What is Vitruvius known for?

Marcus Vitruvius was a 1st century BCE architect who wrote a famous and influential book on architecture called 'De Architectura'. This work, which is a history of architecture and engineering, became even more influential during the Renaissance.

What are the three principles of Vitruvius?

The Roman architect and scholar Vitruvius thought that all buildings should have three qualities. They should be beautiful, stable (i.e. well-built), and useful.

What is the oldest copy of Vitruvius' 'De Architectura'?

The oldest surviving copy of 'De Architectura' (On Architecture) dates to the 8th century.

Vitruvius

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Definition

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio (c. 90 - c. 20 BCE), better known simply as Vitruvius, was a Roman military engineer and architect who wrote De Architectura (On Architecture), a treatise which combines the history of ancient architecture and engineering with the author's personal experience and advice on the subject. As no similar work has survived complete from antiquity, the book has become an invaluable source, not only on Greek and Roman architecture, but also on a wide range of other topics such as philosophy, mathematics, and medicine.

More about: Vitruvius

Timeline

c. 90 BCE - c. 20 BCE
Life of architect Vitruvius, author of De Architectura.
58 BCE - 51 BCE
Military engineer and architect Vitruvius accommpanies Julius Caesar on campaign.
c. 20 BCE
Military engineer and architect Vitruvius publishes his "De Architectura".