Bed Quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
![“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d76/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_bed_leave-a-cavity-behind-the-wall-facings-a_5922.jpg)
“Leave a cavity behind the [wall] facings, and on the inside build walls two feet thick, made of red dimension stone or burnt brick or lava in courses, and then bind them to the fronts by means of iron clamps and lead. The beds and builds, all settling equally and bonded at the joints, will not let the work bulge out, nor allow the fall of the face walls which have been tightly fastened together.”
About This Quote
Describes a construction technique that uses internal cavities and thick, stone or brick walls reinforced with iron and lead to prevent deformation and ensure structural integrity.
In simple terms: A method for building stable, non‑bulging walls.
Key Takeaway
Use internal voids and strong clamps to control movement.
Themes
Structural stability
Material engineering
Load distribution
Construction durability
Historical building methods
Mood
pragmatic
technical
historical
Type
instructional
technical description
When to use this quote
- Designing fortifications
- Restoring ancient structures
- Building earthquake‑resistant walls
- Creating thick load‑bearing partitions
- Constructing underground chambers
Key Concepts
Cavity design
Stone/brick masonry
Iron clamps
Lead binding
Joint bonding
Practical Applications
- Reinforced wall construction
- Historical preservation
Questions to Reflect On
- How does the cavity affect stress distribution?
- What modern materials could replace iron and lead for similar effect?
![“The [engineer] should be equipped with knowledge of many branches of study and varied kinds of learning, for it is by his judgement that all work done by the other arts is put to test. This knowledge is the child of practice and theory.” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afa/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_art_the-engineer-should-be-equipped-with-kno_386834.jpg)
![“All these soft kinds [of stone] have the advantage that they can be easily worked as soon as they have been taken from the quarries. Under cover, they play their part well; but in open and exposed situations the frost and rime make them crumble, and they go to pieces. On the seacoast, too, the…” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/541/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_advantage_all-these-soft-kinds-of-stone-have-the-a_406721.jpg)
![“In Sparta, paintings have been taken out of certain walls by cutting through the bricks, then have been placed in wooden frames, and so brought to the Comitium to adorn the aedileship of [C. Visellius] Varro and [C. Licinius] Murena.” quote by Marcus Vitruvius Pollio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c03/marcus-vitruvius-pollio-7498_artist_in-sparta-paintings-have-been-taken-out_584908.jpg)
