Greek Architectural Orders Overview

Overview

This lecture explains the three main Greek architectural orders—Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian—including their features, history, and influence on Western architecture.

Introduction to Greek Architectural Orders

• Greek architectural orders are styles of building developed by the Greeks and later used by the Romans.
• The three main classical orders are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian; Tuscan and Composite are later Roman additions.
• Orders are identified by proportions, profiles, and decorative details, especially via columns.

Structural Basics: Post-and-Lintel System

• The basic ancient building system is post-and-lintel: vertical posts support a horizontal lintel.
• This system is foundational in Greek temple construction.

The Doric Order

• The Doric order is the oldest and simplest, emerging in mainland Greece in the 7th century B.C.E.
• Doric columns have no base, sit directly on the stylobate, and feature shallow flutes.
• The capital is unadorned, with a flare and a simple slab.
• The entablature includes a frieze decorated with triglyphs (three vertical marks) and metopes (sculpted panels).
• Columns exhibit entasis, a slight swelling for visual “liveliness.”
• The Parthenon in Athens is a canonical example of the Doric order.

The Ionic Order

• The Ionic order originated in Ionia (present-day Turkey) and arrived in Greece by the 5th century B.C.E.
• Ionic capitals are decorated with volutes (scroll-like ornaments).
• Columns have a base and deeper, more decorative flutes than Doric columns.
• The order is associated with slender, elegant (feminine) proportions.
• The frieze typically features a continuous sculptural relief.
• Notable examples include the Erechtheion in Athens.

The Corinthian Order

• The Corinthian order is the latest and most elaborate of the Greek orders.
• It features a capital decorated with acanthus leaves and sometimes scrolls.
• Columns have bases and are even more slender and ornate than Ionic.
• The order originated in Corinth and was popularized by both Greek and Roman architects.
• Notable Roman examples include the Pantheon and Maison Carrée.

Legacy and Influence

• Greek orders influenced Roman architecture and later Neoclassical movements.
• Their motifs remain globally influential in architecture today.

Key Terms & Definitions

• Order — A style of classical architecture, defined by its column and entablature design.
• Post-and-Lintel — A structural system with vertical supports (posts) and a horizontal beam (lintel).
• Doric Order — The oldest, simplest Greek order; thick, fluted columns without bases and a plain capital.
• Ionic Order — Characterized by slender columns with bases and scrolled (volute) capitals.
• Corinthian Order — The most decorative order, with capitals featuring acanthus leaves.
• Entablature — The horizontal structure above columns, including the architrave, frieze, and cornice.
• Frieze — The middle section of the entablature, often decorated with sculpture.
• Triglyph — A panel in a Doric frieze with three vertical grooves.
• Metope — The square space between triglyphs, often decorated.
• Volute — A spiral scroll characteristic of Ionic capitals.
• Entasis — A slight convex curve in columns for optical correction.

Action Items / Next Steps

• Review diagrams of the three orders and be able to identify their components.
• Read about Greek temples (Parthenon, Erechtheion) for architectural context.
• Study the glossary of key terms for architectural vocabulary.