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The Ten Books on Architecture

by Vitruvius Pollio

  • Free to read
  • 7 hours to read
  • 116 chapters
  • Reading level: 8th & 9th grade

"The Ten Books on Architecture" by Vitruvius Pollio is a treatise on architecture written in the 1st century BC. This seminal work lays the foundational principles of architecture, encompassing topics from city planning and building techniques to the materials required for construction. Through this text, Vitruvius aims to establish the importance of knowledge in various disciplines for architects, suggesting that a well-rounded education is essential for effective design and construction. The beginning of the work outlines Vitruvius's motivations for writing, as he addresses Emperor Augustus, expressing a desire to support the public good through his architectural insights. He emphasizes the necessity for architects to possess a broad base of knowledge, including geometry, history, philosophy, music, and medicine, in order to execute their work effectively. Vitruvius continues by elaborating on the fundamental principles of architecture, discussing order, arrangement, symmetry, and economy as key components to successful building design. This foundational exposition sets the stage for the more technical discussions that will follow in later chapters.

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  • Architecture · Early works to 1800

Read the opening

Book I

PREFACE 3

THE EDUCATION OF THE ARCHITECT 5

THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURE 13

THE DEPARTMENTS OF ARCHITECTURE 16

THE SITE OF A CITY 17

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Contents

Show all 116 chapters
  1. Front Matter
  2. Book I
  3. Book II
  4. Book III
  5. Book IV
  6. Book V
  7. Book VI
  8. Book VII
  9. Book VIII
  10. Book IX
  11. Book X
  12. Book I
  13. Preface
  14. Chapter I
  15. Chapter II
  16. Chapter III
  17. Chapter IV
  18. Chapter V
  19. Chapter VI
  20. Chapter VII
  21. Book II
  22. Book II
  23. Chapter I
  24. Chapter II
  25. Chapter III
  26. Chapter IV
  27. Chapter V
  28. Chapter VI
  29. Chapter VII
  30. Chapter VIII
  31. Chapter IX
  32. Chapter X
  33. Book III
  34. Book III
  35. Chapter I
  36. Chapter II
  37. Chapter III
  38. Chapter IV
  39. Chapter V: Proportions of the Base, Capitals, and Entablature in the Ionic Order
  40. Book IV
  41. Book IV
  42. Chapter I
  43. Chapter II
  44. Chapter III
  45. Chapter IV
  46. Chapter V
  47. Chapter VI
  48. Chapter VII
  49. Chapter VIII
  50. Chapter IX
  51. Book V
  52. Book V
  53. Chapter I
  54. Chapter II
  55. Chapter III
  56. Chapter IV
  57. Chapter V
  58. Chapter VI
  59. Chapter VII
  60. Chapter VIII
  61. Chapter IX
  62. Chapter X
  63. Chapter XI
  64. Chapter XII
  65. Book VI
  66. Book VI
  67. Chapter I
  68. Chapter II
  69. Chapter III
  70. Chapter IV
  71. Chapter V
  72. Chapter VI
  73. Chapter VII
  74. Chapter VIII
  75. Book VII
  76. Book VII
  77. Chapter I
  78. Chapter II
  79. Chapter III
  80. Chapter IV: On Stucco Work in Damp Places, and on the Decoration of Dining Rooms
  81. Chapter V
  82. Chapter VI
  83. Chapter VII
  84. Chapter VIII
  85. Chapter IX: CINNABAR (continued)
  86. Chapter X
  87. Chapter XI
  88. Chapter XII
  89. Chapter XIII
  90. Chapter XIV: Substitutes for Purple, Yellow Ochre, Malachite Green, and Indigo
  91. Book VIII
  92. Book VIII
  93. Chapter I
  94. Chapter II
  95. Chapter III
  96. Chapter IV
  97. Chapter V
  98. Chapter VI
  99. Book IX
  100. Book IX
  101. Chapter I
  102. Chapter II
  103. Chapter III
  104. Chapter IV
  105. Chapter V
  106. Chapter VI
  107. Chapter VII
  108. Chapter VIII
  109. Book X
  110. Introduction
  111. Chapter I
  112. Chapter II
  113. Chapter III
  114. Chapter IV
  115. Chapter V
  116. Chapter VI
  117. Chapter VII
  118. Chapter VIII
  119. Chapter IX
  120. Chapter X
  121. Chapter XI
  122. Chapter XII
  123. Chapter XIII
  124. Chapter XIV
  125. Chapter XV
  126. Chapter XVI

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About this edition

This free edition of The Ten Books on Architecture by Vitruvius Pollio comes from Project Gutenberg eBook #20239, released 2006-12-31. It is in the public domain in the United States, so you can read it here in full at no cost, on any phone, tablet or computer. Genre: Architecture.

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