Planning structure of Ancient Rome Military Camps

The article is devoted to practical implementation of “ideal” planning schemes and concepts in antique urban planning. One of the directions of this search was planning of temporary and permanent military camps of Ancient The basis of this planning was Etruscan square model of the Universe (templum) divided into 4 parts by two main streets (Cardo и Decumanus) located in cardinal directions. The article describes the principal differences between temporary and permanent military camps (castrums). They stated the material evidences of gradual transition of Romans from active aggressive to defensive policy. The significance of that search was noted for further development of planning and fortification systems by Roman colonial cities. А ditch (fossa) was dug around the perimeter of the camp, in the center (Mun-dus) of the camp a military commander's (legate, praetor, consul) tent and the altar were located. Secondary streets crossed at right angle and formed a regular grid, which split the camp into rectangular quarters. This planning diagram remained unchanged throughout the whole period of Ancient Rome. The most peculiar principles of space organization and reinforcement of military camps by “nature and construction art” (Vegetius) were determined based on works of antique surveyors and military historians. It is noted that in the Empire era these camps more often performed protective functions due to retrofitted structures and increased external walls' thickness and width of the streets, their equipment with military towers and espringals, as well as due to wider and deeper external ditches filled with water. It is suggested that because of these improvements temporary camps and recreation spaces for tired soldiers lost their initial function turned first into stationary fortresses, and then into frontier camp towns (castra). The article gives a detailed explanation of wide use of regular grids in antique town planning which was based on the doctrine of energy structure of the Earth. It is revealed that a lot of stationary camps of ancient Romans served as composition basis for many frontier and seaport towns and trade settlements of veterans and reserve soldiers which were constructed both within the mother city and in the provinces of the former empire. The plans of many of these towns were implemented on the basis of not only cosmological beliefs of Etruscan and Roman priests about composition of the “Roman world, but also the latest engineering achievements of the then time which were successfully used in antique poliorcetics (the art of conducting and resisting sieges), in fortification architecture of the early Middle Ages. Fundamental differences between temporary and permanent camps (castra) were determined. They became material evidences of gradual transition of Romans' policy from active attacks to defense. The importance of this search is noted for further development of planning and fortification systems of Roman colonial towns. Later, many of these principles became basis for medieval urban development and military construction.

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