List of Roman domes

This is a list of Roman domes. The Romans were the first builders in the history of architecture to realize the potential of domes for the creation of large and well-defined interior spaces. Domes were introduced in a number of Roman building types such as temples, thermae, palaces, mausolea and later also churches. Semi-domes also became a favoured architectural element and were adopted as apses in Christian church architecture.

Monumental domes began to appear in the 1st century BC in Rome and the provinces around the Mediterranean Sea. Along with vaults and trusses, they gradually replaced the traditional post and lintel construction which makes use of the column and architrave. The construction of domes was greatly facilitated by the invention of concrete, a process which has been termed the Roman Architectural Revolution. Their enormous dimensions remained unsurpassed until the introduction of structural steel frames in the late 19th century (see List of largest domes).

Domes All diameters are clear span in m; for polygonal domes applies to the in-circle diameter. Main source is Jürgen Rasch's study of Roman domes (1985).

Diameter 2(m) Name,Part Location Built Shape of dome,Ground plan Material,Roof construction ShellThickness ST (m)ST to ⌀ Curtain WallThickness CWT (m)CWT to ⌀ Diameter Oculus DO(m)DO to ⌀ Comments/Other Characteristics PantheonRome126 ADRotundaConcrete,Lead plate roofing~ 1.351:32~ 5.931:7.3 8.951:4.9Largest dome of the world until 1436; largest unreinforced solid concrete dome in the world till present;Romanconcrete.com archetype of Western dome construction to this day Lake Avernus1st c. Baths of Caracalla,CaldariumRome3rd c. Amphoras Eight pillars; largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware Baiae2nd c. 1.201:25~ 5,70 Corner1:5.2 Baiae2nd c. -~ 2.90 Pillar1:9.1 Outer wall pillars Mausoleum of MaxentiusRome4th c.Rotunda Baths of Agrippa,'Arco della Ciambella' RomeRotunda First Thermae in Rome with central dome; largest dome of the world Arch of Galerius and RotundaThessaloniki4th c. Brick~ 11:246.001:4 Largest brick dome of the world Sanctuary of Asclepius Pergamon2nd c. Brick - 3.351:7.1 Earliest monumental brick dome; largest brick dome of the world to~ 19.80 St. Gereon's Basilica Cologne4th c. Oval with eight niches and apseLater medieval structure with Roman building fabric largest occidental dome between Hagia Sophia and Florence CathedralRome4th c.DecagonConcrete with brick ribs0.561:42~ 2.60 Pillar1:9.1 Outer wall pillars Baths of AntoninusCarthage2nd c.Polygon Seven domes with diameters between 17 and 22 m Rotunda at the HippodromeConstantinople5th c.Rotunda with ten niches Baths of Diocletian,San Bernardo Rome~ 300 Concrete with brick ribs or 21.25 Baths of Diocletian,'Planetarium' Rome~ 300 Umbrella dome,OctagonConcrete with inner brick covering 4.201:5.1 Baiae Concrete 3.651:5.9Earliest monumental dome; largest dome of the world Mausoleum of HelenaRome4th c. Ceramic amphora incorporated into dome's base0.901:222.401:8.4 Baths of Caracalla,Side buildingRome 3rd c.Octagon Preliminary form of the pendentive dome Baths of Bacucco4th c.Umbrella dome,Octagon Baths of Diocletian,TepidariumRome~ 300 3.681:5.2 Ostia3rd c. - 1.981:9.3 Church of EuphemiaConstantinople5th c.Hexagon Hadrian's Villa,'Serapeum' Tivoli2nd c.Umbrella domeConcrete Hollow space system Imperial Baths,TepidariumTrier4th c. Concrete Basilica of San Vitale Ravenna6th c. Clay pipe,Wooden roof construction Nymphaeum in Albano Laziale? 1st c. Concrete 2.081:7.6Earliest evidence for hollow spaces at dome's base for reduction in weight to~ 13.00 Southern bathsBosra3rd-4th c.OctagonConcrete Western bathsJerash2nd c. SquareVoussoir One of the earliest stone domes with square plan; largest stone dome of the world Rome4th c. Lead plate roofing0.901:16~ 1.801:8.23,701:4.0 Porto~ 3rd c. Concrete with inner brick covering -~ 2.201:6.6 Mausoleum of Tor de' Schiavi Via Prenestina4th c. 0.601:232.601:5.3 Four openings at dome's base Domus Aurea Rome1st c.Cloister vault,OctagonConcrete 5.991:2.3First dome with octagonal plan; earliest in palace architecture Mausoleum of DiocletianSplit~ 300 Brick,Tiled roof0.681:203.40 Corner1:3.9 Double-walled dome Chapel of Saint AquilinoMilan4th c. Brick Tivoli4th c. Concrete with brick ribs1.301:92.081:5.92.101:5.9 Hadrian's Villa,Summer Triclinium (Exedra) Tivoli2nd c. Concrete with inner brick covering Baths of Aquae FlavianaeEl Hammam3rd c. Clay pipes Largest dome of the world out of ceramic hollowware Church of HodegetriaConstantinople5th c.Hexagon SkeuophylakionConstantinople~ 5th c.Dodecagon BaptisteryNocera SuperioreCampania 6th c. Eight rectangular dome windows Hadrian's Villa,'Heliocaminus'Tivoli2nd c. Double-walled dome with spacing for ceiling heating Pergamon~ 2nd c. Brick Two Rotunda; largest brick dome of the world Santa CostanzaRome4th c. Concrete with brick ribs,Tiled roof directly resting on dome shell~ 0.701:161.451:7.9 Tambour Mor Gabriel Monastery Tur Abdin6th c. Brick yes PraetoriumCologne4th c.Octagon -2.00 1:5.7 Gordian's VillaRome,Via Prenestina3rd c.Octagon - ~ 1.35 1:8.2 Preliminary form of the pendentive dome; eight openings at dome's base Therme d’Allance ? ? Mausoleum of Gallien Rome,Via Appia3rd c.Rotunda with six niches - ~ 1.601:6.8 Centcelles,near Tarragona4th c. Brick and stone~ 0.401:27 ~ 1.901:5.6 to~ 9.40 Hadrian's Villa,small baths Tivoli2nd c.Elliptical dome with wavelike rim Gordian's Villa,Hall Via Prenestina ~ 2nd c. Via Latina2nd c. Ceramic amphora at dome's base Earliest known use of amphora at dome's base Cathedral,BaptisteryRavenna5th c. Rotunda of St. George, SofiaSofiaearly 4th c. Rotunda Built by the Romans in the 4th century, it is a cylindrical domed structure built on a square base. Hadrian's Villa,Piazza d'Oro (vestibule) Tivoli2nd c.Umbrella dome ~ 1,901:5.0 Praetextat catacomb,'Calventier tomb' Rome 3rd c. Rotunda with six niches Capito Thermae,LaconicumMiletus1st c. Concrete Small Roundtemple Baalbek3rd c. Domus AugustanaRome 1st c.Cloister vault,Octagon One of the earliest cloister vaults with octagonal curtain walls Rome,Via Appia~ 4th c. ~ 0.901:92,301:3.5~ 1.501:5.4 Baths of MaxentiusRome 4th c.Umbrella dome,Octagon Domus Flavia Rome1st c. to~ 6.20 Hadrian's Villa,'Heliocaminus'? 2nd c.Cloister vault,Uneven octagon Nymphaeum Riza,Epirus ~ 250-350 Dodecagon Baiae2nd c.Flat umbrella dome,Octagon Hall of Thermae Pisa ? ~ 2nd c.Cloister vault with eight windows,Octagon 2.001:3.3 Stabian Thermae,Laconicum PompeiiCone vault (early form of the dome) Concrete yesOldest known concrete domes Hunting ThermaeLeptis Magna ~ 200 Cloister vault with eight windows Arch of Marcus Aurelius Tripoli ? Cloister vaultVoussoir Water CastellumPompeii-14 ADFlat dome Octagon near 'Temple of Mercury' Baiae2nd c.Umbrella dome,Octagon San Vitale,Stair towersRavenna6th c. Brick Rome,Via Nomentana 2nd c.Square TabulariumRomeCloister vault,Square Earliest cloister vault Baiae2nd c. Umbrella dome above circular ground plan 0.591:7.5 Ravenna5th c. Tiled roof Tomb at Casal de' Pazzi Rome,Via Nomentana2nd c.In-circle dome,Square Concrete Preform of pendentive dome; hollow space system PompeiiCone vault (early form of the dome) Brick and clay (upper calotte) Concrete wall shell Mausoleum of Constantine at the Church of the Holy ApostlesConstantinople4th c.Presumably Rotunda with twelve niches

Half-domes Diameter ⌀ Name,Part Location Built Shape of dome,Ground plan Material,Roof construction Shellthickness (ST)ST to ⌀ Curtain wallthickness (CWT)CWT to ⌀ Comments/Other characteristics Baths of TrajanRome Largest dome(s) of the world Baths of Diocletian,Two apse halls Rome Trajan's Forum Rome Santi Cosma e Damiano,ApseRome Nymphaeum JerashConcrete Basilica,Apse BostraConcrete, inside covered with ashlar Cathedral,Annex roomsBostraConcrete Pantheon,Front nichesRome

List of Roman domes

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