The Development of Greek Architecture

In 146 B.C. the Roman general Mummius crushed Greece’s attempt towards independence by completely destroying the city of Corinth. For a hundred years the area of the city laid in ruins. Eventually Julius Caesar sent a colony of veterans and descendants of Freedmen to rebuild the city, and in a short period of time a new Corinth was created from the old ruins (Ancient Corinth p. 20). During the rebuilding of Corinth Caesar was assassinated and reconstruction was continued by Emperor Augustus (Background First Corinthians).

Chapter I: The Origins of the Three Orders, and the Proportions of the Corinthian Capital

The city was founded by Alexander the Great in the year 331 BC with an objective to link the land of the Pharaohs with the Greek world both materially and culturally. The planning and building

The purpose of such votive statuary placed in temples was to urge the donors might to remain in a state of everlasting prayer. For example, The relief scene beneath Ur-Ningirsu’s bare feet, of kneeling men bearing full baskets, may represent bearers of ritual offerings.

The diameter of the entire Colosseum was thus reduced and convention disregarded to take into consideration this architectural feature. Looking in detail at the classical orders themselves which made up the levels of the façade and the 80 grand entrances of the Colosseum it would appear to not be revolutionary. However, if you engage with the architecture closer it reveals further Roman architectural ingenuity and the importance of the structures appearance.

receive gifts that were offered in the tomb (Statue of…, N.D.). This sculpture is made of painted

Importantly, this period represents the largest increase in mint activity, ending in the 290s. Rival rulers multiplied their men and resources in an attempt to divide Alexander’s territorial acquisitions. (Archibald __). Military costs, both land and sea, were by far the largest component of the Successors’ budgets. Thus, their need for silver currency ensured that taxes were collected in coin and that major centers would mint or re-mint what accrued (Davies 81). However, by the time Alexander’s successors began to mint coins in competition with one another, the changes to the Mediterranean economy spurred by Alexander’s conquest were already underway. While the successors played a decisive role in making Alexander’s coins the most favorable for market transactions across the Mediterranean (Le Rider 256), the timing of these issues falls after significant market transformations had started. Thus, though the successors collectively increased the money supply of the entire Greek world, the change occurred in a world much different from the one that defined Classical Greece’s

?Corinth being at the center of all this trading activity, it is no surprise that the city was consistently a great commercial and cultural center.? A description of Corinth by the ancient author Strabo states, ?Corinth is called wealthy because of its commerce, since it is situated on the Isthmus and is master of two harbors, of which the one leads straight to Asia, and the other to Italy; and it makes it easy the exchange of merchandise from both countries that are so far distant from each other? (Strabo).? In his book Roman Corinth, Donald Engels describes Corinth in similar terms, ?From a small beginning, Corinth grew to become the largest city in Greece by the Second century A.D.? It was both an intellectual and cultural center, as well as a vital link in the commercial network of the eastern Mediterranean? (Engels 8).? It was the Vanity Fair of Greece, having objects of exoticism and luxury finding open markets which were visited by every nation in the civilized world;

Athens, sometime around 50 A.D. You find yourself in one of the greatest cultural and philosophical centers of the world, making it comparable to a visit to Boston or Oxford (Mare 196). Though its glory has gradually faded since its founding, the city retains its beauty. Certainly the lush, green trees and the rocky outcrops in the city would be attractive to you. But what draws your focus the most is the brilliant architecture of the city’s buildings. Several temples dot the landscape, two of which demand your attention: the Hephaesteum, a building dedicated to the god Hephaestus (or Vulcan), and the Parthenon, a building dedicated to Athena (Arnold 384). The former enlightens the entrance of the city, while the latter stands atop the

The last Olympic swimmer just touched the wall and the race has ended. Cameras are replaying every single movement from the race and a winner has been clearly decided. Just as these Olympic swimmers will gain a medal for placing, ancient Athens had numerous accomplishments of its own. Athens “prosperity … was due in large part to its stable and effective government” (SOURCE 1). When analyzing the history of ancient Athens, is easy to see how the accomplishments of a democracy, Greek philosophy, and Greek literature all shape Athens.

“The city is called "Wealthy Corinth" on account of its trade. Situated on an isthmus it is master of two harbors, one leading to Asia and the other to Italy. In earlier times, the Temple of Aphrodite acquired such wealth that it owned over one thousand slaves, women dedicated to the goddess for sex and entertainment. And so the city was crowded and enriched because of these women, as ship masters easily spent everything they had” (Strabo 8.6.20-23). This quote is from a man named Strabo that was alive from 64 B.C. to 23 A.D (Dueck, pg 2). Paul’s journey to Corinth was around 50-55A.D (Goodwin, pg 7). which was not long after Strabo had died. This was the Corinth that Paul was witnessing to. It was a city filled with wealth, corruption, and

7). He wanted Egypt as part of his growing empire. Not long after in 323 BC, however, Alexander died and left this newly established city to his half brother and baby son. Alexander’s childhood friend, Ptolemy, soon came to rule over the city and Alexandria began rising. Ptolemy had plans for the city and began building innovative roads and two sea harbors. With these new developments, authors note, the “fundamental plan of the greatest city in the ancient world was complete.” Houses, slaves, cattle, and taxpayers were being taken from surrounding villages and given to the capital city of Alexandria. When Ptolemy’s son and successor (Ptolemy II) began his rule on the city, he, too, threw himself into developing Alexandria and created a currency that could be used to sell and trade. Structures were built, such as temples and the lighthouse, and Alexandria was becoming known as “the light of the world” (p. 92).

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.

Their height reached four metres or even more. They have the shape of Latin crosses, with their base as a truncated pyramid. Their function is still being pondered, although there are some suggestions for it. One of them explains that while some crosses might have indicated the entrance to some of the buildings, others could have been either marks for boundaries or for

It might be interesting to explain some technical terms before we dig deeper into history. It is essential to understand them in order to know