Vitruvius On Architecture

Vitruvius's De Architectura (On Architecture) is a ten-book compendium that provides extensive and comprehensive information primarily on the theory and practice of architecture during the Roman period. Due to its universal approach to the principles and education of architecture, it is the only surviving book from antiquity that forms part of the classical Western architectural history known today. As architecture at that time also encompassed engineering, it can be considered the only extant work in the history of engineering. Furthermore, given that the work's topics consist of Greek and Roman temples, public buildings, baths, houses, and even the exterior and interior designs of all these buildings, their wall plasters, reliefs, multi-colored paints, and floors with various patterns, this work is the only comprehensive source from which both classical Western archaeology and art history can draw information regarding this period. In fact, classical archaeology, in particular, owes the source of the scientific language, style, and terminology it uses today to this work. For this reason, On Architecture is the only bedside book that those involved in these sciences throughout the Middle Ages, Renaissance, and up to the present day have consulted and will consult when they wish to learn the history of their fields of study.