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In this episode of Build Like a Roman, we look at the Roman glassmaker, not of fancy vases and goblets, but down to earth windows glass. Many people aren't aware that the Romans even had glass in their windows. Not only did they have glass, it was more common than it was centuries later, in medieval times.
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Glossary - Episode 19: Vitriarius, the Roman Glass MakerVitriarius
A Roman glass worker or glass maker. From vitrum, meaning glass.
Specularius
A worker associated with specularia, meaning translucent panes or window-like sheets.
Specularia
Roman window panes or translucent panels.
Vitrum
Latin for glass.
Officina
A workshop, workplace, or production space.
Furnace
The high-temperature structure used to melt or reheat glass. Roman glassworking required intense heat, often around 1,000°C.
Crucible
A heat-resistant vessel used to hold molten glass or other materials during high-temperature work.
Molten glass
Glass heated until it becomes soft, viscous, and workable.
Casting stone
A flat working surface onto which molten glass could be poured and spread to form a pane.
Cullet
Broken or waste glass reused in glass production. Recycling cullet reduced the need for expensive imported raw glass.
Natron
A naturally occurring soda-rich mineral used as a flux in Roman glassmaking. It helped lower the melting temperature of silica.
Primary glass production
The large-scale making of raw glass from ingredients such as silica, natron, and lime. Major centres were in the eastern Mediterranean, especially Egypt and the Levant.
Secondary glass production
The reworking of raw glass chunks or recycled glass into finished objects such as vessels, beads, or window panes.
Levant
The eastern Mediterranean region, including areas such as modern Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan.
Freedman
A formerly enslaved person who had been legally freed. Many Roman artisans and business operators were freedmen.
Sulphuratae
Sulphur matches or sulphur-tipped fire-sticks mentioned by Martial. In the episode, they appear in a joke about bartering cheap matches for broken glass.
Martial
A Roman poet and satirist, famous for short, sharp epigrams.
Caecilius
The target of Martial’s insult in the episode.
Beyond the Tiber
A reference to the Transtiberine district. In Roman satire, this could carry associations of poverty, marginality, migrants, freedmen, and lower-status urban life.
Float glass
Modern flat glass made by floating molten glass on molten tin. This is a modern industrial process, not Roman.
Mica
A mineral that can split into thin, translucent sheets. It was used historically as a light-admitting material.
Alabaster
A translucent stone that could be cut thinly to admit light before or alongside the use of glass windows.
Vellum
Prepared animal skin. In some contexts, thin animal membranes could be used to admit diffused light.
Pliny the Elder
Roman author of Natural History. He discusses glass and states that the most prized glass was colourless and transparent, resembling rock crystal.
Rock crystal
Clear quartz. Pliny uses it as a comparison for high-quality colourless glass.
Bathhouse
A major Roman building type that often used glass or other translucent materials to control light, heat, and comfort.
Pane
A sheet or panel of glass used in a window.
Greenish or bluish glass
Common natural tints in Roman glass, often caused by impurities in the raw materials.
Annealing
The controlled cooling of glass to reduce internal stress. If cooling was poorly managed, glass could crack or fail.
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In this episode of Build Like a Roman, we look at the Roman carpenter and the wider world of ancient woodworkers.
From the faber tignarius, or structural carpenter, to joiners, furniture makers, shipwrights, and military craftsmen, we explore how timber shaped Roman buildings even when the wood itself has long disappeared.
This episode covers tools, training, collegia, timber supply, joinery, centring, roofs, and the technical knowledge behind Roman carpentry.
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Glossary – Episode 17: Roman WoodworkersAdze / Ascia
A shaping tool with the blade set at right angles to the handle. Roman carpenters used it to square logs, trim beams, and work timber across the grain.
Carpentarius
Originally linked to carpentum, a two-wheeled wagon. It gives us the English word “carpenter,” but was closer to wagon-maker than structural carpenter.
Carpentum
A Roman two-wheeled carriage or wagon.
Centring
Temporary timber framework used to support arches, vaults, or domes while masonry or concrete was being built and setting.
Clavi Lignei
Wooden pegs or “wooden nails” used to fasten heavy timber joints.
Collegia
Roman associations with professional, social, religious, and funerary roles. They were not exactly the same as medieval guilds.
Collegia Fabrorum
Associations of skilled builders and makers, including carpenters and other technical artisans.
Dowel
A wooden peg used to connect or reinforce pieces of timber.
Equisetum / Horsetail
A silica-rich plant used as a natural abrasive for smoothing and polishing wood.
Faber
A skilled maker or technical artisan. The term could apply to several trades, not only carpentry.
Faber Tignarius
A structural carpenter: literally a “maker of beams,” from tignum, meaning structural timber.
Faber Intestinarius
An interior joiner responsible for doors, windows, panelling, stairs, ceilings, and fitted woodwork.
Faber Lectarius
A furniture maker, especially associated with couches, beds, and fine domestic woodwork.
Faber Navalis
A shipwright or ship-builder. Publius Longidienus of Ravenna is an example mentioned in the episode.
Fabri
Plural of faber: skilled makers, craftsmen, or technical workers.
Frame Saw / Sega a Telaio
A saw with a thin blade tensioned inside a wooden frame, allowing straighter and more controlled cuts.
Freedman
A formerly enslaved person who had been manumitted. Many Roman artisans were freedmen.
Funerary Stele
A stone grave marker. Some Roman artisans used these monuments to display their tools and professional identity.
Kerf
The cut made by a saw blade. Setting the saw teeth wider than the blade helped prevent jamming.
Libella
An A-frame level with a plumb line, used to check whether a surface was level.
Mortise-and-Tenon Joint
A strong joint where a projecting tenon fits into a matching mortise hole.
Norma
The carpenter’s square, used for marking and checking right angles.
Officina
A workshop.
Plane / Runcina
A tool used to smooth and level timber surfaces. Roman planes could have iron soles and wedge-held blades.
Plumb Bob
A hanging weight used to establish a vertical line.
Putlog Holes
Holes left in walls where scaffold beams were inserted during construction.
Securis
An axe, distinct from an adze. The axe cuts more directly with or into the grain.
Spring-Pole Lathe
A lathe powered by a flexible pole and cord, used for turning wooden objects.
Tignum
Structural timber or beam. It is the root of faber tignarius.
Tornator
A woodturner who shaped timber on a lathe.
Tree-Nail / Trenail
A large wooden peg used in heavy carpentry and shipbuilding.
Veneer
A thin sheet of valuable wood glued onto a cheaper or more stable timber base.
Vigiles
Rome’s official fire and night-watch service, organised under Augustus.
Wattle and Daub
A walling system of woven rods covered with earth, clay, or lime-based material.
Wood Turner
A specialist who shaped wood on a lathe; in Latin, a tornator.
Vitruvius. De Architectura
Adam, J-P. (1994). Roman Building: Materials and Techniques.
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Does "Roman Roofs" make you think of red clay tile?
Well, one of the most common types of Roman roof was probably thatch.
Listen to this weeks episode to learn more about the person who did it. The Roofer.
This weeks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DY5HjhNF_m8/
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GlossaryArtisan
A skilled craft worker. In this episode, the term refers to the people who physically made, laid, repaired, or finished Roman roofs, rather than the architects or patrons who commissioned buildings.
Carpentarius
A Latin term connected with carpentum, a carriage or wagon.
Carpentum
A Roman carriage or wagon.
Fired clay
Clay hardened by heating in a kiln. Roman roof tiles were commonly made of fired clay, especially the familiar tegulaand imbrex system.
Flashing
A protective strip or sheet, often of lead, used to keep water from entering vulnerable joints in a roof, such as around edges, walls, gutters, or roof intersections. The term is modern, but the principle is relevant to ancient roofing.
Freedman / freedwoman
A formerly enslaved person who had been manumitted. In Roman craft production, freedmen and freedwomen could remain connected to former owners, workshops, households, or trade networks.
Graffiti tile
A tile marked before firing with writing, symbols, footprints, or other informal marks. The episode mentions examples of inscribed roof tiles, including tiles associated with enslaved women working in tile production.
Imbrex
The curved Roman roof tile placed over the joints between flat tiles. Plural: imbrices. In the standard Roman tile roof, the imbrices cover the seams between rows of tegulae.
Kiln
A high-temperature oven used to fire clay objects such as bricks, roof tiles, and pottery. In tile production, shaped clay tiles were dried first and then fired in a kiln.
Plumbarius
A Latin term for a worker associated with lead, from plumbum, meaning lead. It is connected to the later word “plumber,” although modern plumbers usually work mostly with other materials.
Plumbum
Latin for lead. This is the root of English words such as “plumber” and the chemical symbol Pb for lead.
Roofer
A modern English term for a craft worker who installs or repairs roofs. The episode stresses that there is no single, simple Roman equivalent covering every roofing material and roofing task.
Scandulae
Latin term for wooden shingles or roofing boards. These would have formed lightweight timber roofing coverings in some regions, though they rarely survive archaeologically.
Scandularius
A worker associated with scandulae, or wooden shingles. The term is rare and mainly epigraphic, so its exact occupational meaning should be treated cautiously.
Slate
A thin, split stone used as a roofing material. The episode uses “slate” broadly for stone roof tiles, noting that stone roofing was part of the wider Roman roofing repertoire.
Tegula
The flat Roman roof tile. In a typical Roman tile roof, tegulae formed the main flat covering, with raised edges or joints protected by imbrices.
Tegulae
Plural of tegula. These are the flat tiles in the Roman roof-tile system.
Tegularius
A Latin occupational term connected with tegula. It may refer to a tile-maker, tile worker, or possibly roofer, but it does not map neatly onto the modern English word “roofer.”
Terracotta
Fired clay, usually reddish or orange in colour. Roman roof tiles are often reconstructed as terracotta, though the episode argues that this was not the only roofing material used.
Thatch
A roofing material made from plant stems, such as reeds, straw, or long grasses.
Tile yard
A production area where clay tiles were shaped, dried, trimmed, and prepared for firing
Sources
Alan McWhirr and David Viner (1978). “The Production and Distribution of Tiles in Roman Britain with Particular Reference to the Cirencester Region.”
Fikret Yegül and Diane Favro (2019). Roman Architecture and Urbanism: From the Origins to Late Antiquity.
Peter Warry (2006). “A Dated Typology for Roman Roof-Tiles (Tegulae).”
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Roman Mosaicist created structural art using 'pixels' of marble. Some were functional and plain, some with standard geometric patterns while others were no less than works of art.
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GlossaryAedificium
Latin term for a building or structure. Relevant because Roman mosaics were not simply decoration but integrated architectural elements.
Bedding Layer
The mortar layer into which tesserae were pressed during installation. Roman mosaicists needed to judge moisture content carefully to achieve proper adhesion and alignment.
Cubiculum
A Roman bedroom or private chamber in a house or villa. Some contained geometric mosaics.
Domus
An elite Roman urban house, often decorated with wall paintings and mosaic floors.
Emblema (plural: emblemata)
A detailed central mosaic panel, often pictorial and sometimes made separately in a workshop before installation on site. These often depicted mythology, theatre scenes, animals, or marine life.
Lime Mortar
Mortar made with lime and aggregates such as sand or crushed ceramics. Used in the layered construction beneath mosaics.
Musivarius
A Roman mosaic specialist, although the term more often appears in Late Roman and Byzantine sources and may sometimes refer to wall and vault mosaics as well as floors.
Opus Musivum
A Latin term associated with mosaic work, especially decorative mosaic surfaces.
Opus Signinum
A waterproof floor material made from crushed ceramic (usually tile) mixed with lime mortar. Often used as a subfloor beneath mosaics or as a finished floor in less wealthy buildings.
Opus Tessellatum
The most common Roman mosaic technique, using relatively standard-sized tesserae to create images or patterns.
Opus Vermiculatum
A highly detailed mosaic technique using very small tesserae, especially for central pictorial panels (emblemata). The name refers to the worm-like flowing lines created around figures.
Patron / Client Relationship
Roman building and decorative work often operated through patronage. Wealthy property owners commissioned artisan teams for decorative programmes.
Pavimentum
Latin for a paved floor. Could refer to stone paving, mortar floors, or mosaic surfaces.
Pozzolana
Volcanic ash that could create hydraulic mortar when mixed with lime. More common in Italy than Britain, but important in Roman mortar technology generally.
Roman Villa
A rural elite residence. Villas in Britain frequently contained mosaics, especially dining rooms (triclinia) and bath suites.
Statumen
The lowest structural layer beneath a Roman floor, typically compacted stone.
Rudus
A compacted layer of coarse mortar and rubble placed above the statumen.
Nucleus
A finer mortar layer placed beneath the visible mosaic surface, providing an even bed for tesserae.
Tessella / Tesserae
Small pieces of stone, ceramic, glass, or marble used to create mosaics. Although often called “mosaic tiles” today, they are not tiles in the modern sense.
Tessellarius
A mosaic worker or installer, often associated specifically with floor mosaics.
Triclinium
A Roman dining room. Wealthy triclinia frequently had elaborate mosaics intended to impress guests.
Workshop (Officina)
An artisan working group. Mosaic workshops likely included designers, stone cutters, apprentices, mortar labourers, and senior installers.
Sources:
Adam Rogers (2015). The Archaeology of Roman Britain: Biography and Identity. London: Routledge.
David S. Neal (1981). Roman Mosaics in Britain. London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.
David S. Neal and Stephen R. Cosh (2002–2010). Roman Mosaics of Britain. 4 vols. London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies.
Roger Ling (1998). Ancient Mosaics. London: British Museum Press.
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Roman Blacksmiths, Faber Ferrarius were at the heart of Roman construction. Without them, life would have been so much more difficult, not only for the masons, carpenters, plasterers an so on, but basically for everyone.
This episode looks at how they worked.
GlossaryAnvil
A heavy iron block used as a working surface for shaping hot metal with hammers
Bellows
A leather-and-wood device used to force air into a fire, increasing temperature. Essential for ironworking and smelting.
Bloom
A porous lump of iron produced in a bloomery furnace. It contained iron mixed with slag and impurities and required further hammering and refining before use.
Bloomery Process
The main ancient method of producing iron. Iron ore and charcoal were heated together in a furnace with forced air from bellows to chemically reduce the ore into metallic iron.
Carburisation
A process where iron is heated in a carbon-rich environment, allowing carbon to diffuse into the surface and create steel-like properties.
Charcoal
Wood heated in low oxygen conditions to produce a cleaner, hotter-burning fuel than ordinary wood. Widely used in ancient metalworking.
Coke
A carbon-rich fuel derived from coal. Common in later historical blacksmithing, though not normally associated with the Roman period.
Collegia
Roman professional associations or organised groups connected with trades, religion, burial arrangements, and civic identity.
Cramp / Clamp
An iron fixing used to connect masonry blocks together. Often sealed in lead to reduce corrosion and movement.
Crucible Steel
High-carbon steel produced in sealed ceramic crucibles. Ancient Indian crucible steel later became associated with “wootz” and Damascus steel.
Damascus Steel
A later Middle Eastern steel famous for patterned blades, often produced using imported crucible steel ingots from India or Central Asia.
Diodorus Siculus
A 1st-century BC Greek historian who described iron production on the island of Elba.
Fabricae
Large Roman military workshops used for manufacturing and repairing weapons, tools, armour, and equipment.
Faber Ferrarius
Latin term meaning “iron worker” or blacksmith.
Ferrum
Latin word for iron.
Freedman
A formerly enslaved person who had legally obtained freedom.
Gaul
The Roman name for the region broadly corresponding to modern France and surrounding areas.
Hammerman
A worker whose main role involved striking and shaping hot metal with hammers during forging operations.
Hematite (Fe₂O₃)
A common iron ore consisting mainly of iron oxide.
Julius Pollux
A 2nd-century AD Greek scholar who compiled the Onomasticon, a technical vocabulary of crafts, tools and professions.
Limonite / Meadow Ore
A low-grade iron ore formed in bogs and wetlands
Magnetite (Fe₃O₄)
A naturally magnetic iron ore
Martensite
A very hard crystalline structure formed in steel during rapid cooling or quenching.
Metallurgy
The extraction, refinement and working of metals.
Ore
Naturally occurring rock containing useful metal compounds.
Quenching
Rapid cooling of hot metal, usually in water or oil, to alter hardness and strength.
Reduction
A chemical process in which oxygen is removed from metal ore during smelting, leaving metallic iron behind.
Seric Iron
A term used in classical sources for highly valued eastern iron or steel imports. Some scholars associate it with early Indian crucible steel.
Slag
Waste material and impurities separated from metal during smelting and forging.
Swage
A shaped metalworking tool used to form or finish metal during forging.
Wootz Steel
A type of ancient Indian crucible steel known for high carbon content and excellent cutting performance. Often associated with later Damascus steel.
Wrought Iron
Low-carbon iron worked by hammering and forging. Tougher and softer than steel.
Primary SourcesThe Digest of Justinian
Natural History - Pliny the Elder
Vitruvius. Ten Books on Architecture
Adam Rogers (2015). The Archaeology of Roman Britain: Biography and Identity. London: Routledge.
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Series one has finished. What's coming up in series 2?
Here is a brief description of what's coming up in series two (and three) as well as a little about the first series.
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Introducing the first episode of "Build like an Egyptian" series from "Build Like an Ancient".
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The Egyptians - Mud Men and the First Monuments!
To the surprise of many people, the ancient Egyptians built far more in sun dried mud-brick, than they ever id in monumental stone.
See our photos on Instagram for this episode https://www.instagram.com/p/DW2YHHJiBpC
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_of_Djoser
Technical Glossary: Egyptian Mudbrick & Plaster
•Db.t: The Egyptian word for mudbrick. Often written with the brick determinative. Refers to the material itself, not just the shape.
•Hib: Egyptian term for a refined clay plaster, often mixed with powdered limestone. Smoother and brighter than plain mud plaster.
•Mastaba: Arabic for "bench." The modern term for the flat-topped, rectangular tombs of the Early Dynastic and Old Kingdom periods.
•Battered wall: A wall that slopes inward as it rises. Increases stability and sheds water.
•Nile alluvium: The clay-rich silt deposited by the annual Nile flood. The base material for mudbrick.
•Temper: Material (sand, straw, chaff) added to clay to reduce shrinkage and improve drying.
•Gypsum plaster: A plaster made from calcined gypsum (calcium sulphate). The dominant finishing plaster in Pharaonic Egypt due to low firing temperature and suitability in dry climates.
•Lime plaster: Plaster made from calcined limestone (calcium oxide). Requires higher firing temperatures (700-900°C). Rare before the Ptolemaic period.
•Stratigraphy: In plaster analysis, the sequence of layers. Egyptian plasters show deliberate layering: coarse mud base, fine clay levelling, gypsum finish.
•Silt (The Bulk): This is the "Goldilocks" particle size—smaller than sand but larger than clay. It provides the volume.
•Clay (The Binder): Pure Nile silt actually contains about 30% to 50% clay. This is the "glue." Without the clay content, the bricks would just crumble into dust once they dried.
•Organic Matter: The Nile "mud" was rich in decomposed plant matter, which acted as a natural plasticiser, making the mix easier to mould. It also helped (marginally) with tensile strength
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So what is a Fresco?
There were several types, most of which, most people haven't heard of.
Would you be surprised that many of the Roman frescos that we "Ohh" and "Ahhh" over today, were considered ridiculous and tacky, but some Roman authorities of the time?
Listen to this episode and learn something new about Roman Frescoes.
Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXIBSuVl-4T/
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Glossary for this episode
A secco
Painting carried out on dry plaster, using a binder such as glue, egg, or wax to help the pigment adhere. It allows finer detail than true fresco, but is less durable.
Albararii
Roman plasterers who applied and polished the fine white finishing coats on walls and ceilings.
Buon fresco
“True fresco.” Pigment mixed with water is applied to fresh lime plaster while it is still damp and setting, so the colour bonds into the wall surface itself.
Calcite
A mineral form of calcium carbonate.
Fresco
A general term often used loosely for wall painting
Fresco secco
Literally “dry fresco.” Another way of saying painting done on dry plaster rather than into a fresh lime surface.
Hybrid fresco-secco workflow
The combination of a durable fresco base with additional details painted later in secco. This seems to have been common in Roman wall painting.
Insulae
Roman apartment blocks
Lime
The key binding material in Roman plaster and mortar. It was central to both construction and decoration.
Lime wash
A thin coating of lime, often tinted, used to brighten or colour a wall. It could be simple, economical, and very common.
Marble aggregate
Small crushed marble fragments used in fine Roman plasters to improve finish, density, and sheen.
Mezzo fresco
A term used for painting onto plaster that is no longer freshly wet but still damp enough to take pigment.
Mosaic
A floor or wall surface made from small pieces of stone, glass, or ceramic. In Roman interiors, mosaics often worked visually with painted walls.
Pictor imaginarius
A specialist painter, especially one responsible for more refined or figurative wall painting.
Pigment
The colouring material used in paint. Roman pigments could be cheap local earths or imported luxury substances.
Plaster
A coating of lime mixed with sand, marble dust, or other aggregates, applied in layers to walls and ceilings. In Roman interiors it formed the decorative skin of the building.
Pozzolana
Volcanic ash used in Roman mortars and concrete. More associated with structural work than fine painted plaster, but part of the broader Roman lime technology.
Sandiarii
Workers involved in transporting or handling sand and other raw materials used in plaster and mortar preparation.
Sinopia
A red ochre underdrawing or marking-out method. The term is often associated with later painting practice, though marking-out techniques in general were also used by the Romans.
String line
A line snapped or pressed onto a plaster surface to guide straight borders, panels, or architectural designs.
Stucco
In the Roman ContextFine decorative plaster
Trompe l’oeil
A painting technique designed to “fool the eye” by creating the illusion of depth, architecture, or open space on a flat surface.
Vitruvius
Roman architect and author
Whitewash / whitewashing
A simple lime-based coating used to whiten and brighten walls. In Roman interiors this could be a finished surface in its own right or a base for further decoration.
Sources:
Vitruvius, De Architectura (Book VII)Pliny the Elder, Natural History (Book XXXV)August Mau, Pompeii: Its Life and Art (1899)Roger Ling, Roman Painting (1991)Donatella Mazzoleni & Umberto Pappalardo, Domus: Wall Painting in the Roman HouseBuy me a Coffee
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Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.
Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures.
Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the Roman world.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics, history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
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This is the trailer for the Build Like a Roman podcast.
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.
Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving structures.
Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the Roman world.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics, history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
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Music Happy harp 6109353
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What were Roman floors like?
We know about their mosaics, but what about clay tile? Stone slabs, mortar floors or floorboards?
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Glossary for this episode
pavimentum → floor / pavement (the visible finished surface)pavire → to beat down / ram / compactstatumen → foundation layer of large stonesrudus → compacted rubble layer bound with limenucleus → fine levelling layer (lime + crushed pottery/aggregate)contignatio (contignationes) → timber floor structure / framed floor systemtignum → beam / timbertessera (tesserae) → small cubes used in mosaicsopus tessellatum → standard mosaic work (medium tesserae)opus vermiculatum → fine mosaic work (very small tesserae, high detail)emblema (emblemata) → central mosaic panel (often pre-made and inserted)opus sectile → cut-stone flooring (shaped pieces fitted together)opus spicatum → herringbone brick/tile patternbasoli → large stone paving blocks (often basalt, used for streets/heavy use)opus signinum → lime + crushed terracotta with occasional insertscocciopesto → lime + crushed terracotta (no inserts)opus → “work” / construction method (e.g. stonework, brickwork)Sources:
Vitruvius, De Architectura
Primary source for Roman floor construction (Book VII, pavements; layered systems: statumen, rudus, nucleus).Pliny the Elder, Natural History
References to opus signinum and crushed ceramic flooring materials.Roger Ling, Roman Painting
Includes discussion of decorative interiors and mosaic techniques.David S. Neal, Roman Mosaics in Britain
Key work on mosaic types, techniques, and regional variation.Buy me a Coffee
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What was Roman window glass like?
Well, to start with it had bubbles in it, you couldn't really see through and it was expensive.
Listen to this episode to learn about Roman glass, what was it, where it was made, and by whom.
Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWW4wx2lzbW/
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Sources:
Archaeological Studies
Ian Freestone (University College London): Freestone is widely considered the world's leading authority on the chemical provenance of Roman glass. Patrick Degryse, Glass-making in Antiquity: Isotope Analysis (2014): The definitive scientific text on using strontium and neodymium isotopes to track Roman glass back to specific Mediterranean beaches.Allen, D. (2002), Roman Window Glass: A specialized study that looks specifically at the architectural use of glass.Ancient Historical Sources
Pliny the Elder, Naturalis Historia (Natural History), Book 36: This is the most famous source. Pliny describes the accidental discovery of glass by Phoenician merchants on the River BelusStrabo, Geographica: Writing in the early 1st century AD, strabo notes the unique properties of the sand to be melted into glass, highlighting the Levant's industrial dominance.Diocletian Edict on Maximum Prices (301 AD): A massive document of regulated prices across the empire. Shipwreck EvidenceThe Embiez Shipwreck (France): A 3rd-century wreck that was carrying nearly two tons of raw glass chunks and blocks from the East.The Grado Shipwreck (Adriatic Sea): Famous for carrying a massive cargo of cullet (broken glass) meant for recycling.Buy me a Coffee
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Want to know what a 'Party wall' actually is? Give this a listen.
This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is looking at Roman Wattle and Daub, Opus Craticium. A building style that was probably for more widespread than we'd think.
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Photos for this episode on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWBM5Ftl46c/
This Episode's Translations:
Opus Caementicium – Roman concreteOpus Craticium – Timber-frame wall with wattle or lath and plasterCraticii – Woven branch framework (wattle)Harundo – Reed used for lathingAssulae / Asseres – Wooden lath stripsTector – PlastererTrulla – Plasterer’s trowelTrullissatio – First coat of plasterFaber Tignarius – CarpenterParies Communis – Party wall (shared wall)Ambitus – Passage between neighbouring housesInsula – Roman apartment buildingPartire – “To divide,” origin of the word party in party wallFor students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
ktwsba7h
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
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Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week, the Build Like a Roman Podcast is about Roman plumbing, from the infrastructure to the delivery of it and the materials used.
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Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DVycL_zl1zl/
This Episodes Translations:
Aquaeductus = water pipe or water tube
Cloaca Maxima = Great Sewer
Curator Aquarum = Water commissioner
Libratores = Surveyor
aqua sub pressione = Pressure engineering
castellum aquae divisorium = water distribution terminal
quinaria = A measurement of water
Furtum aquae = Water theft
Vitium = a fault, defect, or point of illegal tampering in the system
Plumbum = Lead
Aes = Bronze
Tubuli fictiles = Terracotta pipes
Redemptor = a type of combined contractor, and project manager
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Did you know that the Romans - and others, such as the Greeks - used asbestos as a woven fibre?
They valued its fireproof nature and used it accordingly. They may also be the first culture to have recorded using PPE!
☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearoman
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.
Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode
explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and
mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving
structures.
Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before
diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the
Roman world.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Why bury a Million nails?
The Romans used a wide variety of metals, both ferrous and non-ferrous.
Iron, lead, bronze, brass, tin and copper were all commonly used by the Romans.
For structural connections, plumbing, door handles, decorative elements or any other practical use, in or for the home, the Romans had a solution!
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This Episodes Instagram image link: https://www.instagram.com/p/DU6MQ-JjVgl/
Roman Metal Terms: Latin → English
Ferrum → IronPlumbum → LeadStannum → TinAes → Copper alloy (bronze or brass)Cuprum → CopperCadmia → Zinc ore (used to make brass)Argentum → SilverAurum → GoldClavus → NailFibula → Fastener / clasp (sometimes a clamp)Fistula → Pipe (usually lead)Aes coronarium → Thin decorative bronze sheetAerugo → Verdigris (green corrosion on copper alloys)Note:
The Romans did not separate “bronze” and “brass” the way we do today. Both were usually called aes — meaning copper alloy.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This episode is looks at the Romans use of timber, be it structural, joinery or temporary. Timber is somewhat of a forgotten material by most people who looking at Roman archaeology, mainly as there's so little of it left. This week we aim to give Roman timber, a little more of the limelight.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearoman
Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUq9pxzjeyO/
Term = Definition
Materia: General term for timber (as opposed to lignum, which usually referred to firewood).
• Abies: Fir. The primary wood for long-span roofing due to its straight grain and high strength-to-weight ratio.
• Quercus: Oak. Valued for its density and used for "wet-work" or heavy load-bearing sills.
• Larix: Larch. Highly prized for its natural resistance to fire and rot; often used in maritime or bridge engineering.
• Contignatio: A timber floor or ceiling assembly. This refers to the entire system of joists and decking.
• Tignum: A general term for a structural beam or log.
• Trabs: A large main beam, typically horizontal, used to support secondary joists.
• Statumen: The secondary layer of a floor; cross-battens or "stiffeners" laid over the main beams.
• Scandula: A wooden shingle. Used for roofing before the widespread adoption of terracotta tiles (tegulae).
• Opus Craticium: A timber-frame construction method. It involves a wooden lattice (wattle) filled with mortar or clay (daub).
Oak (Quercus): The "Iron" of the Roman forest. Used for ground-contact sills and heavy-load lintels. Cato advises cutting oak only when the sap is down (winter) to prevent rot.
Fir (Abies): The backbone of Roman roofs. Sourced from the Apennines. Vitruvius (De Architectura, Book 2.9) praises Fir for its lightness and stiffness, essential for long-span trusses.
Larch (Larix): The "Fireproof" wood. Vitruvius notes its resistance to fire and rot, making it the premier choice for bridge pilings and high-moisture
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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In this episode, the Build Like A Roman Podcast episode looks at the Roman use of Lime mortars, Pozzolans, a volcanic ash which modified the nature of lime, and how they produced concrete.
The focus on this episode is lime from calcium based limestone. We'll look at limes derived from Dolomitic and Magnesium in the future. There deserve their own episode, given the difference between them and calcium limes. For one, they need vastly extended slaking time compared to calcium to avoid post construction expansion and other problems.
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Photos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUaWnF2DfeT
The Episodes definitions:
Opus signinum = Hydraulic flooring/render with crushed pottery in lime binder. Key in baths and water features; related to opus signinum.
Opus Caementicium = Concrete (lime + aggregate)
Binder – The cementitious component that coats and glues aggregate grains, hardening by chemical reaction and/or carbonation.
Mortar – A plastic mix (binder + aggregate + water, sometimes additives) used for bedding and pointing masonry; hardens to a rigid, adhesive matrix.
Plaster – As a noun, a finishing material for interior (and sometimes exterior) surfaces; as a verb, the act of applying a plaster/render coat.
Stucco / Render – Historically imprecise. Can be lime-, gypsum- or cement‑based; composition and regional usage vary
Lime - Non-hydraulic lime (Air lime): Produced by burning relatively pure limestones. Sets slowly by carbonation. Common in Europe, Middle East, and India until the late 19th century.
Lime - Hydraulic lime (Water lime): Produced from impure limestones containing clay/silica. Hardens under water. Widely used in Roman and later European construction.
Gypsum - Used for internal plasters and decorative finishes. Rapid setting but not durable in damp conditions.
Portland Cement
- Patented in 1824 (Joseph Aspdin, Leeds).
- By late 19th century, became dominant due to strength and speed of setting.
- Conservation issue: often too rigid and dense compared to historic lime mortars, leading to damage in traditional masonry.
Sands
- Siliceous sands: durable, sharp, but chemically inert.
- Calcareous sands: softer, more chemically compatible with lime binders, but less durable.
- Volcanic sands: reactive, good pozzolanic properties.
Plasticity – Ability to undergo permanent deformation without cracking
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This week, the Build Like A Roman Podcast episode is about fired clay, for bricks and roofs.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearoman
Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUS--yyjTTR/
The Episodes Translations:
Opus vittatum mixtum (listatum) = Alternating brick and stone courses
Opus mixtum= Combination of stone and brick facings
Opus testaceum = Concrete faced with brick/tiles
Opus vittatum / listatum = Banded tufa/brick
Opus latericium / testaceum = Brick‑faced concrete
Opus mixtum (reticulatum mixtum) = Mixed brick‑reticulate
Pedalis = One‑foot tile/brick
Sesquipedalis = 1½‑foot brick/tile
Bessalis = Two‑thirds brick/tile
Tegula = Flat pan tile
Imbrex = Cover tile
Later / laterculus = Thin wall tile
Lateres Crudi = Unfired bricks
Lateres Cocti = fire bricks
Reading materials:
Roman building: materials and techniques, Adam, JP (1994)
Roman Building Techniques, Rook, T (2013)
Roman Builders, Taylor, R (2003)
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.
Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode
explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and
mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving
structures.
Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before
diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the
Roman world.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Rome began with houses of mud-brick. Then came stone.
This week, the Build Like A Roman Podcast introductory episode is about Stone, in particular Tuff, Travertine and Marble. While not used uniformly across the Roman empire, they were ubiquitous in the City of Rome and the surrounding region.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee - https://ko-fi.com/buildlikearoman
Photos of this episode: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUOEesoiHfq/
Build Like a Roman is a podcast about how the Roman world was built.
Focusing on materials, craft, and construction, each episode
explores the practical realities of Roman building — from stone, brick, and
mortar to the organisation of labour and technical skill behind surviving
structures.
Short, focused episodes introduce core building materials before
diving deeper into how buildings were made, maintained, and understood in the
Roman world.
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Term = Definition
Tuff = A volcanic rock (pyroclastic) formed from consolidated ash and debris. Easy to cut allowing for fast construction.
Tufa = A sedimentary limestone formed by mineral precipitation from freshwater springs, much softer and less durable than volcanic tuff.
Travertine = A hard, dense limestone with high compressive strength, formed in hot springs.
Marble = A metamorphic rock (recrystallized limestone) that takes a high polish.
Basalt = A hard, durable volcanic rock that was nearly indestructible but very difficult to cut.
Limestone = A broad category of sedimentary rock with varying properties.
Sandstone = A sedimentary rock whose strength varies based on its composition. Darker varieties are sometimes called "brownstone."
Vernacular Building = The principle of constructing buildings using materials that are readily available locally, which often determined stone choice and led to regional traditions.
Veneer / Revetment = Thin slabs of decorative stone (usually marble) used as a non-structural cladding over a cheaper core material to display wealth.
Opus Quadratum = A construction technique using large, rectangular ashlar blocks laid in regular courses without mortar.
Opus Africanum = A regional North African building technique which includes long vertical stone piers.
Ashlar = Precisely cut and dressed stone blocks with regular faces and right-angled corners, used in techniques like opus quadratum.
Lapilli = Latin for "little stones".
Cramps = Metal fasteners used to secure stone blocks or veneer panels together.
For students of archaeology, history, and art history — and for
anyone interested in how ancient buildings actually came into being.
North Africa and Western Asia are home to a multitude of Roman
buildings. Some still used on a daily basis, others in ruins, but that's
typically not the fault of the original builders. The fact that these still
exist at all after 2,000 years or more is a testament to skill and creativity
of the original builders.
There are some great Podcast which look at Roman politics,
history, and architecture, however in this Podcast, we focus on Construction
history, that being building materials, techniques and and the people who did
the work!
From structures to frescos, we'll cover it all!
Hosted by Darren McLean.
Buy me a Coffee
Bluesky
Instagram
Follow:
Acast
Apple
Patreon
Spotify
Music Happy harp 6109353
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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