impression of a militaristic function to the site. This is similar to Thamugadi because both were created with militaristic attributes and situated in strategical locations to serve administrative or empirical purposes; such as Pikillacta’s location intercepting the main route from Bolivia and northern Peru and both sites’ location near fertile regions. Pikillacta also has a hierarchal arrangement that is very transparent: there are 2 large patios with their respective niched halls, then smaller plazas and patios elsewhere, which may have been used to give a similar representation of elitism as the public baths in Roman cities or colonies.

Pikillacta

http://adventureperupath.com/data/images1/pikillacta2.jpg

(accessed January 30, 2013).

Pikillacta
(note wall remnants)

http://images.travelpod.com/tw_slides/ta00/b56/104/sicht-auf-pikillacta-pisac.jpg

(accessed January 30, 2013)

Pikillacta underwent an expansion, perhaps from an expansion of the Wari empire (similar to the expansion of the Roman Empire), that was abandoned.

Overall, more is known of Thamugadi than Pikillacta, which means more interpretation is necessary to determine Pikillacta’s true function. Despite this, both sites serve a purpose in revealing their respective cultures and empires.  

That's all for now!

I'm off.

Trip to Rome...Virtually

I have never been to Rome but I always wanted to visit the city and take in the sites. As part of an assignment for my Histories of Architecture and Urbanism course, I had to visit Rome virtually. To accomplish this, I used a travel guide (Rome Walking Tour) provided by tripadvisor and Google Maps. Also, for the added benefit of seeing a seamless, full panorama view of the sites in Rome, I used ItalyGuides.it's interactive  map of Rome. 

As there are 22 attractions on this tour, I will not go over all of them (despite how incredible they are), but highlight the ones that are architecturally significant and interested me the most.

The first stop on the tour was St. Peter's Basilica, a truly beautiful monument that seems to be a blend of Greek and Roman architecture, especially with pediments, arches, relief sculptures, and the Roman script running across the entablature. The basilica has a grand entryway with colonnades extending along the sides and branching out like circular wings to accept a procession. 

The passetto de Borgo was another interesting site. This is actually a bridge that popes could use to run from St. Peter's to the safety of the fortress-like Castel Sant'Angelo in times of battles. This long bridge is rather narrow and is similar to the Roman's aqueducts, with the arches spaced out along the bridge. 

The passetto de Borgo

http://rometour.org/corridore-corridori-di-borghi-rome.html

(accessed January 23, 2013)

I also visited the Pantheon, a marvel of architecture that takes a circle and square and melds them together. My first impression of this building was that it was a Greek temple because of the entrance. Then I noticed the Roman alterations: the scripture along the entablature, and of course the dome. 

Further along the tour is the Roman Forum, the heart of Rome. Here it is easy to understand the different elevations of the topography in Rome. Located in a valley beside Capitoline Hill, the Forum consists the relics of the regia (royal residency), temples, basilica, senate house and the still-standing and magnificent, Septimius Severus Arch. The Forum, as the guidebook describes, is a central area of "political, judicial, and religious rituals." Roman life centered around this area. The Romans also created a processional path to follow into the Forum (from the Coliseum). Despite the fact that most of the buildings are no longer standing, one look from beside the Septimius Severus Arch over the Forum area reveals how interconnected Rome is. 

The Roman Forum

http://www.rome.net/roman-forum

(accessed January 23, 2013)

The final attraction was the Coliseum, which is one processional walk away from the Forum. Here the melding of Roman and Greek architecture is visible in the columns, capitals and arches. Inside, there were gladiatorial fights, naval battles, and many other spectacles to entertain the empire. Its walls are somewhat crumbled but still exemplify the largest and most famous amphitheatre by the Roman Empire. 

The Coliseum

http://www.theaussienomad.com/featured-photos/the-colosseum-iconic-rome/

(accessed January 23, 2013)

All of the sites in the guidebook were given a brief historical background, but it is necessary to see (even virtually) most of them to understand their importance in the city and its architecture. Nevertheless, the guide took me through the narrow, twisting, and thoroughly confusing streets of Rome; up and down hills and into neighbourhoods where the buildings were meshed together. I saw the city's organic nature and how it once was and is today with modern incorporations. 

This virtual tour was amazing and eyeopening. One day I hope that I have the opportunity to visit Rome and that my fellow bloggers and readers will too. 

Until next time!

I'm off. 

Welcome to the ride

Cities have always interested me. The architecture of cities, their history and designs have made cities what they are today and part of this comes from referring to other cultures and their monuments as a guide. The Romans looked to the Greeks, and the rest of the world looked to Rome because of their marvels. In cities such as Washington D.C. and Paris, both Greek and Roman styles have been incorporated into the cities.

I have been fortunate enough to visit both cities and see first-hand the monuments that have become famous. Of the two, D.C. intrigued me the most with its style and architecture and made me far more interested in the design of cities.

By looking at cities and their architecture, stories, secrets and history are all revealed and show the marvels carved in stone or hidden behind friezes, façades, and sculptures.

I want to discover all the architecture, urbanism, and history that cities have to offer. The journey from each culture and the cities that they have created has just begun.