Science

Vitruvii De architectura libri decem

by Vitruvius

Ten books on architecture by a Roman engineer of Augustus’s day: temples, town planning, materials, water, sundials and war machines. His rule that a building needs firmness, usefulness and beauty is still quoted in architecture schools. Leonardo’s drawing of a man in a circle and a square comes from his third book.

The librarian

Read it in the Library After Dark Or read it as plain text

Reading time

About 11 hr 15 min

Where to find it

The Latin Reading Room

Edition

Project Gutenberg, eBook #51812. In the public domain in the United States.