Diocletian — Windows ((free))

If you are studying for an exam, writing a historical report, or designing a Neoclassical building, remember: – that’s a Diocletian window.

Found in the high upper tier of side walls ( clerestory ). diocletian windows

The name derives from the Roman Emperor Diocletian (reigned 284–305 AD). Following his voluntary retirement from power, Diocletian built a massive palace complex in his native Dalmatia (modern-day Split, Croatia). If you are studying for an exam, writing

⚠️ A simple half-circle window is not a Diocletian window. The triple division and unequal widths are essential. The form was rediscovered during the Renaissance by

The form was rediscovered during the Renaissance by architects like , who studied Roman ruins.

Because of Palladio’s influence, the Diocletian window became a staple of , which swept through Europe and Britain in the 17th and 18th centuries.