The first episode of our epic three-part series on the history of arches! Far from merely sipping, we're chugging down history in this episode, driving our way through thousands of years of history, touching on different cultures and approaches to architecture.
The humble arch - a powerful and mathematically beautiful creation, able to withstand immense amounts of pressure as well as adding depth and variety in our treatment of space - It seems to defy gravity, offering us a secure rounded void within a physical structure.
We examine how cultures explored this idea, looking back to Mesopotamia, Mycenea and Kusinagara , among others. Applications varied from traversable waterways underground, to elaborate rock-cut caves aboveground. We then move along into the depths of Greek and Roman applications of the arch - how the Greeks seemed somewhat uninterested, versus the Romans who couldn't keep themselves from it!
We also get somewhat lost in our rabbitholes along the way - we learn about the twisted and hilarious story of Atreus, with the family dynamics rivaling the most crazy of Eastenders' storylines. We rip through a concise and deep history of the Sassanid empire, as it grows and rivals Rome in strength and scale. We also discuss the strange intricacies of Walpole's 'Castle of Otranto', among plenty more!
This is a longer episode than our first, we're experimenting with episode length so please do let us know how you feel about the longer format. Enjoy!
