Roman arcade

An arcade in architecture is a series of arches supported by columns or piers. This architectural element can form a passageway between arches and a solid wall or function as a covered walkway providing access to adjacent shops.1

The strength of an arcade allows it to carry significant weight and span great distances due to the lateral thrust of each arch against the next. Early examples of arcades can be seen in ancient aqueducts, and the Romans famously utilized them in structures like the Colosseum, which features multiple stories of arcaded openings.1

A specific type, the Roman arcade, involves pilasters or engaged columns supporting an entablature. This style evolved, with later Roman architecture seeing arches rest directly on column capitals, a feature that became standard in Romanesque and Gothic periods and was revived during the Renaissance. Arcades have also been used decoratively, such as in Gothic churches to divide nave walls into horizontal sections.1