Vitruvius (80/70 B.C - c. 15 B.C)Vitruvius was an architect by normal profession and a military engineer when the need arises. Little was known about his life, probably due to the lack of popularity of his writings. Most of the information we do know about him are inferences from his 10 book treatise on architecture, De Architectura. He was an officer in the military in charge of building war machines and his concepts in his writings were later used for a civilian project, which was building the Basilica of Fano. His treatise was dedicated to Augustus and accordingly, was how he could dedicate his writing to himself. According to Frontinus, he standardized the sizes of water-pipes in Rome. He was the namesake for Leonardo Da Vinci's famous anatomical sketch, the "Vitruvian Man".
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Basic InfoFull Name:
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio Born: 80-70 B.C | Unknown Birthplace Died: After 15 B.C | Probably Formiae N.B: His praenomen and cognomen are inferences. Only Vitruvius is his definitive name. Latin of De Architectura: http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/vitruvius.html |
Vitruvius' De Architectura |