The Maison Carrée of Nîmes

Confronting Vitruvius: a geometric framework and design methodology for Roman rectangular temples

Roman rectangular temples, including the Maison Carrée of Nîmes, were likely designed using a square grid framework rather than adhering strictly to Vitruvius' colonnade-based model. This challenges the long-held assumption that the lower column diameter (D) was the primary module for temple design. Archaeological evidence and geometric analyses of temple-podia from central Italy, Sufetula, and Baelo Claudia support this alternative approach, suggesting that temples were planned relative to a square grid derived from their base proportions. This finding reframes our understanding of Roman architectural methodology, indicating that deviations from Vitruvian principles may stem from practical design choices rather than adjustments or corrections.