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Which accurately describes architectural achievements of the Roman Empire?

1) The Romans built the Temple of Delphi as a shrine to the god Apollo.
2) The Romans built massive mud-brick ziggurats in ancient Mesopotamia.
3) The Romans built massive concrete structures like the Pantheon and Coliseum.
4) The Romans built the Acropolis in Athens as a temple to the goddess Athena.

User AlleXyS
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Final answer:

3) The Romans are known for building massive concrete structures like the Pantheon and Coliseum. Through the innovative use of concrete and architectural elements like arches, Roman buildings showcased vast interior spaces and grand exteriors. Other options in the question incorrectly attribute non-Roman architectural works to the Romans.

Step-by-step explanation:

Architectural Achievements of the Roman Empire

Among the architectural achievements of the Roman Empire, option 3 accurately describes their accomplishments: 3) The Romans built massive concrete structures like the Pantheon and Coliseum.

These iconic structures highlight the Roman innovation and mastery in the use of concrete, as well as their ingenuity with arches and vaulting to create vast interior spaces without the need for as many interior supports.

Roman architects and the emperors who supported them, such as Vespasian, propelled architectural innovation to its peak, resulting in impressive structures like the Colosseum, the Markets of Trajan, the Baths of Caracalla, and the Basilica of Maxentius.

These achievements reflect a combination of Greek and Etruscan influences and Roman ingenuity. While adopting the Greek orders of architecture—Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—the Romans innovated by heavily using concrete, which allowed them to construct large, durable structures and shape interior spaces, as seen in the Pantheon’s coffered dome and oculus.

The other options provided in the question incorrectly attribute ancient architectural wonders to the Romans. The Temple of Delphi was Greek, the mud-brick ziggurats were Mesopotamian, and the Acropolis was also constructed by the Greeks.

User Jramirez
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