Cryptoporticus

A ( technical terminology also: a ) cryptoporticus (from Greek kryptós = " hidden " and Latin porticus = " aisle ") is a wholly or partly situated underground vaulted passageway. In one differing word usage Pliny called the Younger ( 1st century AD), also a aboveground covered, enclosed by its environment walkway within Plots as cryptoporticus.

In Roman architecture Kryptoportiken were used to compensate for height differences in the design and creation of these buildings and to provide a firm foundation.

A first occurrence of these vaulted passageways is attested in the 2nd century BC in central Italy due to the at this time greatly improved technique of vault construction. At first limited to terraced buildings, the cryptoporticus came from the era also served as a surface developer on, often in combination with one or more bladed porticoes. A bloom reached the building type in the 1st century AD and was widely used in the western provinces of the Roman Empire, for example, in forums.

Apart from its purely constructive benefit to Kryptoportiken served various purposes. Due to the superior equipment of most courses with plaster, wall painting ect. it can be assumed that these were used as shaded walkways to promenade into the heat of the day. For those in the older literature often postulated use as a storage room ( horreum ) so far found no clear archaeological evidence.

In modern usage, the term is generally used for long-drawn- vaulted passages. A special characteristic of this type of building is the targeted enhancement of the interior by means of windows, wall paintings, mosaics, etc. Thus, the cryptoporticus of pure Substruktionsräumen is different and is given its own importance.

Examples

Kryptoportiken found, among others at the following locations:

  • Boos, district of Bad Kreuznach ( Roman villa )
  • Buchs ZH
  • Gardens of the Villa Barberini in Castel Gandolfo (Villa of Domitian )
  • Coimbra
  • Reims (Forum, see cryptoporticus of Reims )
  • Arles (Forum)
  • Narbonne
  • Marcianopolis
  • Carthage
  • Kanatha
  • Urbisaglia
  • Pompeii (Villa dei Misteri, Casa del Criptoportico )
  • Rome ( Domus Aurea, Palatine Hill )
  • Tivoli (Villa Hadriana )
  • Aosta (Forum)
  • Urbisaglia ( Marche ) Forum
  • Sessa Aurunca ( Campania): portico at the theater
  • Bavay ( Nord-Pas -de- Calais ): Forum

Swell

Forum (Roman) Boos, Bad Kreuznach
208578
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