Post 5: Roman origins of European cities

Have you ever walked in an old city and thought why is it laid out as it is? Often towns are planned as topography gives in. On the other hand cities might be planned according some ideal city layout at specific time. For example, in Finland Hamina has clear reference to symmetrical round cities of the renaissance.

Many major cities in Europe can trace their roots to the times of antiquity. At that time Romans expanded their empire and established new outposts all over Europe and the Mediterranean. Looking at many cities from this area we can still see their former city layout affecting their appearance today. Knowing what was going on in antiquity and how they were planned helps us to understand their development over history and appreciate what remains of original roman city. It also helps us to understand why they look like they do today.

The remains of the original town can be still today for example in Paris. The Roman town of Lutetia was founded in the left bank of today’s Paris around 3rd century BC. The town was planned like many other cities around Europe and the Mediterranean. Remains of the Roman forum, amphitheatre, aqueduct and baths can still be seen today.

When a Roman town was planned a surveyor called mensor or agrimensor used a staff called groma to sight the main axis. The main roads were planned along them. The main north-south street was called cardus maximus and the west-east street was called decumanus maximus. They usually intersected in the middle. From these main streets lesser streets parallel to them called decumanus and cardumanus were surveyed.  The grid created by roads created square city blocks called insulae which had a length of around 70-80 meters. 

Lutetia 2nd century: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutetia#/media/File:Roman-Lutetia.png

In the center of the city was a forum, basilica and the main temple. They were often built as a single three block complex called tripartite forum. The temple faced on the three sides by columns facing across the basilica. Other public buildings around the city were baths and theatres

Model of forum of Lutetia: thttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutetia#/media/File:Le_forum_de_Lut%C3%A8ce,_maquette.JPG

Arenas of Lutetia: https://www.parisdiscoveryguide.com/arenes-de-lutece.html

 

The Zero point where the measuring of the city began was usually the highest point of Cardus maximus which must have been in the corner of the old Roman forum. From there the city blocks were also measured. Between Rue Sant Martin which was Cardus maximus of Lutetia and Rue Saint Denis is 600 roman feet which had been enough for two Roman apartment blocks.

Map of Lutecia's streets: https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/paris/en/grid-layout

The remains of the old Roman town plan can also be seen in many other cities As ruins or in the modern cityscape. Just look into the masterplans of London (Londinium), Cologne (Golognia Agrippina) or Vienna (Vindobona). Have you found something roman  in your trips around Europe?

Sources: 

- Sear, Frank. (2020). Roman Architecture (2nd ed.). Routledge

- The Early Roman City Grid Layout. Paris Antique: https://archeologie.culture.gouv.fr/paris/en/grid-            layout (used 25/5/2023)

- Chapter 6: Roman Cities, MITPress: https://mitp-arch.mitpress.mit.edu/pub/s1g1tf3w/release/1 (used 25/5/2023)