# Vitruvius Pollio

## Biography

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio, commonly known as Vitruvius, was a Roman military engineer, architect, and author active in the first century BCE. Though specifics of his early life remain scarce, he is believed to have been born around 90-75 BCE. Vitruvius served as a military engineer under Julius Caesar and later as an architect consultant for Emperor Augustus. His extensive experience in both military and civil engineering projects informed his monumental work, "De Architectura."

This ten-volume treatise, dedicated to Augustus, is the only comprehensive architectural text to survive from antiquity. It covers a vast range of subjects beyond mere building design, including town planning, materials, construction methods, machines for both military and civil use, water supplies, and even aspects of astronomy, philosophy, and medicine. Vitruvius famously articulated that good architecture should possess "firmitas, utilitas, venustas" – durability, utility, and beauty. His principles significantly influenced Renaissance architects and artists, most notably inspiring Leonardo da Vinci's iconic "Vitruvian Man." Vitruvius's writings laid foundational concepts that shaped architectural thought for centuries.

## Books

- [The Ten Books on Architecture](https://samolit.com/books/95955)