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Discover the great legacy of the Romans, as I explore their world of stunning architecture and art.

Explore the grandeur of the Colosseum - Marvel at the magnificence of the Pantheon - And immerse yourself in the amazing history of the six great Forums of Rome, luxurious Roman Baths, and majestic Roman Temples that survived twenty centuries.

With a simple click on an image below or EXPLORE ROME in the navigation bar above, join me on an exhilarating journey through the wonders of this incredible civilization!

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For over 450 years, the huge Colosseum in the heart of Rome thrilled Romans with violence and spectacle. It was the biggest arena in the whole Roman Empire. With two pages of photos, videos, and diagrams, I look at the history and events of this unique building that still impresses people 2,000 years after it opened.
 
For almost 1,900 years, the ancient Pantheon survived the collapse of the Roman Empire, and many earthquakes and wars. Over two pages, I look at the fascinating details and history of this iconic building so you can see why the incredible Pantheon stands as the greatest example of Roman architecture at its finest.

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The Romans loved to build huge public squares - called Forums - filled with beautiful buildings and art along the edges. The six greatest Forums in Rome are explored in detail with beautiful photos and drawings. Just choose which of the six Forums you wish to explore from the opening menu. There is also a page that explains the basics and long history of Roman Forums.
 
I look at the two hugest Roman Baths in the whole Roman Empire - the Baths of Diocletian and the Baths of Caracalla located in the heart of ancient Rome. They are explored in stunning detail with many photos and drawings, including some great "Then & Now" transformations showing how the baths looked in the past and then today. Page One explains the history of Roman bathing, including Roman Aqueducts.

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At its peak, the Roman Empire had 900 cities and every one of them had at least one magnificent Roman Temple in the heart of their downtown area. Though time has destroyed nearly all of them, I explore fifteen of the most beautiful and important Roman Temples that have survived 1,500 years of history since the fall of the Roman Empire. These fifteen temples are located all over Europe and Northern Africa because the Roman Empire was so vast.
 
When the Romans built a temple, they used a system of rules written down by the famous Roman architect Vetruvius that even today's architects study. I explain the basics of Roman Architecture clearly using diagrams and photos. Every Roman Temple was constructed using a remarkable system that specified all the details - from how many columns, to the height and width and look of all the different parts.

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The Romans built some of the largest and most beautiful buildings in the ancient world. And every Roman building was based on an "Order" style of architecture that specified how a building should look. How tall should the columns be? How many? How wide? What details and decoration should be carved? I explain all five Roman orders of architecture simply, with diagrams, photos, and examples.
   
This is the store page of ATOUCHOFROME.COM. I make miniature Roman temples by hand from wood that feature fine details and workmanship. I also make Roman-themed sculptures featuring iconic Roman figures such as Diana, Venus, Minerva, and others. Everything I create is done through a commission, with payment through an Escrow service to protect both buyer and artist.

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PREVIEW OF WHAT'S INSIDE

Below are some of the drawings and diagrams I created for this website. I think you will enjoy the THEN & NOW transformations that show how a Roman building looked when new versus how it looks today.

high quality drawing of Baths of Caracalla Great Hall as it looked when new in 216 AD showing Roman people strolling inside photo of the Baths of Caracalla Great Hall as it looks in the year 2015 AD
Baths of Caracalla Great Hall in 217 AD versus 2017 AD


photo of what the Baths of Caracalla Great Hall ruins look like in the year 2018 AD Baths of Caracalla Great Hall and Frigidarium in 300 AD highlighting the high ceiling and columns and marble floors
Front view of Baths of Caracalla Great Hall in 216 AD versus 2018 AD


View of Forum of Augustus showing Temple of Mars Ultor in center and both porticos in the year 2 BC -  this is a color 
drawing
Forum of Augustus in 2 BC with the Temple of Mars Ultor flanked by two porticos



Julius Caesar sitting in his new forum with the Temple of Venus Genetrix and Appiades Fountain behind in 44 BC


Hall of the Colossus showing a giant statue of Emperor Augustus in the Forum of Augustus
Hall of the Colossus in the Forum of Augustus - 50 AD



drawing of Colosseum being constructed in the year  75 AD on a rainy day and half of the Colosseum has been built
The Colosseum being constructed in 75 AD


My drawing showing the Pantheon interior
in the early Middle Ages when the floor was covered with mud and floor tiles were shifted, discolored and broken due to regular
flooding - this is a 'touchofrome.com' original image'
The Pantheon Interior in the Dark Ages
- Floods, mud, and mould


Current Pantheon Portico roof and height compared to ancient Romans' intended Portico roof height.   Current wooden roof 
trusses are compared to ancient bronze roof truss girders.  This is an original 'atouchofrome.com' diagram
Actual Patheon front entrance (left) compared to what the Romans intended (right).



diagram showing how the ground level surrounding  the Pantheon in Rome has changed in the last 20 centuries
The Pantheon's changing ground level over 1,900 years (128 - 2022 AD)




Mixed bathing of men and women in a pool of the Baths of Diocletian in the year 225 AD
Romans enjoying the outside Natatio swimmng pool of the Baths of Diocletian in 325 AD that was three times the size of today's olympic-sized swimming pools


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