Temple of Diana in Nimes

The Temple of Diana in Nimes is one the most mystical Gallo-Roman monument because of the purpose of the construction is still yet to be revealed. In 991 the "Temple" became the Convent Church of the Benedictine Monastery of St. Savior. The unfortunate building was ruined in 1577 by Catholics from Nimes to prevent it being used as a refuge by Protestant troops under the command of Marshal du Bellegarde. Its architectural structure is a square-shaped building, symmetrically proportionate in nature. The entrance has a huge rectangle-shaped hall, with two corridors offering connection to the second floor, which at present, is in ruins. The central hall used to display rich interior decoration, including Corinthian pilasters and pillars, traces of which have almost faded away today. The roof of the Temple has a unique semicircular shape covering the niche. Roman architectures use of the arch shows a relationship to today’s architecture, where the shape has no single spot that holds all the weight which eliminates tensile stresses. The most basic interpretation of the arch could be shown in underground tunnels such as the subways. The tunnel of the subway being round balances the force of the soil pushing onto the tunnel resolving it into compressive stresses. A special form of the arch is the triumphal arch, usually built to celebrate a victory in war. A famous example is the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France as well as the Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy.