ground in the water channels, hot springs and sewage
systems of many towns. At many sites these are open to
scholars and tourists to view, though they rarely receive
much attention in spite of their significance today.
Roman architecture and town planning displays
considerable intellectual thought. The Hellenistic
synthesis of art and science is best displayed in the public
monuments of the period. Analysis through freehand
drawing can reveal patterns and richness that escape
casual viewing. Sketching can also bring alive fragments
of existing structures by completing buildings either in the
imagination or on paper. Since drawing is a fluid tool, the
things beneath the surface can be revealed through line,
texture or shade. When key words are added, such as the
identification or naming of parts, these sketches become
alive with real understanding. Hence, the hidden story of
architecture, which is usually described in words, is
revealed through the alternative medium of drawing.
Architecture is shaped by lines, not words. They are
the basis for much architectural draughtsmanship, either
to aid the builder in the task of construction, or as
described here in the analysis of existing buildings. Lines
serve a useful purpose and obey certain conventions that
are shared across the construction professions. The same
is true of sketching, where weight of line, effects of
shade and technical rendering such as perspective are
understood by all architects. Hence, to discover the
principles, values and techniques employed in Roman
architecture through the medium of sketching requires
the student to adhere to standard conventions of drawing19.5a, b and c
This sequence of drawings of the
Buddhist temple site of Sigiriya in
Sri Lanka explores the relationship
between religious structures and
the wider landscape.
History and archaeology 167