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Exploring Ancient Greek Architecture

Apr 25, 2025

Notes on Ancient Greek Architecture

Overview

  • Ancient Greek architecture originated around 900 BC and lasted until the 1st century AD.
  • Known for temples, open-air theatres, and structures like the agora, propylon, bouleuterion, mausoleum, and stadium.
  • Temples such as the Parthenon are prime examples.
  • Architecture characterized by formalized structure and decoration, often designed to complement their landscape.

Influences on Architecture

Geography

  • Rocky terrain, indented coastline, and mountain ranges offered stone, especially limestone and marble.
  • Climate influenced outdoor activities, hence buildings like temples and theatres were often outdoors.

Historical Context

  • Greek civilization divided into Hellenic (900 BC - 323 BC) and Hellenistic (323 BC - 30 AD) periods.
  • Influenced by previous Minoan and Mycenaean cultures.

Artistic Development

  • Art divided into Protogeometric, Geometric, Archaic, and Classical periods.
  • Development from geometric style pottery to lifelike sculptures depicting human forms.

Religion and Philosophy

  • Greek religion was nature-based with personification of natural elements as gods.
  • Temples were built to house statues of gods and serve as focal points for worship.
  • Architecture reflected humanist philosophy focusing on order, symmetry, and beauty.

Architectural Characteristics

Structural Elements

  • Greek architecture is 'post and lintel' with horizontal beams (lintels) supported by vertical posts (columns).
  • Early wooden structures were replaced by stone constructions.

Building Types

  • Domestic Buildings: included simple structures to more elaborate homes with mosaic floors and courtyards.
  • Public Buildings: temples, theatres, gymnasiums, and agoras.

Orders of Architecture

Doric Order

  • Simplest, characterized by sturdy columns without bases and simple capitals.
  • Associated with mainland Greece.

Ionic Order

  • More elaborate than Doric, with scrolled capitals and bases.
  • Developed in Ionia and Aegean Islands.

Corinthian Order

  • Most ornate, with elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves.
  • Became popular in the Hellenistic period.

Architectural Features

Masonry and Construction

  • Use of ashlar masonry for precision and durability.
  • Buildings often rested on a base called crepidoma.

Roofs and Openings

  • Early roofs were thatched, later replaced by ceramic tiles.
  • Use of hypostyle halls for support of large roof spans.

Decorative Elements

  • Included friezes, metopes, and pediments often decorated with sculptural reliefs.
  • Use of terracotta and stucco for ornamental purposes.

Influence on Western Architecture

  • Ancient Greek architectural styles greatly influenced Roman architecture and later Western architecture.
  • Revivals during the Renaissance and Neoclassical period emphasized Greek forms and symmetry.