Ep. 003 - Introduction to Roman Brick and Tile

This week, the Build Like A Roman Podcast episode is about fired clay, for bricks and roofs.

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.

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Music: Roman Marching music loop with happy harp 6109353

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