Vitruvius: The Education of an Architect

         Matthew Frederick, author of 101 Things I learned In Architecture School, said "An architect knows something about everything. An engineer knows everything about one thing." I believe that Vitruvius was trying to emphasis this theory in "The Education of an Architect." Vitruvius goes into great detail why an architect must be well rounded in academics. He starts by listing the obvious qualities architects must have: ablity to write, draw, do geometry, have knowlage of history; then he discribes some qualities that may seem outlandish to archetectural education. Amonst these qualities Vitruvious lists knowledge of music, medicine, law, and astronomy. Vitruvius argues that these qualities are just as important to an architect as his ablity to draw.
          Vitruvius's reason behind an architect having a liberal education is that "An architect ought to be an educated man so as to leave a more lasting remembrance in his treaties." An architect's work, no matter what it is, will have a greater significance in relation to man, if he has worldly knowledge. By studying astronomy an architect can accurately predict the sun's pattern in relationship to his buildings.  By studying medicine an architect will be aware of such things as water quality and unhealthy climates in which to build. By studying music an architect will understand rhythm, acoustics, and in vitruvius's case the correct pitch of a cable on a catapult.
          The description of an architect's education, as Vitruvius sees it, is as true in 25 BCE as it is in modern day architecture firms. Matthew Frederick sums up Vitruvious's theory by stating "An architect must know enough about each discipline to negotiate and synthesize competing demands while honoring the needs of the client and the integrity of the entire project."