Apollodorus of Damascus was one of, if not the most famous architect in the Roman empire. He was born around the year 60 AD in Damascus, and was introduced to Rome by Emperor Trajan in 91 AD. He started off as an efficient military engineer, later becoming Emperor Trajan’s official architect and, for a period of time, Emperor Hadrian’s as well.

Apollodorus had a significant influence on the Roman Imperial Style, despite some debates on this. His works have been classified as a combination between the Italic-Roman tradition and the Hellenistic-oriental modules, which is credited to his upbringing in Damascus which was largely influenced by centuries long Greek rule. He was reputed to have used the latest advanced inventions, making significant contributions to the development of building structures and technologies, and he was ahead of his time in some issues.

Among his main works that remain standing are:

• Trajan’s Forum, Column, and Market in Rome.
• The Port of Trajan in Fiumicino.
• The Arches of Trajan in Ancona and Benevento.
• Trajan’s Bridge over the Danube in present-day Romania.

Appolodorus’s architectural innovations made him one of the few architects whose name still survives. A bust of Apollodorus with his Levantine features exists in a museum in Munich. The architect is credited for being inspired by architecture from his hometown, from the cities of Damascus, Palmyra, and the south of Syria, which boasted many architectural wonders that inspired innovation in Rome. These are not just opinions, but statements made by historians and academics, even from the West. The Damascene man is remembered for transforming Rome into a major social, economic, and prestigious center of the world.