Apollodorus of Damascus

Apollodorus of Damascus was a Nabataean-Syrian architect and master civil engineer who served as chief builder to Emperor Trajan. Accompanying Trajan on the Dacian Wars, Apollodorus built the colossal Bridge of Trajan across the Danube River in 105 AD, spanning over one thousand meters and ranking as the longest bridge in antiquity for over a millennium.

In Rome, Apollodorus designed the monumental Forum of Trajan, the Markets of Trajan, the Baths of Trajan, and the spiraling relief frieze of Trajan's Column. Many modern architectural historians also attribute the revolutionary domed design of the Pantheon to his genius. He was later exiled and put to death after daring to criticize Emperor Hadrian's amateur architectural designs.