Classical Greek Architecture Essay

Ancient Greek architecture dates from around 800 BCE when the site of Delphi first obtained a religious significance. The architecture of Ancient Greece has influenced the architecture of the past two millennia most significantly that of Ancient Rome (Hemingway, 2003). Greek architecture influenced Roman architecture in extensive ways, giving that the Romans adopted and incorporated many Greek methods and elements into their own practice. Although the Romans were inspired by the Greek there are still many differences in their architecture most noticeably through materiality. Although the Greeks constructed many types of buildings the most recognisable “Greek” structure is the temple. (Becker, 2015) As stated by Coleen Hemingway in an article for the Metropolitan Museum of Art “ the Greek temple best exemplifies the aims and methods of Greek Architecture”. Whilst exploring such architecture it is necessary to examine the mentality, religious beliefs and driving forces of each civilization. According to Stierlin “Unlike the Greek temple, essentially a structure for the play of light and shade, with little interior space accommodating a small sanctuary, Roman builders typically used arches, vaults, matching domes

For a great many years, architecture has been a breaking point for different artisticeras in history. Some of the most famous “works of art” have been chapels, temples, and tombs. Among the most dominant and influential eras of great architecture are the sophisticated, stoic Greeco-Roman periods and the more mystical, elemental Japanese eras. These two very distinct and very different eras have more in common than you may realize.

The ancient Romans created and borrowed fundamental types of concepts that made up buildings. The ideas that the Romans borrowed were basic ideas such as the column. A column is a vertical shaped pillar with the chief design concern of supporting a building. Most columns consist of three parts, the base, the shaft, and the capital. The shaft is usually cylindrical in shape. The Greeks had three basic types of columns, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. All three types have narrow fillets on them. These were small vertical slits that ran the length of the column. The Romans modified the column and added two types, Truscan and Composile. The columns became widely used in homes and temples in Greece and later in Rome ("Architecture").

Chapter 10: 1) Alexander the Great: Was a king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon and a member of the Argead dynasty. 2) Socrates: A classical Greek philosopher credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy 3) Plato: A philosopher in Classical Greece and the founder of the Academy in Athens, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world. Considered one of the most pivotal people in the early world. 4) Sparta: Prominent city-state in ancient Greece.

As the saying goes, great art is mad with its own loveliness. Over the decades, Greek-inspired architecture has been seen all over the world. Ideas are often borrowed while constructing buildings, monuments, and even houses. Greeks mostly used wood, limestone, unbaked bricks, terracotta and metal for construction. Most architecture were inspired by religion, politics, and form of recreation. Of all designs from Greek architecture three of them have withstood the test of time and their application can be seen today. They include Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian order. However, each order is distinct from the other and one cannot differentiate unless trained. This paper will look at Doric and Corinthian orders while comparing and contrasting them. It will also trace their prevalence and popularity throughout history.

The building of this temple demonstrated the development of the Doric style from its earliest stage through various refinements as the Greeks became more comfortable with building in stone. Built in c. 560 BC, its architecture influenced many other cities and boosted communal identity. It had nine columns at the ends and eighteen on the side. It was made of local limestone, which also influenced an outward image of an adequate Greek temple. The columns and capitals were characteristic of Archaic Greek architecture, whereas the columns were squatty with a strong entasis and the flaring echinus and square abacus were over-sized. The temple was wider than most Greek temples, probably because there were two doors and a row of seven columns running centrally inside the cella or inner sanctuary. This may have reflected a dual dedication of the temple. This style of Doric temple was early, for the central row of columns divided the naos in half, or in two aisles, eliminating a clear view of the cult statue in the center. In addition, the central columns necessitated an odd number of columns across the front and three columns, rather than two in antis, made a central doorway impossible. Inscriptions and terracotta statuettes revealed that the goddess worshiped there was Hera. Later, an altar was unearthed in front of the temple, in the open-air site usual for a Greek altar. This was most likely an area where the faithful could attend rites and sacrifices without entering the cella, creating an area of general community unification. Based on the history of social stratification during this time and estra-mural cemeteries showing evidence for varying level of wealth, it makes since that certain areas of the temple, such as the cella, were not reachable by the specific people or the general public. The city of Paestum’s identity was greatly

The Romans continued the legacy left by the early greek architects. They favored the Greek column called the corinthia. Roman architecture is a combination of their own ideas and Greek architecture. Greece was their main influence. The Romans had architecture based on greek architecture, used it in their bath houses, and used different materials for different buildings Temples in Rome were a combination of Etruscan and Greek models of inner cella (chambers) at the back of the building which was on a raised platform surrounded by columns with steps leading to it.

The Greeks created three different architectural orders for columns. The three orders were the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders. The Doric columns was the Greeks first architectural order. Although it had a simple capital and no base, it was the widest among the three orders. The Ionic columns had a more detailed capital that was in the form of a double scroll. The Ionic columns also had a base unlike the Doric order. The Corinthian column had a capital that was sculpted with flowers and leaf designs. The Corinthian column also had a base, but it is the tallest among all three orders. With these three orders Greek temples were built lager with more features since the stone columns can withstand more weight. These three orders also gave Greek architects the flexibility to add more sources of light to their

The Republican-period Temple of Portunus (also known as the Temple of Fortuna Virilis) can be linked to both Greek and Etruscan precedents, as seen through a comparison of temple plans. From the Etruscans the Romans took the elevated podium, columned porch, and single flight of stairs in front leading to the cella. From the Greeks they took the Ionic order for the frieze and the columns, as well as the suggestion of a peripheral temple, even though freestanding columns are used only on the porch. Instead, engaged (half) columns are attached to the exterior walls of the cella. We can see these influences on the design of the Temple of Portunus, but the synthesis of these elements in new and unusual ways give the building its telltale Roman character.

It is four columns across and two deep, originally enclosed on two sides by the porticos(1). The Cella is lined with Five engaged half-columns on the sides and four on the back.The dimensions of the podium of the temple are ten and a half meters wide by nineteen meters and thirty centimetres long (36 by 62 in roman

Looking at the plans of Greek and Roman temple side by side as shown in this week presentation I can see how similar, but different these temples are. Both types of temples are shaped as a rectangle. But the cella (the main room inside of a temple) of the Greek temple is encircled by peristyle (roofed colonnade supported by columns). And there are even one or two rows of columns inside the cella to support the roof. While the peristyle of Greek temple was accessible from all sides, because the temple was built on a platform raised three steps above the foundation, the Roman temple was typically build on high podium with access by steps in front of the temple. Roman temple does not have a peristyle and the only free-standing columns are on the

The two ancient civilizations of ancient Greece and Rome were the best of the best during their time periods. Ancient Greece began around 2000 B.C. by the inhabitants known as the Mycenaean’s, followed by the Minoans. The Minoans built the foundation of Greece. The Roman Empire was founded around 753 B.C. by the two twins, Romulus and Remus. Romulus ended up killing Remus and built the city of Rome on one of seven rolling hills. Architecture was very important to both civilizations and they were always trying to out due the other. The architectural style of the Ancient Greeks and Romans was overall constructed and used differently.

As opposed to a customary 6x13 peristyle, the Parthenon has 8x17. Clearly, this marks a major difference in the size of the temple, both in width and length. [IMAGE]There are six Doric columns on the pronaos, which is a porch and another six columns at the back of the opisthodomos, which is the back room. As well as these columns, there are Doric columns inside the main room which is also known as the cella. These columns are two tiered which offers a solution to the fact

The temple of Hera at Olympia, built about 600 BCE, had wooden columns that were gradually replaced by stone ones, probably as votive gifts. The variety of column and capital shapes illustrates the evolution of the Doric order. The earliest columns had a heavy, bulging profile, and their capitals were broad and low. During the archaic period, limestone became the standard building material for foundations, steps, walls, columns, and Doric entablature. Building such as the famous Temple of Aphaia on Aegina illustrate the dramatic influence of the Doric order.

On a Doric column, the frieze contains a metope which is a section that is usually carved out and alternates with triglyphs. Triglyphs basically consist of a panel with three vertical grooves. Next in the entablature is the guttae, configured of a row of stone studs on the bottom of the entablature. Finally, the cornice makes up the top projecting section of the entablature.