Editing Vitruvius (section)

===Scope===
[[File:Vitruvius the Ten Books on Architecture Basilica at Fano.png|thumb|Vitruvius designed and supervised the construction of this [[basilica]] in [[Fano]] (reconstruction). However, many of the other things he did would not now be considered the realm of architecture{{clarify|date=November 2023}}]]
Vitruvius is the first Roman architect to have written surviving records of his field. He himself cites older but less complete works. He was less an original thinker or creative intellect than a codifier of existing architectural practice. [[Roman architecture|Roman architects]] practised a wide variety of disciplines; in modern terms they would also be described as landscape architects, civil engineers, military engineers, structural engineers, surveyors, artists, and [[Artisan|craftsmen]] combined. Etymologically the word architect derives from Greek words meaning 'master' and 'builder'. The first of the ''Ten Books'' deals with many subjects which are now within the scope of [[landscape architecture]].

In Book I, Chapter 1, titled The Education of the Architect, Vitruvius instructs...

{{quote|1. Architecture is a science arising out of many other sciences, and adorned with much and varied learning; by the help of which a judgment is formed of those works which are the result of other arts. Practice and theory are its parents. Practice is the frequent and continued contemplation of the mode of executing any given work, or of the mere operation of the hands, for the conversion of the material in the best and readiest way. Theory is the result of that reasoning which demonstrates and explains that the material wrought has been so converted as to answer the end proposed.}}

{{quote|2. Wherefore the mere practical architect is not able to assign sufficient reasons for the forms he adopts; and the theoretic architect also fails, grasping the shadow instead of the substance. He who is theoretic as well as practical, is therefore doubly armed; able not only to prove the propriety of his design, but equally so to carry it into execution.<ref name="penelope.uchicago.edu">{{cite web|url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Vitruvius/1*.html|title=LacusCurtius • Vitruvius on Architecture — Book I|website=penelope.uchicago.edu|access-date=20 June 2017}}</ref>}}

He goes on to say that the architect should be versed in drawing, geometry, optics (lighting), history, philosophy, music, theatre, medicine, and law.

In Book I, Chapter 3 (''The Departments of Architecture''), Vitruvius divides architecture into three branches, namely; building; the construction of [[sundial]]s and [[water clocks]];<ref>Turner, A. J., ''in'' Folkrets, M., and Lorch, R., (Editors), "Sic itur ad astra", ''Studien zur Geschichte der Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften – Festschrift für den Arabisten Paul Kunitzsch zum 70,'' Harrassowitz Verlag, 2000, p.563 ff.</ref> and the design and use of machines in construction and warfare.<ref>Long, Pamela O., ''in'' Galison, Peter, and Thompson, Emily (Editors), ''The Architecture of Science'', The MIT Press, 1999, p. 81</ref><ref>Borys, Ann Marie, ''Vincenzo Scamozzi and the Chorography of Early Modern Architecture'', Routledge, 2014, pp. 85, 179</ref> He further divides building into public and private. Public building includes city planning, public security structures such as walls, gates and towers; the convenient placing of public facilities such as theatres, forums and markets, baths, roads and pavings; and the construction and position of shrines and temples for religious use.<ref name="penelope.uchicago.edu"/> Later books are devoted to the understanding, design and construction of each of these.