Vitruvius Teutsch, pp. 7-10 English Translation

© This translation coyprighted 2009, Benjamin Blankenbehler. Reproduction in part or whole strictly prohibited.

English translation pp.1-6
English translation pp.11-14

Short summary of the entire content of the Ten Books of Vitruvius, in order of chapters, cataloged.
The First Book:

Of the mighty artist Augustus introducing Vitruvius, in the first book of architecture: Page 1.
What architecture is. The first direction and teaching for young, beginning constructors: Chapter 1, Page 2.

What architecture fundamentally is: Chapter 2, Page 24.

Many aspects of architecture, chiefly how the more important designs or distributions should be done, including the common construction: Chapter 3, Page 32.

Choosing the healthiest site and location for construction, and why many sites are dangerous and unhealthy. Of which sites or areas should be set and ordered to day and light: Chapter 4, Page 33.

Rules of thumb or fundamentals for city walls and gates: Chapter 5, Page 37.

Arranging the work. How the fortification of city walls should be arranged and judged, to avoid unhealthy, harmful wind: Chapter 6, Page 42.

How to choose the most desirable site for public buildings. The final chapter of Vitruvius' first book: Page 43.

The other books:

The ancient world, how the first human lived, and of the first manifestation of society and beginnings of houses, and how they operated day to day: Chapter 1, Page 58.

The first source of all things according to the life and opinions of the ancient heathen philosophies: Chapter 2, Page 64.

Bricks and building blocks: Chapter 3, Page 65.

Sand: Chapter 4, Page 68.

Lime: Chapter 5, Page 69.

A certain lime of the earth named “Puteolano powder” (Pozzolana): Chapter 6, Page 70.

Quarries and mining: Chapter 7, Page 72.

Some distinctions, knowledge, manners, and opportunities of masons: Chapter 8, Page 75.

Construction with timber: Chapter 9, Page 86.

The distinguishing nature and properties of fir wood of the Apennine Mountains, with literary evidence from the final chapter of Vitruvius' other books: Page 91.

The Third Book:

The composites and first examples of the temple or holy places, symmetry and measurements of the human body, and all extreme special proportions from the first chapter of the third book of Vitruvius' architecture: Page 96.

[page 8]

Some types and classifications of temples and church construction. Chapter 2, page 109.

Fundementals of columns, adornment, and the structure of such. Chapter 3, page 117.

The Fourth Book.

The subject of columns: the invention or first examples of the three orders. The first chapter of the fourth book of Vitruvius' architecture. Page 131.

The ornamenting and beautiful adornment of columns, also how it was invented and came about- from Vitruvius' architecture. Chapter 2, Page 137.

The Doric order- The third chapter of the fourth book of Vitruvius' architecture. Page 141.

The inner distribution and division of framework and portico, or porch (cella and pronaos)- the fourth chapter of the fourth book of Vitruvius' architecture. Page 148.

How to array the construction, appropriate for the four corners of the world. Chapter 5, Page 149.

The porches and fixed doors in the temple and church construction. Chapter 6, Page 150.

The departments and symmetry of the temple in the Tuscan order. Chapter 7, Page 155.

The correct oder and placement of altars for idols. Chapter 8, Page 158.

The Fifth Book.

The placement and providence of holy construction, namely the Courthouse and City Hall. Chapter 1, Page 160.

The correct oder of treasuries, prison, and Curia. Chapter 2, Pag 164.

The Theater entertainment building. Chapter 3, Page 165.

Harmonics. Chapter 4, Page 168.

The skillful order of theater seating. Chapter 5, Page 170.

Practical accommodations and foundations for theaters. Chapter 6, Page 173.

Roofing for stores, and portico of the theater. Chapter 7, Page 176.

The interwoven collonade and walkway behind the stage and around the theater. Chapter 9, Page 182.
The practical order of baths, and their appropriate members and parts. Chapter 10, Page 185.

The buildings of Palestrarum (Palaetria) and Xistis. Chapter 11, Page 188.

The ports and harbors of the ocean, and what kind of construction to perform. Chapter 12, Page 189.

The Sixth Book.

Mixed qualities and aspects of the heavens in some regions and landscapes. In which to construct homes. Chapter 1, Page 193.

The proportions and measurements of individual houses and living units. Chapter 3, Page 199.

The correct measure and symmetry of its station and its interior. Chapter 4, Page 202.

The correct measure and symmetry of interiors and some fixtures. Chapter 5, Page 205.

The buildings in Oecus, of the Greek order. Chapter 6, Page 206.

Where in the world any building should have its view towards, for the sake of health and safety. Chapter 7, Page 27.


[page 9]


Index of Chapters

Seemly regions and comfortable make, common and individual houses or construction of some dwellings and, to direct the persons at every level. Chapter 8, Page 208.

Buildings around the world, primitive huts and advanced houses, with their applicable parts. Chapter 9, Page 209.

The Greek order and art of construction compared to the Italian way. Chapter 10, Page 211.

Strong fundamentals and ground rules of construction for strength and endurance. Chapter 11-12, Page 214.

The Seventh Book

Paving or painting, to be able to make some forms beautiful and strong defensible. Chapter 1, Page 220.

Laying down lime, plastering and whitewashing the stonework. Chapter 2, Page 223.

Some forms and appearances of arches, with modest instruction of stonework and brick lining. Chapter 3, Page 224.

How to make durable stucco in moist regions. Chapter 4, Page 228.

Instruction on how to adorn a room's interior. Chapter 5, Page 230.

The preparation of marble, chiefly marble with ocher color. Chapter 7, Page 233.

The method and properties of natural red lead. Chapter 8, Page 234.

The correct temperature of natural red lead. Chapter 9, Page 235

Artistically created colors. Chapter 10, Page 236.

The temperament of the color blue. Chapter 11, Page 237.

In what form white lead, Verdigris, Sandaracha should be prepared. Chapter 12, Page 238.

How to prepare the color purple as the most beautiful color. Chapter 13, Page 238.

Some preparations of the color purple. Chapter 14, Page 239.

The Eighth Book

How one searches for and finds water. Chapter 1, Page 242.

Rainwater. Chapter 2, Page 242.

The nature, properties, force, and effects of warm water that runs over certain metals, as well as quite a few flows, wells, oceans, and so forth. Chapter 3, Page 246.

Particular sorts and properties of many landscapes and wells. Chapter 4, Properties 252.

The excavating and reservation of water. Chapter 5, Page 253.

How to guide water with handy instruments. Chapter 6, Page 253.

Some methods and manners of leading water. Chapter 7, Page 255.

The Ninth Book

The new inventions of Plato, regarding measurements. Chapter 1, Page 261.

The justice of the composing stick, founded by Pithagora. Chapter 2, Page 264.

The artistic inquiry of Archimedes, through which he realized the fastening of silver into the golden throne. Chapter 3, Page 266.


[Page 10]
Index of heavenly spheres, stars, planets, and things seen in the darkness. Chapter 4, Page 272.

The path of the sun through the twelve heavenly signs. Chapter 5, Page 275.

The immovable stars of the septentrionalis sides of the zodiac. Chapter 6, Page 276.

The immovable stars of the meridionalis sides. Chapter 7, Pages 277.

The right foundation and understanding of the horoscope and of shadows during the equinox at Rome and other regions. Chapter 8, Page 279.

The right understanding and useful manner of the horoscope and of its founding, and who initially conceived it. Chapter 9, Page 283.

The Tenth Book

What a lever or hoist is, the difference between the hoist and other instruments, how it is useful, and how it was invented. Chapter 1, Page 290.

Another method for making a powerful hoist that will lift and power almost every heavy load and in all dangers. Chapter 4, Page 293.

How one may erect a more customary hoist in a different way. Chapter 5, Page 295.

Extraordinary artistic inventions in Ctesiphon that transport large, heavy loads across the land. Chapter 6, Page 297.

The first founding of the quarry for the building of the temple of Dianne in Ephesus. Chapter 7, Page 298.

How to move heavy double loads of different sizes. Chapter 8, Page 299.

Artistic machines of some water-arts. Chapter 9, Page 302.

Some artistic wall construction. Chapter 10, Page 302.

Preparation for artistic propellers. Chapter 11, Page 35.

Artistic machines in Ctesibius that lift water up high. Chapter 12, Page 307.

How one may run an artistic water organ. Chapter 13, Page 308.

How one may measure far distances on a wagon or ship with an artistic machine. Chapter 14, Page 310.

The correct preparation and use of bows or melee weapons, and some guns. Chapter 15, Page 311.

The ballista, also of bows or melee weapons. Chapter 16, Page 311.

The correct proportions of weights of stone for the holes in catipults. Chapter 17, Page 313.
Certain machines and artistic tools that tighten guns and bows. Chapter 18, Page 313.

Some war arrays of the enemy and what is needed to lay siege on the enemy. Chapter 19. Page 315.

End of Chapters.

[This translation may contain inaccuracies. Please let me know if you find any!]

Vitruvius Teutsch, pp. 1-6 Original German
Vitruvius Teutsch, pp. 7-10 Original German
Vitruvius Teutsch, pp. 11-16 Original German