History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v1.c19.s2.6

v1.c19.s2.6

The Roman arch and Roman dome are always constructed (Woodcut No. 170) on the principle of voussoirs, or truncated wedges, radiating from a centre. This enabled the Romans to cover much larger spaces with their domes than perhaps was possible on the horizontal principle; but it involved the inconvenience of great lateral thrusts, continually tending to split the dome and tear the building in pieces, and requiring immense and massive abutments to counteract their destructive energy.