Comments on: De architectura - Vitruvius' The Ten Books of Architecture

De architectura - Vitruvius' The Ten Books of Architecture

nthdegx — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:25:12 -0800

De Architectura, known also as The Ten Books of Architecture, is an exposition on architecture by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio. Originally in Latin, here it is translated into English.

By: StickyCarpet

StickyCarpet — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 08:44:07 -0800

Isn't he the guy who came up with that figure standing in squares and circles, that Leonardo copied in his notebooks, and that has become da Vinci's trademark? I believe that figure is properly called Vitruvian Man.

By: OmieWise

OmieWise — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:07:14 -0800

My edition goes to 11.

By: DenOfSizer

DenOfSizer — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:17:29 -0800

Why is it architects always feel they deserve more honors than wrestlers? Now there's a classic dilemma! FYI, there's a whole strain of mandala design that's related to the body of humans (which is why Mt. Kailash, e.g., is called the navel of the world) - I'd google it for ya but I gots a screaming infant to deal w/ here.

By: meehawl

meehawl — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:17:29 -0800

Vitruvius is the only source for the "Eureka!" story about Archimedes-in-the-bath, using liquid displacement and weight to calculate buoyancy and thereby measure density. Charged with this commission, he by chance went to a bath, and being in the vessel, perceived that, as his body became immersed, the water ran out of the vessel. Whence, catching at the method to be adopted for the solution of the proposition, he immediately followed it up, leapt out of the vessel in joy, and, returning home naked, cried out with a loud voice that he had found that of which he was in search, for he continued exclaiming, in Greek, εὑρηκα, (I have found it out).

By: phooky

phooky — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:24:42 -0800

StickyCarpet: yes, it's in Chapter 1 of Book III. He just describes the proportions, though. Chapter 5, Book V has a neat bit about acoustic resonators in theaters. Thanks for the link-- I'll be having a special moment with my inner Latin geek this weekend, methinks.

By: Spacelegoman

Spacelegoman — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:41:35 -0800

Very cool link, thank you.

By: xod

xod — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 09:44:25 -0800

Quirky. So this Bill Thayer, he likes to type.

By: signal

signal — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 10:03:13 -0800

Like phooky says, Vitruvius describes the proportions, Leonardo's is one of many illustrations of the concept.

By: TrueVox

TrueVox — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 11:11:23 -0800

So is this just for posterity, or do real, current architects study this still today?

By: xod

xod — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 11:39:15 -0800

Yes.

By: signal

signal — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 11:46:57 -0800

We study it, in Introduction to Architecture courses and such, not as a gospel or guidebook but rather as just a (relatively) important part of architecture history, especially in its theoretical and disciplinary aspects.

By: xod

xod — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:18:42 -0800

Some plates from the Cesare Cesariano, Como 1521 edition.

By: gwint

gwint — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 12:40:25 -0800

Some plates from the Cesare Cesariano, Como 1521 edition. Oh this is sweet. Thanks xod.

By: xod

xod — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 13:48:36 -0800

You're welcome. Here is Daniele Barbaro's 1567 edition.

By: AthenaPolias

AthenaPolias — Sun, 12 Nov 2006 18:48:40 -0800

we archaeologists use it pretty extensively, too - it's a fantastic tool, if plagued by omissions and losses from the manuscript tradition. And xod, this Bill Thayer - he's excellent :)