Domes and related elements

The dome may be regarded as the three-dimensional counterpart of the arch. In its true circular form, a vertical arch is rotated around a vertical axis and sweeps out, at every level, a continuous circular horizontal ring. Loads can be transmitted both along the meridian lines of the vertical arches and around the horizontal rings.

The simple dome form, set directly on the ground, was the first completely manmade spatial enclosure. Simple domed huts, constructed from a wide variety of materials, can still be found throughout the world.

The dome, constructed with horizontally bedded rings and sharply pointed profile, had already achieved monumental proportions by about the 14^th century ВС in the great tombs at Mycenae. But these tombs were not completely freestanding. They depended partly for their stability on the earth piled against them outside.

The full development of the potential of the truly freestanding dome owed much to Roman concrete. Roman builders constructed over the Pantheon in the early 2^nd century a dome that has twice since been equaled but never really surpassed.

The later Western development was initiated by an achievement that, in the circumstances of the time, probably exceeded that of Hadrian's architect of the Pantheon dome. This was Brunelleschi's construction of the dome of Florence Cathedral in the early 15^th century. A major difficulty here was the octagonal plan form which Brunelleschi was constrained to follow throughout the height of the dome itself. His central idea was to construct it, nevertheless, as if it were a circular dome of the same internal diameter as the diagonals of the octagon — a diameter that slightly exceeded that of the Pantheon dome. In this way, and by means of numerous related devices, he succeeded in completing it without any centering, as the first Renaissance double dome.

Vocabulary

counterpart — копия; дубликат

to rotate — вращать

to owe — быть обязанным

to constrain — принуждать; вынуждать; сдерживать

nevertheless — несмотря на, однако

to succeed — достигать цели; преуспевать

/. Complete the following sentences.

1. The dome maybe regarded as the three-dimensional counterpart of...

a) the column b) the arch c) the roof

2. The simple dome form, set directly on the ground, was the first
completely manmade spatial...

a) tomb b) palace c) enclosure

3. The dome, constructed with horizontally bedded rings and sharply

pointed profile, was used in... at Mycenae.

a) the temples b) the great tombs c) the palaces

4. Romans builders constructed over... a dome that has never been
really surpassed.

a) the Parthenon b) the Colosseum c) the Pantheon

5. The dome of... is considered to be the first Renaissance double dome.

a) Santa Croce b) Siena Cathedral c) Florence Cathedral

//. Choose the right synonym.

I. The dome may be regarded as the three dimensional counterpart of
the arch,
a) received b) considered c) chosen

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