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Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

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“Music, also, the architect ought to understand so that he may have knowledge of the canonical and mathematical theory, and besides be able to tune ballistae , catapultae, and scorpiones to the proper key. For to the right and left in the beams are the holes in the frames through which the strings of twisted sinew are stretched by means of windlasses and bars, and these strings must not be clamped and made fast until they give the same correct note to the ear of the skilled workman.”

GivingMayMeanMadeAbleLeftTheoryKeysOughtEarsNotesBarsHolesMathematicalTunesStringsArchitectTwistedBeamWorkmen
Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
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“Economy denotes the the proper management of materials and of site, as well as a thrifty balancing of cost and common sense in the construction of works. ...the architect does not demand things which cannot be found or made ready without great expense. For example: it is not everywhere that there is plenty of pitsand, rubble, fir, clear fir, and marble... Where there is no pitsand, we must use the kinds washed up by rivers or by the sea... and other problems we must solve in similar ways.”

WayWellsKindDoeMadeUseProblemFoundCommonEconomyClearSeaExampleReadyMaterialsCostDemandRiversManagementSolveCommon SensePlentyExpensesConstructionArchitectSiteMarbleRubbleThrifty
Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
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“Bricks will be most serviceable if made two years before using; for they cannot dry thoroughly in less time. When fresh undried bricks are used in a wall, the stucco covering stiffens and hardens into a permanent mass, but the bricks settle and the motion caused by their shrinking prevents them from adhering to it, and they are separated from their union with it. At Utica in constructing walls they use brick only if it is dry and made five years previously, and approved as such by the authority of a magistrate.”

IfsYearsMadeTwoUseUsedFiveWallAuthorityMassUnionsPermanentSettlingDryFive YearsTwo YearsBricksCoveringApprovedShrinkingMagistrates
Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
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“Our ancestors, when about to build a town or an army post, sacrificed some of the cattle that were wont to feed on the site proposed and examined their livers. If the livers of the first victims were dark-coloured or abnormal, they sacrificed others, to see whether the fault was due to disease or their food. They never began to build defensive works in a place until after they had made many such trials and satisfied themselves that good water and food had made the liver sound and firm, healthfulness being their chief object.”

IfsFirstsMadeSoundWaterDarkObjectsDiseaseArmyTownsVictimFaultsDuesTrialsSatisfiedChiefsPostsFirmAncestorSiteCattleLiverAbnormal
Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
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“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let the work bulge out, nor allow the fall of the face walls which have been tightly fastened together.”

MeanHas BeensMadeTwoTogetherFacesFallCoursesBehindsFeetFrontsWallBedRedStonesSettlingDimensionsIronThickBricksJointsLava
Author:Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
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