Opus signinum ('cocciopesto' in modern Italian) is a building material used in ancient Rome. It is a form of Roman concrete (opus caementicium), the main difference being the addition of small pieces of broken pot, including amphorae, tiles or brick, instead of other aggregates.[1]
Even broken pottery has been utilised; it being found that, beaten to powder, and tempered with lime, it becomes more solid and durable than other substances of a similar nature; forming the cement known as the Signine composition, so extensively employed for even making the pavements of houses.
Pliny's use of the term signine references Signia (modern Segni), the town in Latium which was famous for its tiles.[3]
Its main advantage over opus caementicium was that it is waterproof, the reason for its widespread use in Roman baths, aqueducts, cisterns and any buildings involving water. In floors it provided damp-proofing.
Origins, spread, disuseedit
The technique, most probably invented by the Phoenicians, is documented in the early 7th cent. BC at Tell el-Burak (Lebanon),[4] then in Phoenician colonies in North Africa, some time before 256 BC, and spread north from there to Sicily and finally to the Italian peninsula.[5][6] Floors of signinum are found extensively in the Punic towns of North Africa and commonly in the Hellenistic houses on Sicily.[7] While some signinum pavements have been found in Rome, the technique is not common there.[8]Vitruvius describes the process of laying a floor, whether signinum or mosaic.[9] The trend began in the 1st century BC, proliferating in private homes as well as public buildings.[10] By the 2nd century, opus signinum would give way to more patterned styles of pavement.
Referencesedit
^Signīnum Opus. Harry Thurston Peck, Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities (1898). [1]
^. Archived from the original on 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2009-09-17.
^Adriano Orsingher et al., Phoenician lime for Phoenician wine: Iron Age plaster from a wine press at Tell el-Burak, Lebanon. In: Antiquity Band 94, Nr. 377; S. 1224-1244.
^The Decorated Pavements of Morgantina II: The Opus Signinum. Author(s): Barbara Tsakirgis. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 94, No. 3 (Jul., 1990), pp. 425-443. Archaeological Institute of America. JSTOR 505795
^The houses at Kerkouane on Cap Bon in Tunisia have opus signinum floors. The floors must date before 256 B.C., since the town was destroyed in that year by Regulus. Kerkouane I 79. H. Joyce, "Form, Function and Technique in the Pavements of Delos and Pompeii," AJA 83 (1979) 259.
^For the signinum in the North African houses, see D. Harden, The Phoenicians (London 1962) 133-34; T. Carter, "Western Phoenicians at Lepcis Magna," AJA 69 (1965) 128, pl. 33; M. Fantar, "Pavimenta Punica et signe dit de Tanit dans les habitations de Kerkouane," Studi Magrebini 1 (1966) 57-65; M. Fantar, "Les Pavements puniques," Les Dossiers de l'Archeologie (1978) 6-11; Kerkouane I 502-503; Kerkouane II; S. Lancel, "Les Pavimenta Punica du quartier punique tardif de la colline de Byrsa," Cahiers des etudes anciennes 17 (1985) 157-77. For the signinum floors in Sicilian houses, see for Agrigento: R.P. Jones and E.A. Gardner, JHS 26 (1906) 207-12; E. Gabrici, NSc 1925, 425-37; for Avola: M.T. Currò, BdA 51 (1966) 94; for Gela: D. Adames- teanu, NSc 1956, 346; for Heraclea Minoa: E. De Miro, Kokalos 12 (1966) 227; for Monte Iato: H.P. Isler, AntK 26 (1983) 39; for Solunto: M. deVos, BABESCH 50 (1975) 195- 224; for Syracuse: G. Gentili, NSc 1951, 156-57, NSc 1957, 282, 292; for Tindari: L. Bernabò Brea, BdA 50 (1965) 207.
^M.L. Morricone Matini. Mosaici antichi in Italia: Pavimenti di signino repubblicani di Roma e dintorni (Rome 1971).
^Marcus Vitruvius Pollio: de Architectura, Book VII
^F. Sear. Roman Wall and Vault Mosaics. Heidelberg 1977
Vassal, V. (2006). Les Pavements d'Opus signinum : technique, décor, fonction architecturale. Oxford.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
December 15, 2023
opus, signinum, cocciopesto, modern, italian, building, material, used, ancient, rome, form, roman, concrete, opus, caementicium, main, difference, being, addition, small, pieces, broken, including, amphorae, tiles, brick, instead, other, aggregates, piece, op. Opus signinum cocciopesto in modern Italian is a building material used in ancient Rome It is a form of Roman concrete opus caementicium the main difference being the addition of small pieces of broken pot including amphorae tiles or brick instead of other aggregates 1 A piece of opus signinum from the Roman Villa of Haselburg near Hochst im OdenwaldReconstructed opus signinum in the European Archaeological Park of Bliesbruck ReinheimPliny the Elder describes its manufacture 2 Even broken pottery has been utilised it being found that beaten to powder and tempered with lime it becomes more solid and durable than other substances of a similar nature forming the cement known as the Signine composition so extensively employed for even making the pavements of houses Pliny s use of the term signine references Signia modern Segni the town in Latium which was famous for its tiles 3 Its main advantage over opus caementicium was that it is waterproof the reason for its widespread use in Roman baths aqueducts cisterns and any buildings involving water In floors it provided damp proofing Origins spread disuse editThe technique most probably invented by the Phoenicians is documented in the early 7th cent BC at Tell el Burak Lebanon 4 then in Phoenician colonies in North Africa some time before 256 BC and spread north from there to Sicily and finally to the Italian peninsula 5 6 Floors of signinum are found extensively in the Punic towns of North Africa and commonly in the Hellenistic houses on Sicily 7 While some signinum pavements have been found in Rome the technique is not common there 8 Vitruvius describes the process of laying a floor whether signinum or mosaic 9 The trend began in the 1st century BC proliferating in private homes as well as public buildings 10 By the 2nd century opus signinum would give way to more patterned styles of pavement References edit Signinum Opus Harry Thurston Peck Harpers Dictionary of Classical Antiquities 1898 1 Pliny Natural History book 35 chapter 46 Archived from the original on 2009 10 02 Retrieved 2009 09 17 Opus signium Oxford Dictionary Adriano Orsingher et al Phoenician lime for Phoenician wine Iron Age plaster from a wine press at Tell el Burak Lebanon In Antiquity Band 94 Nr 377 S 1224 1244 The Decorated Pavements of Morgantina II The Opus Signinum Author s Barbara Tsakirgis American Journal of Archaeology Vol 94 No 3 Jul 1990 pp 425 443 Archaeological Institute of America JSTOR 505795 The houses at Kerkouane on Cap Bon in Tunisia have opus signinum floors The floors must date before 256 B C since the town was destroyed in that year by Regulus Kerkouane I 79 H Joyce Form Function and Technique in the Pavements of Delos and Pompeii AJA 83 1979 259 For the signinum in the North African houses see D Harden The Phoenicians London 1962 133 34 T Carter Western Phoenicians at Lepcis Magna AJA 69 1965 128 pl 33 M Fantar Pavimenta Punica et signe dit de Tanit dans les habitations de Kerkouane Studi Magrebini 1 1966 57 65 M Fantar Les Pavements puniques Les Dossiers de l Archeologie 1978 6 11 Kerkouane I 502 503 Kerkouane II S Lancel Les Pavimenta Punica du quartier punique tardif de la colline de Byrsa Cahiers des etudes anciennes 17 1985 157 77 For the signinum floors in Sicilian houses see for Agrigento R P Jones and E A Gardner JHS 26 1906 207 12 E Gabrici NSc 1925 425 37 for Avola M T Curro BdA 51 1966 94 for Gela D Adames teanu NSc 1956 346 for Heraclea Minoa E De Miro Kokalos 12 1966 227 for Monte Iato H P Isler AntK 26 1983 39 for Solunto M deVos BABESCH 50 1975 195 224 for Syracuse G Gentili NSc 1951 156 57 NSc 1957 282 292 for Tindari L Bernabo Brea BdA 50 1965 207 M L Morricone Matini Mosaici antichi in Italia Pavimenti di signino repubblicani di Roma e dintorni Rome 1971 Marcus Vitruvius Pollio de Architectura Book VII F Sear Roman Wall and Vault Mosaics Heidelberg 1977 Vassal V 2006 Les Pavements d Opus signinum technique decor fonction architecturale Oxford a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Opus signinum amp oldid 1174322499, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
