Opus mixtum is an application of a mixture of opus reticulatum and opus latericium, using alternating horizontal bands of opus reticulatum and opus latericium. Sometimes vertical bands of opus latericium would be inserted as well, so the wall had isolated squares of opus reticulatum.

The purpose of opus mixtum was to avoid cracks. Walls in opus reticulatum had a tendency to make cracks diagonally, but by inserting horizontal bands of opus latericium the structural damage caused by cracks was much reduced. The use of opus mixtum made huge structures more earthquake resistant.

Opus mixtum could also designate a structure in opus latericium alone, but using alternating bands of differently sized tiles. Again, the purpose is to reduce the structural damage caused by cracks.

This technique was widespread in the late first century CE and the early 2nd century CE.

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Pages related to "Opus Mixtum"

• Opus Latericium
• Opus Reticulatum

Pages referring to "Opus Mixtum"

• Opus Caementicium