The oldest door still in use in Rome, Pantheon. Cast in bronze for emperor Hadrian's rebuilding, they date from about 115 AD. Each door is solid bronze seven and a half feet wide & twenty-five feet high, yet so well balanced they can be pushed or pulled open easily by one person.
😳 What?!
ReplyDeleteFind the door bell.
ReplyDeleteHow much raw material did it take to make these doors? How big was the kettle to melt all that raw material? Where did they pour all that material? What forms did they use?
ReplyDeleteSo many questions........
Within the last couple of days, my wife and I were talking about how buildings in Florida that are older than a hundred years old are really unusual, and modern strip malls seem to collapse in 20 or 30 years.
ReplyDeleteOver there, a building that's as old as the oldest settlements in the US isn't even worth noticing.
A lot to be said about Roman work. So much to see and learn.
ReplyDeleteBalance is one thing and bearings are another.
ReplyDeleteNo matter how well balanced you still have the weight to contend with and with poor bearings it will be difficult to budge. I'd like to take a look at those bearings. I'm betting they are the roller type.
The concrete dome is still intact, which is even more impressive.
ReplyDeleteActually as a guy who hangs doors for a living would love to see them in person
ReplyDeletePintles and gudgeons and leverage. I imagine the bushings wear and get replaced from time to time.
ReplyDeleteWell, that's an open and shut case....
ReplyDelete