Information about imbrex and tegula

Each tegula (a) overlaps the one below it, with its raised borders tapering in to nestle between the next tile's borders. Curved imbrices (b) cover the joints between flat tegulae; some imbrices are not shown in order to reveal the details of the joints.

Imbrices and tegulae are still in use in Rome in 2005.

The imbrex and tegula (plurals imbrices and tegulae) were interlocking roofing tiles used in ancient Greek and Roman architecture as a waterproof and durable roof covering. In Rome they replaced shingles, and were used on almost every type of structure, from humble outbuildings to grand temples and public facilities.

Originally made of fired clay by the Greeks, by Roman times many were being made by under the auspices of various Roman legions. Other variants and developments included improvements in the 'lip' around the edge of the tile which improved the drainage of the roof; and the substitution of clay for marble, bronze or gilt which had superior appearance and performance and was reserved for the most important buildings of Greek and Roman civilisation.^[1]

History and development

The tegula (Greek solenes) was a plain flat tile, or a flat tile with raised edges, which was laid flat upon the roof, while the imbrex (Greek kalupter) was a semi-cylindrical roofing tile, like a half-pipe, laid over the joints between the tegulae. When well-made and properly imbricated (overlapped), there was little need for further waterproofing or sealant.

Tegulae were originally made perfectly flat, or with nothing more than a ridge underneath the upper border, which allowed the tile to be "hung" upon a sloping roof so that it would not slide to the ground. Later, tegulae were formed with a raised border on the two vertical sides, which would channel rainwater to the bottom of the tile, rather than allowing it to seep between tiles to dampen the roofing materials. Another improvement occurred when these two raised borders were made to converge, forming a broad v-shaped trapezoid with the narrowest edge downwards, nestling into the widest part of the tile below it to form a continuous channel.^[2]

Roofing tiles were originally made, like bricks, of wet clay in a four-sided mold, often shaped with a piece of wire, and then baked. More sophisticated molds were developed over time. Imbrices and tegulae are common finds in archaeological sites, and their design and markings can be of use in dating the sites and identifying the inhabitants.<ref name="Warry" /> Romans also often recycled broken tiles by incorporating them into mortar.

Some tegulae were made under the auspices of various Roman legions, and were imprinted with a stamp of the legion's insignia. For instance, a 1993 archaeological dig in Merseyside in England uncovered over 300 kilograms of tile and kiln remains. Some of the tegulae were stamped with the "LXXVV" insigniae of the Legio XX Valeria Victrix.^[3]^[4]

Tiles of marble were first used around the year 620 BC.^[5] Besides the superior beauty and durability of the material, these tiles could be made of a much larger size than those of clay. Consequently, they were used in the construction of the greatest temples, such as the Temple of Zeus at Olympia^[5], the Parthenon at Athens, and the Serapeium at Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli). Still more expensive and magnificent tiles were made of bronze and gilt.^[6]

Imbrices

The imbrices completed the waterproofing of the roof by arching over the joints between the vertical edges of the tegulae, dividing the roof into an equal number of channels. Rain water flowed off of the imbrices, into the channels and down over the surfaces of the tegulae, and descended into the gutter (canalis). The canalis had a plain or ornamented frontal piece set atop the entablature, immediately above the cornice. The semicircular opening at the front of the lowermost imbrex was often capped with an ornamental fronton, and the spouts which drained the gutters were frequently decorated with lions' heads (capita leonina) or other fantastic or grotesque faces.

Notes

1. ^ Smith
2. ^ Warry, Peter. Tegulae Manufacture, typology and use in Roman Britain. Archaeopress: Oxford, England. 2006. (ISBN 1-84171-956-0)
3. ^ Swan, Vivien G. and Philpott, Robert A. "Legio XX VV and Tile Production at Tarbock, Merseyside". Britannia, Vol. 31, 2000, pp. 55-67.
4. ^ Malone, Stephen James. Legio XX Valeria Victrix: Prosopography, archaeology and history. Archaeopress: Oxford, England. 2006. ISBN 1-84171-922-6.
5. ^ Pausanias, Description of Greece, v.10 Â§2
6. ^ Pliny the Elder's Natural History, Book 33.3 Â§18

References

Smith, William. "Tegula". A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. John Murray, London, 1875. (public domain text)

Events and trends

..... Click the link for more information.

Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Greece was built between 470 BCE and completed by 456 BCE to commemorate the Elean defeat of the Pisatans in 470 BC and it was designed by Libon of Elis.^[1].
..... Click the link for more information.

..... Click the link for more information.

Parthenon (ancient Greek: Παρθενών) is a temple of the Greek goddess Athena built in the 5th century BC on the Acropolis of Athens.
..... Click the link for more information.

Location

Coordinates Coordinates:
Time zone: EET/EEST (UTC+2/3)
Elevation (min-max): 70 - 338 m (0 - 0 ft)
Government
Country:
..... Click the link for more information.

Country Italy
Region Campania
Province Naples (NA)
Mayor Vincenzo Figliolia

Area km
Population
- Total (as of December 31, 2004)
- Density /km
Time zone CET, UTC+1
..... Click the link for more information.

Bronze is any of a broad range of copper alloys, usually with tin as the main additive, but sometimes with other elements such as phosphorus, manganese, aluminium, or silicon. (See table below.) It was particularly significant in antiquity, giving its name to the Bronze Age.
..... Click the link for more information.

Gilding is the art of applying metal leaf (most commonly gold or silver leaf) to a surface. This art was known to the ancients. According to Herodotus, the Egyptians were accustomed to gilding wood and metals; and gilding by means of gold plates is frequently mentioned in the Old
..... Click the link for more information.

waterproof describes something that is unaffected by water or covered with a material that does not allow water in. Such items are suitable for use in wet environments (outdoors) or under water.
..... Click the link for more information.

Gutter may refer to:

Rain gutter, a narrow channel which collects rainwater from the roof of a building and diverts it away from the structure, typically into a drain

..... Click the link for more information.

entablature (IPA [ɛnˈtÃ¦blətʃə]; Latin, and tabula, a tablet) is a major element of classical architecture, the superstructure of moldings and bands which lies horizontally above the columns, resting on their capitals.
..... Click the link for more information.

cornice comes from Italian cornice, meaning “ledge.” In French: “corniche” and German: “Gesims.â€

Cornice molding
..... Click the link for more information.

Imbrex And Tegula

History and development

Imbrices

Notes

References

See also

Events and trends