Roman masonry

Roman masonry, sometimes also called Roman stonework, describes the different building techniques made out of bricks and stones in Ancient Rome.^[1]

The Latin word opus translates into “work” and in the more narrow sense to the meaning of masonry, construction technique, or construction material.

• Opus africanum: A form of ashlar masonry, characterized by pillars of vertical blocks of stone alternating with horizontal blocks, filled in with smaller blocks in between
• Opus caementicium (Roman concrete): Concrete-like material for cast or shell walls^[2]
• Opus emplectum: Double-walled masonry with outer and inner stone layers and cast core
• Opus incertum / opus antiquum: Cast masonry with irregular and randomly placed uncut stones
• Opus isodomum: perfectly cut, completely regular squared ashlar blocks of equal height, and sometimes same length.
• Opus latericium / opus testaceum: Cast masonry core with a brick facing
• Opus listatum / opus vittatum: Combination masonry with alternating brick and narrow stone layers; brick tie connects layers.
• Opus mixtum / opus compositum / opus vagecum: Mixed masonry combining brick layers with other techniques (incertum, reticulatum, vittatum)
• Opus quadratum: Masonry of regular, rectangular stone blocks
• Opus reticulatum: Cast masonry with net-like pattern of Tuff stones set at 45°, “diamond-shaped”
• Opus siliceum: Polygonal masonry consiting of stones that have five or more face angles, in contrast to ashlar blocks which have four rectangular ones.
• Opus spicatum: Masonry in herringbone or spike pattern

• Opus africanum
• Opus caementicium (Roman concrete)
• Opus emplectum
• Opus incertum
• Opus isodomum
• Opus latericium / opus testaceum
• Opus listatum / opus vittatum
• Opus mixtum / opus compositum / opus vagecum
• Opus reticulatum
• Opus siliceum
• Opus spicatum

• Opus albarium / opus tectorium: Originally plaster for tempera painting, later used for general white stucco work
• Opus craticum (or craticii): Plastered over timber framed wattlework
• Opus figlinum: Pavement formed out of squares of brick or terracotta, set flat and on edge alternately
• Opus sectile: Materials were cut and inlaid into walls and floors to create motifs or pattern
• Opus signinum: Waterproof screed
• Opus tessellatum: Technique for Greek and Roman mosaic, made from tesserae (bigger tesserae than opus vermiculatum)
• Opus vermiculatum: Use of tiny tesserae to emphasise outlines, sometimes in opus tessellatum

• Opus albarium/opus tectorium
• Opus craticum (or craticii)
• Opus figlinum
• Opus sectile
• Opus signinum (reconstructed)
• Opus tessellatum
• Opus vermiculatum

• Roman architectural revolution
• Ancient Roman architecture
• Byzantine architecture
• Ancient Greek architecture