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Apollodorus of Damascus (Early part of Second Century A. D.) |
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Apollodorus of
Damascus, a Greek engineer, architect, designer and sculptor that flourished
during the 2nd century AD. He was a favourite of Trajan, for whom he
constructed Trajan's Bridge over the Danube (104) for the campaign in Dacia.
He also planned a gymnasium, a college, public baths, the Odeum, and the
Forum Trajanum, Trajan's Column, within the city of Rome; and the triumphal
arches at Beneventum and Ancona. He is also widely credited as the architect
of the Pantheon. The Trajan's Column in the centre of the Forum is celebrated as being the first triumphal monument of its kind. On the accession of Hadrian, whom he had offended ridiculing his performances as architect and artist, Apollodorus was banished and, shortly afterwards, being charged with imaginary crimes, put to death (Dio Cassius lxix. 4). He also wrote a treatise on Siege Engines (Πολιορκητικά), which was dedicated to Hadrian. References This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain. James Grout: 'Apollodorus of Damascus,' part of the Encyclopædia Romana |
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...ἄπελθε καὶ τὰς κολοκύντας γράφε , the emperor Hadrian to Apollodorus Apollodorus of Damascus, famous Greek-Roman-Syrian architect, engineer, designer and sculptor (around 2nd century AD). Apollodorus born in Damascus in Syria followed Trajan on the campaign in Dacia where he constructed bridges and machines of war. He was Rome's chief engineer under Trajan (98-117 AD) and Hadrian (117-138) until his banishment in AD 129. On the accession of Hadrian, whom he had offended ridiculing his performances as architect and artist, Apollodorus was banished and, shortly afterwards, being charged with imaginary crimes, put to death.
WORK
A prominent figure of his time, he worked on several important commission within Rome. Although his name has often been incorrectly attached to buildings that he did not design, he was responsible for many great works of his time. As one of the few known architects to design during the period between the architecture of Vitruvius and Brunelleschi, he has received much attention.
BOOKS Apollodorus wrote a treatise on "Engines of War" which survives. http://sights.seindal.dk/fwd/www.greatbuildings.com/architects/Apollodorus_of_Damascus.html |
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