Gregory Aldrete

And what you see is the concrete core, the structural core that's left. And the Romans, I mean, they didn't invent concrete, but they just used it more creatively than anyone had before. And if you look at buildings like the Greeks built, they're all rectilinear. They're all rectangles or squares, and they always have a lot of columns because you need to hold the roof up.

The Romans, because of their use of concrete, could build wooden frames. They could have curves. They could have domes. They could have all kinds of stuff, and it just explodes the architectural possibilities. They also made a lot of use of the vault. So if you cut rocks and arrange them so they form a curve, you could have big vaulted spaces. And they were just brilliant with their mix of things.

The Romans, because of their use of concrete, could build wooden frames. They could have curves. They could have domes. They could have all kinds of stuff, and it just explodes the architectural possibilities. They also made a lot of use of the vault. So if you cut rocks and arrange them so they form a curve, you could have big vaulted spaces. And they were just brilliant with their mix of things.

The Romans, because of their use of concrete, could build wooden frames. They could have curves. They could have domes. They could have all kinds of stuff, and it just explodes the architectural possibilities. They also made a lot of use of the vault. So if you cut rocks and arrange them so they form a curve, you could have big vaulted spaces. And they were just brilliant with their mix of things.

I mean, the Pantheon is the best preserved Roman building, and it's another brilliant building, incredibly influential. I mean, every capital building in the world or museum is an imitation of the Pantheon. You know, the capital in Washington, D.C., the capital in Madison, where I'm from, Wisconsin, Austin, where we are now, they're all Pantheons.

I mean, the Pantheon is the best preserved Roman building, and it's another brilliant building, incredibly influential. I mean, every capital building in the world or museum is an imitation of the Pantheon. You know, the capital in Washington, D.C., the capital in Madison, where I'm from, Wisconsin, Austin, where we are now, they're all Pantheons.

I mean, the Pantheon is the best preserved Roman building, and it's another brilliant building, incredibly influential. I mean, every capital building in the world or museum is an imitation of the Pantheon. You know, the capital in Washington, D.C., the capital in Madison, where I'm from, Wisconsin, Austin, where we are now, they're all Pantheons.

You know, it's a big dome with a triangular pediment and some columns on the front. So it's just an amazingly influential building, but it's brilliant because the way it's constructed is, you know, the concrete at the bottom of the dome is both thicker and has a denser formulation. So it's heavier where it needs to bear the weight.

You know, it's a big dome with a triangular pediment and some columns on the front. So it's just an amazingly influential building, but it's brilliant because the way it's constructed is, you know, the concrete at the bottom of the dome is both thicker and has a denser formulation. So it's heavier where it needs to bear the weight.

You know, it's a big dome with a triangular pediment and some columns on the front. So it's just an amazingly influential building, but it's brilliant because the way it's constructed is, you know, the concrete at the bottom of the dome is both thicker and has a denser formulation. So it's heavier where it needs to bear the weight.

And then as you get further up the dome, it gets narrower and narrower, and they mix in different types of rock. So at the top, you're using pumice, that very light volcanic stone. So where you want it to be light, it's light. And it's here 2,000 years later. I mean, look around you. How many buildings that we're building now do you think are going to be here in 2,000 years? I suspect not many.

And then as you get further up the dome, it gets narrower and narrower, and they mix in different types of rock. So at the top, you're using pumice, that very light volcanic stone. So where you want it to be light, it's light. And it's here 2,000 years later. I mean, look around you. How many buildings that we're building now do you think are going to be here in 2,000 years? I suspect not many.

And then as you get further up the dome, it gets narrower and narrower, and they mix in different types of rock. So at the top, you're using pumice, that very light volcanic stone. So where you want it to be light, it's light. And it's here 2,000 years later. I mean, look around you. How many buildings that we're building now do you think are going to be here in 2,000 years? I suspect not many.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, Vitruvius, his principles are things should be functional and they should be aesthetically pleasing. So that's a winning combination, I think.

Yeah. I mean, Vitruvius, his principles are things should be functional and they should be aesthetically pleasing. So that's a winning combination, I think.

Yeah. I mean, Vitruvius, his principles are things should be functional and they should be aesthetically pleasing. So that's a winning combination, I think.

Yeah. Oh, boy. This is – we've been talking about Augustus' great achievements and how clever he was with propaganda and all. This is his great failure. So his great failure is that he did not solve was the problem of succession. How do you ensure that the next person who follows you is not just the best person but is qualified? And he fails to do it.