Vitruvii De Architectura Libri Decem

A comprehensive treatise on architecture written in the late 1st century BC. This work serves as one of the earliest and most influential texts on architecture, reflecting the author's insights on buildings, town planning, and engineering principles. The book encompasses a wide range of topics, from the aesthetic and functional aspects of architecture to the relationship between art and science. The opening of the treatise begins with Vitruvius addressing Emperor Caesar, emphasizing the importance of architecture in relation to the grandeur of the Roman Empire. He expresses his initial hesitation to publish his writings due to the distractions of governance and the weight of the emperor's responsibilities. However, acknowledging Caesar's keen interest in public architecture and urban development, he resolves to share his knowledge on the subject, framing architecture as vital to the prosperity and majesty of the empire. This introduction sets the stage for a detailed exploration of architectural principles that follow in the subsequent chapters.