GREEK ARCHITECTURE

CONTENTS
FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT PRELUDE TO GREEK CIVILIZATION DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE IN ARCHAIC AND CLASSIC PERIODS GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.) GREEK ORDERS TYPICAL EXAMPLES AND THEIR CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION
The Aegean culture was started on Crete an island in the Mediterranean Sea in about 3000 B.C. by the migration of people from Asia Minor. After the fall of Aegean its culture was extended to Greece and its islands centuries later. It had a link by trade and commerce with Asia Minor, Cyprus, Palestine, Syria, Egypt and as far as Italy and Sicily. Geography had a great influence on the Greek Culture. The county is mountainous and separated by the hills and dales.

Moreover the area is surrounded on all three sides by sea with innumerable islands of archipelago.
The coast line is indented with many natural harbours. Sea was the main source of communication.

Naturally the Greeks became bold, adventurous sea-men.

They mainly depended for their expansion of kingdom on colonization.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

GEOLOGICAL CONDITION
Greece and her islands had plenty of building materials. Amongst them, the building stone of great importance was the unrivalled marble which was plenty near Athens. Naturally, the Greeks made use of this unrivalled marble to produce the finest sculpture in the world. On account of its beauty and fine texture it was possible for them to achieve refine treatment and delicacy of outlines in their carvings which are the main characteristic of Greek Architecture The Greeks attached so much liking to this marble that they even covered stone and sun-dried bricks with marble stucco a powdered marble dust to receive color decoration. This marble stucco had been used in many Greek-temples and palaces and have been highly polished that they reflect like a mirror, which is another important feature of Greek Architecture.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

CLIMATIC CONDITION
The climate is moderate neither too cold nor too hot. This favored the Greeks an outdoor life. They therefore constructed buildings suited to their out-door life such as administrative buildings, theatres, agora on open air market etc. The hot sun and sudden, unexpected showers of rains were the reasons for the construction of portico and colonnades which have become characteristic features of this style

SOCIAL CONDITION
Civilization spread mainly during Bronze Age in the island of Crete consisting of about 100 cities. Trade and commerce, science and astronomy greatly developed. Greeks were democratic and women played important role in social life. The idea was based on individual freedom. Hence the myriad Greek city states lived by engaging minor squabbles and remained far from being united under one power. However common customs, religions, ideas and great epics united them like the Indians whenever the need arose for such a unity.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 RELIGIOUS CONDITION

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The religion of Aegean was based on nature worship and had many divinities in the form of human, sacred bulls, but Rhea the goddess of fertility or mother goddess and supreme. Priestesses rather than priests, carried the religious rituals. The worship was carried out on sacrificial alter, in open air courtyard or in small shrines. Hence no temples were built. But after the fall of Aegean, the Greeks began to worship their deities in the temples. The Greek temples were surrounded by open colonnades in full view of common people. This is in strong contrast to the Egyptian temples which were royal monuments and hidden from public gazed and enclosed within high massive gridle walls. The Greek temples were usually oriented towards east so that the statues of the deities were lit by the glory of morning sun. The Greek gods were conceived with human forms and human emotions

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 HISTORICAL CONDITION

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

The Aegean civilization which had started in about 3000B.C. suffered due to northern invaders and further by incursions of northern Greeks and in about 1100 B.C., it was entirely destroyed by the Dorian Greeks. The Aegeans migrated and settled on the coasts of Asia Minor but latter built new cities there.

Mean while Dorians spread to Italy and Sicily in 7th century B.C. The territory they occupied was collectively known as Magna-Graecia.
Thus Hellenic Greece was born with a humble start and made very rapid development with new civilisation. And by 600 B.C. the Greeks Founded most of their colonies. Most of the temples and world famous buildings were built during this period on the high ground at Acropolis (upper city) in Athens. The nation had its wonderful growth and prosperity, under pericles (444 429 B.C.). Supremacy passed to Sparta n 404 B.C. After Spartas rule, next came Philip (359 335 B.C.), the able king of Macedonia, under whose rule, the Athenian prosperity was at its hightest peak. His son Alexander the Great (336-323 B.C.) rose to a high position. In334 B.C. Alexander set out on his world conquering expedition and within a span of 6 years he conquered Egyptian and Persian Empire.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 HISTORICAL CONDITION

FORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT

He founded in Egypt the famous city Alexandria which became the main centre of Greek Culture. After his death at early age of 32, his empire was divided amongst his Generals.

Greece finally fell to Romans in 146 B.C. and that of Asia Minor in 63 B.C.
The most famous Greek buildings topped the Athenian Acropolis. These include: the Propylaea, the Temple of Athena Nike, the Parthenon, and the Erectheum.

The Propylaea Monumental Entry point to Acropolis

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

PRELUDE OF GREEK CIVILIZATION

Greece is a much harder place to live than Egypt, because the soil is not as good and there is not always enough water to grow plants for food.
So people did not move there until a lot later. Our first evidence of real settlement in Greece comes from about 55,000 B.C. (57,000 years ago).

DARK AGES

By about 6000 BC people in Greece began to farm their food and settle down in villages.
Then there began to be more and more people living in Greece. Sometime around 2000 BC, Indo-European invaders came to Greece from West Asia, bringing with them the use of bronze, the potters wheel and Greek Language

These invaders mixed with the local people. They sailed around and picked up ideas from West Asia and Crete, and by about 1400 BC they were building Palaces and big tombs for their leaders.
After most of the Mycenaean Palaces were destroyed around 1200 B.C. nobody rebuilt them. The only palace we know of which was not destroyed was the one at Athens. But even Athens seems to have had a hard time for the next several hundred years. There were no more kings. Nobody repaired the roads, and the roads gradually became full of holes and you could only use them for walking or riding donkeys.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 DARK AGES

PRELUDE OF GREEK CIVILIZATION

Maybe a lot of people died, because there don't seem to have been very many people living in Greece at this time and the people who were still there were poor, It even seems that there were no more potters or shoemakers or other craftsmen, and people mostly had to make their own pots and other things. Because Greece was in such bad shape during the Dark Ages, and could not defend herself, it also seems that some of their neighbors to the north invaded Greece and began living in some of the Greek cities. The Greeks called these invaders the Dorians (DOOR-ee-anns), and called the old Mycenaean, Bronze Age Greeks the Ionians (i-OWN-ee-anns). By about 900 BC, the Dark ages were ending, and the Greeks began trading with West Asia and Egypt People began to form city-states and experiment with different kinds of governments for them: oligarchies and tyrannies. This is the Archaic Period; it ends about 500 BC when the Athenians try a new experiment in government: the world's first democracy.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
ARCHAIC PERIOD
There were no more Kings in Greece after the Dark Ages, and so there were no more palaces or fancy tombs
Instead, people began to build big temples for the gods. Greek temples are the most famous part of Greek architecture. They combine the Greek tradition of the megaron house with the Egyptian temples to make a new, simple, and elegant form. The first Greek temples, built around 800 B.C, were made of wood, which was easier to build in than stone. They were long rectangular buildings with a porch all the way around them supported by columns made of tree trunks, like this, and thatched or tiled roofs. In the early temples, the columns and the roof were made of wood. To keep the wood from rotting, the Greeks put a flat stone under each column, and to help the columns support the weight of the roof, they put a block of wood at the top of each column. But soon the Greeks began to build in limestone, which was more impressive and would last longer. The Greeks weren't just copying their old wooden temples for the fun of it though, or just because they couldn't think of any better ideas. There was a lot of thought behind each little decision. For one thing, these are religious buildings, so they have to please the gods. The Greeks didn't want to make too many changes in case the gods didn't like it.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

DEVELOPMENT OF ARCHITECTURE
There is no really sharp change in the style of architecture between the Archaic and the Classical periods. One blends gradually into the other. For no particular reason, we actually have more archaic temples that survive than we do classical temples. The most famous surviving classical temple is the Parthenon in Athens, which mixes the Doric and the new Ionic styles. The Parthenon, a temple to Athena Parthenos, or Athena the Pure, was built in Athens in the 440's B.C.

CLASSIC PERIOD

It was meant to be the best temple ever built, and so it was made entirely out of marble (even the roof-tiles) and with eight columns across the front instead of six, and with carved sculptures on the metopes.
To make the Parthenon look even more like it was reaching for the sky, the architects curved many of its lines upwards in the middle: Also in the Classical period, the Greeks began to build permanent stone theatres, like this Theater of Dionysos on the side of the Acropolis in Athens (right near the Parthenon).

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

The Greek Architecture is divided into two main periods. The Hellenic Period The Hellenistic Period

THE HELLENIC PERIOD (650-323 B.C.) CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

The term Hellenic is used to describe the early Greeks civilization. The combined influence of Egypt and Assyria is traceable in the early development of Greek style. Greek architecture is essentially a columnar and trabeated style and is considered to have evolved from wooden hut of upright posts and supporting beam and sloping rafters. The architectural style was simple in appearance and self-evident in design. The spans were limited because of trabeated style where the architraves were composed of single blocks of stones or marbles. They often used internal columns in temple hall. Arches, domes, vaults, were not used by Greeks Greeks used timber in the beginning but soon they started using the marble, the most beautiful building stone. The same timber forms were imitated with great artistic skill, in refined treatment and delicacy of outlines in their carvings.

Carpentry in Marble

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 THE HELLENIC PERIOD (650-323 B.C.) CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

In 600 B.C. the use of marble became limited and was used only for finer works and sculptures. The walls were constructed with all kinds of masonry from coursed rubble to fine ashlar. But no mortar were used. They minimized the joints by using large sized stones. For good work, the stones of marble blocks were jointed by metal cramps and dowels. Stone walls were beautified with marble stucco. The exteriors of the buildings were designed with colonnades i.e. a series of columns. The doorways were square and rectangular. Windows were rarely used. Sloping roofs were covered with terra cotta or marble tiles masked with antifixae ornament. The pediment had floral design Acroteria at top and sloping ends. The tympana in the pediment were fully enriched with fine sculptures in bright colours

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD (323 B.C. 30 B.C.) CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES
The term is used to describe the Greek Civilization when it was partially influenced by Middle Eastern Culture. The architecture had a religious character. But after the 4th century B.C. public buildings began to appear. Civic sense developed, town-planning came into being as early as in 4th century B.C. The usual trabeated style was in practice but arches started appear on wall openings.

And in about 3rd century B.C. roof trusses came into use to cover the larger spaces.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

REFINEMENT FROM ANCIENT TYPE
The columns were made more delicate. Correcting the optical illusion. Letters of inscriptions were made larger in upper lines than in the lower, so that they may appear to be of the same size when seen from ground level. The admirable refinement, delicate adjustment, testify the remarkable sense of form and proportion exhibited in all the Greek buildings. The three kinds of architectural vocabularies called Orders of Architecture, namely Doric, Ionic and Corinthian were standardized and were employed in temples and palaces to attain the greatest effect with regard to beauty. The Greek orders were necessary features of construction and essence of Greek Architecture. Greeks were artists by nature and made use of natural forms in ornamental work.

The Greece has no doubt been the source of artistic inspiration and her architecture has influenced all other styles.
It is truly said that whatever the Europe holds of architectural beauty, half belongs to Greece/

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 OPTICAL REFINEMENT

GREEK ORDERS

To loosen up the mathematical strictness and to counteract distortions of human visual perception, a slight curvature of the whole building, hardly visible with the naked eye, was introduced. The ancient architects had realised that long horizontal lines tend to make the optical impression of sagging towards their centre. To prevent this effect, the horizontal lines of stylobate and/or entablature were raised by a few centimetres towards the middle of a building. This avoidance of mathematically straight lines also included the columns, which did not taper in a linear fashion, but were refined by a pronounced "swelling" (entasis) of the shaft. Additionally, columns were placed with a slight inclination towards the centre of the building. Curvature and entasis occur from the mid 6th century BC onwards.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 TERMINOLOGIES

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

PEDIMENT : The pediment is the triangular place under the roof of a Greek temple. Each temple has two one on the front and one at the rear. At first pediments were probably plain but soon the Greeks began to decorate pediments with stone sculpture. TRIGLYPH & METOPES: Most Greek temples have a pattern under the pediment known as Triglyph and Metopes. The Triglyphs alternate with the Metopes across the front of the temple. Inbetween the Triglyphs are the Metopes. TYMPANUM: Triangular surface between the cornice and the pediments two sloping cornices. ACROTERION: Ornamental feature that rests on a base at the apex and corners of the pediment ENTABLATURE: The Entablature is that part of a structure which is immediately above the column. In classical architecture, the top of an Order, horizontally divided into cornice, frieze, and architrave, supported by a colonnade. Essentially the beam which spans between columns. CORNICE: In Classic Architecture the top, projecting, horizontal division of the entablature. Also used to describe any projecting moulding at a wallhead, to denote an attic storey, and above windows, doors etc.

FRIEZE: A large piece of stone that has a picture carved on it. In classical architecture, the frieze is located on the entablature, which is between the architrave and cornice.
ARCHITRAVE: An Architrave is a horizontal beam that lies across the top of two vertical columns. The architrave is a lintel that forms the lower part of the entablature

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 TERMINOLOGIES

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

CAPITAL: The upper portion of a column or pilaster upon which the entablature rests. In classical architecture capitals are one of the most distinctive elements defining the different orders. ABACUS: The abacus is a square slab that sits on top of the column's capital and supports the architrave or arch. The function of an abacus is to broaden the support provided by the column.

ECHINUS: Decorative moulding. Used on columns in classical architecture, the echinus sits below the abacus and above the necking
ANNULETS: A moulding in the form of a ring, as at the top of a column adjoining the capital NECKING: A molding between the upper part of a column and the projecting part of the capital.

ENTASIS: Entasis is the application of a convex curve to a surface for aesthetic purposes.
ARRISES: The sharp edge or salient angle formed by the meeting of two surfaces especially in moldings FLUTES: CREPIDOMA: Base upon which the building rests; it is composed of several levels STEREOBATE: The foundation of a stone building, its top course sometimes being a stylobate STYLOBATE: Upper section of the crepidoma; it supports the columns

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

 TERMINOLOGIES

GREEK ARCHITECTURE (650 B.C. 30 B.C.)

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
MEANING OF ORDER
An Order in Classic Architecture consists of upright column or support and the horizontal entablature or part supported. Entablature consists of architrave, the lower part, Frieze the middle part and Cornice the upper most part The column consists of Base, the bottom part, Shaft, the middle part and Capital the top part The Greek classic order is distinguished from other in the sense that the different forms are brought to a definite set of rules. The orders we study are based on the measurement of the existed classic Orders.

GREEK CLASSICAL ORDERS

DORIC IONIC CORINTHIAN

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK DORIC ORDER
The word Doric comes from Dorians, the people of ancient Greece. It was constructed in B.C. 438 on the high ground of acropolis by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates. In their original Greek version, Doric columns stood directly on the flat pavement (the stylobate) of a temple without a base; Their vertical shafts were fluted with 20 parallel concave grooves; They were topped by a smooth capital that flared from the column to meet a square abacus at the intersection with the horizontal beam (entablature) that they carried. Doric columns are the heaviest in appearance The capital is plain. The shaft is thick though it loses some of its mass over time.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK DORIC ORDER
COLUMN: The column height is six to seven times its lower diameter D. The column stands directly on platform of three steps called crepidoma. The bottom and middle part is plinth called stereobate. The top one, the stylobate, each part being 1/4D in height. The shaft has a slightly convex profile called Entasis to counteract the hollow appearance which results from straight sided column. The shaft is circular and gradually tapers to 3/4 to 2/3 at top. The shaft in length is divided into 20 flutes I.e. elliptical channels or grooves, separated by sharp projections or arrises. The intercolumniation or centre to centre distance between two adjacent columns measured at the lower diameter of their shafts is 2D.

The shaft ends in one to three splayed grooves known as hypotrachelion which produces a pleasing band of shading, and strip above it is known as Trachelion or Necking.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK DORIC ORDER
COLUMN: The distinctive capital which is semi diameter high consists of Abacus and Echinus. The abacus which is a square block, often unmoulded, forms the upper member of the capital. The Echinus has a varying outline such as parabolic curve or ovolo of subtle profile. Below that, there are horizontal fillets three to five in numbers called the Annulets which break the vertical lines of the arrises and flutes of shaft. ENTABLATURE:

The entablature which is two diameter high, consists of three parts, namely Architrave, Frieze and Cornice.
(a) Architrave : It is lintel proper which is plain and 3/4D in height. It has flat moulding at top called the Taenia and below it is a regula a short band with 6 Guttae i.e. small cone-like blocks occuring under each triglyph. The architrave projects slightly beyond the face of the column.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK DORIC ORDER
ENTABLATURE: (b) Frieze : The Frieze which is 3/4D high contains Triglyph and Metope. The triglyph is formed by two upright v-shapes channels with similar half channels on both ends which are rounded at top. The width of the triglyph is usually one module. The triglyphs are placed immediately over the columns and at centres of the bays.

But at the corners of the buildings the two triglyphs meet with a bevelled edge and their centres do not coincide with that of the corner columns.
The triglyphs are so arranged that the spaces between them are nearly squares. These squares are called Metopes which unlike the triglyphs are set back from the face of architrave as they generally contain sculptures of hunting, fighting etc.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK DORIC ORDER
ENTABLATURE: (c) Cornice : It is the crowning part. It is semi diameter high The cornice projects beyond the frieze by one module.

The soffit or the underside of the cornice is made inclined in the direction of the sloping roof and has flat Blocks called Mutules which form the eaves.
The mutules are provided over each triglyph and metope usually decorated with eighteen guttae, in three rows each containing six. on the top of cornice decorated blocks called Antefixae are placed at regular distance to hide the joints of the roof tiles. However at the vertex and lower ends of pediment acroteria or ornamental blocks are placed.

The GREEK DORIC is the oldest of the Orders and is most sturdy, robust yet it has grace and fine proportion. This was Greeks national Order.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK IONIC ORDER
This order is named after the Ionians of ancient Greece. The order is taken from the temple of Erechtheion built in 409 B.C. It is situated to the north of the parthenon and constructed by the architect Mnesicles at the time of Pericles.

COLUMN:
The Ionic columns has a base. The column stands on platform of three steps called crepidoma. The column height including base, shaft, and capital is usually nine times the lower diameter. The moulded base which is semi-diameter in height consists of upper and lower torus seperated by scotia and fillets. Upper Torus The torus is the moulded disc with ornaments. The scotia is a concave moulding lying between upper and lower torus and is generally not enriched. It throws deep shadows. The lower torus is 1.5 times the diameter of the column shaft. The moulded base was finally brought to this perfect form in attica and hence it came to be known as attic base.

Scotia

Fillets

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK IONIC ORDER
COLUMN: The circular shaft has 24 flutes separated by fillets and not by arrises as in Doric Order. The shaft diminishes to 5/6 the diameter at its top. The inter columniation is 4D. The Ionic order is specially remarkable for its Volute or scroll capital of decorative motif derived from lotus or nautilus shell. The capital which is 3/4 to 2/3 diameter high has a pair of volutes both on the front and back of the column and connected at sides by the concave cushion either or ornamented with flutes, fillets and beads. The volutes are placed parallel to the entablature. The outline of the volutes are obtained either by geometrical construction or by smooth free-hand.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK IONIC ORDER
COLUMN: In between the volutes is the necking enriched with egg and tongue and honey suckle ornaments separating the capital from the fluted shaft. Above the spiral scrolls there is abacus which is shallow but not deep as in case of Doric Order. It is either plain or enriched with egg and tongue ornaments. ENTABLATURE: The Ionic entablature varies in height but is usually two diameter high, consists of three parts, namely Architrave, Frieze and Cornice. (a) Architrave : It is 3/4 diameter high. It consists of triple fasciae i.e. three beams projecting one above the other. The top cyma reversa contains leaf and dart ornament.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK IONIC ORDER
ENTABLATURE: The Ionic entablature varies in height but is usually two diameter high, consists of three parts, namely Architrave, Frieze and Cornice. (b) Frieze : It is either plain or ornamented by a continuous band of sculptures It is 3/4 diameter high. (c) Cornice : It has similar treatment like Doric Order. It is semi diameter high. There is usually no antifixae on the flanks It is elaborately enriched by lotus and papyrus Ornament. It is also carried along the side cornices and rain water spouts in the shape of lions heads are provided at regular intervals to drain out the rain water from the roof. The GREEK IONIC ORDER is more ornate than the Doric. It has grace, elegance and refinement of outlines. Plain Frieze Ornamented Frieze

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK CORINTHIAN ORDER
The Order is taken from the Choragic Monuments of Lysicrates. It is constructed in 335 B.C. at Athens to celebrate the victory in a Choragic contest. The column stands on a square base and is cylindrical which supported elaborately sculptured entablature. COLUMN:

The Corinthian columns has a base.

The column stands on platform of three steps called crepidoma. The column height including base, shaft, and capital is about ten times its lower diameter The moulded base which is semi-diameter high like Ionian Order with its upper and lower torus separated by Scotia and fillets. The lower torus is 11/3 times the diameter of the shaft. The shaft is circular and tapered to 5/6 the diameter at top. It has 24 flutes separated by fillets which are nearly one fourth of the width of the flutes.

The Intercolumniation is 3D

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK CORINTHIAN ORDER
COLUMN: The corinthian order has distinctive capital which is much deeper than Ionic being about 11/3 D high. Its origin is uncertain but it might have been evolved from the Egyptian bell shaped capital. Usual type of capital has a deep inverted bell shape, the lower part of which contains two rows of eight acanthus leaves resting on lotus or water leaves and in the upper part rise eight caulicoli in between the leaves of the upper row. Each face of the abacus containing a rosette in the centre is cut at an angle and it fully covers the bell of the capital. ENTABLATURE: The corinthian entablature which is usually 21/4 D high bears a close resemblance to the Ionic Order. It contains the following (a) Architrave: It is 3/4 diameter high and is divided in three fasciae i.e. three slabs raised one above the other with slight projections.

(b) Frieze: It is also 3/4 diameter high and ornamented by a continous band o sculptures. (c) Cornice: It is lighter than other types. It is also 3/4 diameter hign and contains dentils below the corona. At top Antefixal ornament is provided

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

GREEK ORDERS
THE GREEK CORINTHIAN ORDER
The GREEK CORINTHIAN ORDER was chiefly used as a decorative feature and was little used by the Greeks. This Order is more lighter and delicate than either the DORIC and the IONIC.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
THE TYPOLOGY OF BUILDINGS
TEMPLES THE TOWER OF WINDS PROPYLAEA THEATRES STADIUMS HIPPODROME

PALAESTRA
STOA AGORA PRYTANEION ASSEMBLY HALLS BOULETERION ODEION

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
TEMPLES
The basic principles for the development of Greek temple architecture have their roots between the 10th century B.C. and the 7th century B.C. In its simplest form as a Naos, the temple was a simple rectangular shrine with protruding side walls antae forming a small porch. Until the 8th century BC, there were more or less semi-circular back walls, but the rectangular type prevailed. By adding columns to this small basic structure, the Greeks triggered the development and variety of their temple architecture.

Greek temples, like Egyptian ones, tended to follow set patterns, which were regarded as ideal forms

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
TEMPLES
technical term distyle tetrastyle hexastyle octastyle decastyle number of columns at front 2 columns 4 columns, term used by Vitruvius 6 columns, term used by Vitruvius 8 columns 10 columns

"with two columns in between the antae at the end of

the cella walls" is the simplest form of Greek temple in which the naos (cella) is preceded by a pronaos (antechamber) with two columns flanked by forward projections (antea) of its side walls.

where the facade forms a colonnade made up of four or six columns. The temple is tetrastyle if it comprises four columns or hexastyle if it comprises six columns

Peripteral temple became the classical form most commonly used in large-scale temple architecture in which the cella was surrounded on all four sides by a colonnade or peristyle

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
The temples were main types of buildings in the Hellenic period. The Greek temples are oriented to face east so that the statue of the deity would be lit by the glory of the rising sun. The temples stood on the crepidoma of three steps. The Naos which was core of the temple contained the statue of the god or goddess with treasury chambers in front and rear known as Pronaos and Epinaos which were provided with metal grills for safety. The temple is usually surrounded by open colonnades which is character of the Greek architecture. The entrance doors on the east front were tall about 2/3rd the height of the naos so as to allow plenty of light for general purpose. The front consists of closely spaced columns supporting a triangular shaped pediment. The tympanum in the pediment is usually filled with sculptures.

TEMPLES

The timber roofs were most common, covered with terra-cotta or marble tiles overlapping one above the other.
To cover the ends of the marble tiles, the lower edges of the roof were masked with Antefixae ornament.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
TEMPLE OF PARTHENON AT ATHENS (447B.C. 432 B.C.)
The temple is built entirely in marble on the high ground of Acropolis, south of temple of Atena.

It is constructed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates.

The temple is built on a rectangular plan 71m long and 32m wide. It stands on crepidoma, a platform of three steps with tread 70cm and rise 50cm. Smaller steps are also provided at the centre of east and west ends. The temple is designed in octa-style i.e. eight columns in front and back, which lean inward. There are seventeen columns on either side. The intermediate columns are about 1.88m whereas the corner columns are 1.90m in dia at base.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
TEMPLE OF PARTHENON AT ATHENS (447B.C. 432 B.C.)
The corner columns are not only made stouter, but also set closer to the adjacent columns. All columns are 10.4m high and or Doric Order. The fluting of the columns represent the highest degree of artistry. The temple is constructed facing east and naos measures 30m long and 19m wide with three rows of columns, ten on each side and five on rear side in two piers. The statue of Athena in gold and ivory and measured 13m with its pedestal. To its west is the parthenon-the virgins chamber from which the temple derived its name. The entablature supported on columns is about 3.4m high and curve up in the middle. The architrave was ornamented with bronze shields. The sculptured metopes are about 1.34m square numbering 14 on front and back and 32 on either sides. The metopes contained contests between gods and giants, scenes from capture of Troy etc. The pediment inclined at 13*-30 had floral decoration about 3m high at its top and lower angles. The tympana in the pediment are fully enriched with fine sculptures in bright colours.

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

TYPICAL EXAMPLES
TEMPLE OF PARTHENON AT ATHENS (447B.C. 432 B.C.)
All these have undergone ravages of time and now remained in the ruin state. After the fall of Greeks, it was under the Romans but still it received the same status and it did during the Greeks control. The temple at its glory stood as a miracle of architecture with its shining marble, sensous sculptures in glowing colours. It has influenced number of writers, artists and architects. Poet Emerson paid the highest compliment in the following lines: Earth Proudly wears the Parthenon As the best gem upon her Zone

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
THE TOWER OF WINDS (48 B.C.)
This tower was built to know the weather and also the time. This is Hellenistic building, octagonal in plan designed in marble by the architect Andronicus of Athens. It measures about 7m wide internally and 12.5m high with entrance on north east and noth west sides. The entrance is formed by distyle (two columned) portico with fluted columns about 4 m high. The walls are plain for a height of 9m and above there are sculptures on each side representing the eight principal winds. From each corner, lines forming sun-dial are inscribed. At the top of the roof a Triton or a bronze merman is pivoted to show the direction of the blowing wind with his rod.

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
THE PROPYLAEA
These are the entrance gates and formed the approach to the sacred enclosures in many cities, such as Propylaea, at Athens (437 432 B.C.) built under Pericles by the architect Mnesicles. It formed the imposing entrance gate to the acropolis or upper city. It is so designed to afford the most complete and stimulating view of the location, such that each building was seen as a three dimensional object, almost as a sculpture.

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
THEATRES
These are open air structures containing orchestra, auditorium and the scene-building. The first theatres consisted of a large circle known as orchestra (the dancing circle) . All elements of the theatre were made of wood, and dismantled at the end of the festival. For the spectators, the viewing area, or theatron (theatre is derived from theatron) was carved in tiers out of the slope of a hill, thus forming a natural semicycle extending round more than half the orchestra and providing remarkable acoustics. The first row of seats was reserved for the priests, judges and dignitaries. A walkway called diazoma ran round between the upper and lower tiers of seats. Radial stairways divided the theatron into kerkides. Orchestra: The orchestra (literally, "dancing space") was normally circular. Theatron: The theatron (literally, "viewing-place") is where the spectators sat. Skene: The skene (literally, "tent") was the building directly behind the stage. Parodos: The parodoi (literally, "passageways") are the paths by which the chorus and some actors made their entrances and exits.

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
THEATRE OF DIONYSOS, ATHENS (500 B.C.)
Greek theatre has its origins in the festivals given in honor of Dionysos, the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure and festivity. The first festivals were held (in Athens) in the 6C BC in the form of ritual ceremonies and dithyrambs (hymns sang by a chorus) which later developed into tragedy. These festivals gave rive to competitions rewarded by prizes It was hollowed out of Acropolis rock. It contained orchestra, auditorium and skene building. View of theatre Epidauros

The orchestra was complete circle.

The auditorium was designed on a sloping ground. Two horizontal pathways or diazomata. In the front row, there were 67 marble thrones of classic design for the kings, priests and city dignitaries. It accommodated about 18000 spectators.

Plan of theatre Epidauros

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 STADIUMS

The origins of the stadium are related to the Olympic Games, a religious festival held in Olympia every four years in honor of Zeus. History suggests that they existed as early as the 12th century B.C. but the first official Olympics dates back to 776 BC. Originally, it was confined to foot-race but later other sports were added such as the pentathlon (five different activities), discus and javelin throwing , boxing, wrestling, chariot racing. Music and literary competitions would also take place during the games. All the Greeks games were celebrated at stadiums. The stadiums had a length of 183m with hemi-spherical ends, and rows of seats were raised on either side for spectators. Among Greeks, the stadion was a unit of measurement of 600 podes (600 times the foot) and the name and length of a foot-race competition. The length of a Greek stadia (stadium) was equivalent to approximately 185 m. The Greek stadium was composed of Long and narrow track with banked seats on each side and one semicircular end.

TYPICAL EXAMPLES

The oldest one is at Olympia. The stadium at Athens was built in 331 B.C. and reconstructed in 160 A.D. However it was restored from 1896 for the Olympic Games in 1906.
It accommodated about 50,000 spectators. The other stadiums at Epidauros, Delphi and Ephesus were well known.

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
HIPPODROME
In Greek hippos means horse and dromos means race. A hippodrome was specially designed to hold horse and chariot-racing. It had a wider track than the stadium, allowing several chariots to race around the central axis called spina. During antiquity, the hippodrome was the main place for exhibiting wealth and political strength.

PALAESTRA
This was used as wrestling school or sport centre. The palaestra was often attached to the Gymnasium, where the atheletes conducted events such as running, jumping wrestling etc. It contained also large open air swimming pool, dressing room, toilet room resting hall, club room.

STOA
It was a long colonnaded building as shelter at religious shrines. It provided space for shops and shelter against the sun or rain. The stoa sometimes had a second storey.

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
AGORA
The agora was a large open square area, surrounded by a colonnade, at the heart of the city. In early Greek times it was used as place of public assembly. Later it functioned as a marketplace and for commercial intercourse. It was also used for festivals, exhibitions and as an open air meeting place. Its boundaries were defined by the public buildings that surrounded It such as civic halls, council halls and stoas. Stoa Bouleuterion

Temple

Agora

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TYPICAL EXAMPLES
PRYTANEION
It was a senate house for chief dignitaries of the city. It was also used as a place to entertain distinguished guests. It contained the feast or dinner room and also a hearth where the sacred fire associated with Hestia, goddess of hearth was burnt continously. Such Prytaneions were built at Olympia, Athens.

ASSEMBLY HALLS
These were used by all the citizens in general and were known by different names Thersilion at Megalopolis Telesterion at Eleusis

BOULEUTERION
This was a council hall and used as a meeting place by the elected councillors.

ODEION
This was similar to theatre where the musicians carried their performance to get appreciation and prizes from the public.

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SUMMARY
The earliest buildings that were built in Greece, in the New stone age, are small houses or huts, and wooden walls around them for protection. Later there are bigger houses, and stone walls around the villages. By the Early bronze age, we find one bigger house in the middle of the village, and fancier, bigger stone walls. In the Late Bronze age, under the influence of Western Asia, and the Minoans on Crete, there are Palaces and big stone tombs, as well as paved roads and bridges, and dams (and more stone walls). During the Greek Dark Ages the palaces were burned, and the roads and bridges and dams mostly fell apart. But at the end of the Dark Ages, with the beginning of the Archaic Period in Greece, we see a new type of building: the Temple for the gods. These earliest temples are built in the Doric Style. There are houses, but no more palaces. Roads and bridges and stone walls begin to be built again.

In the Classical Period, there are more temples, bigger and with new design ideas: the Athenians built the Parthenon.
People begin to build in the Ionic style.

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SUMMARY
Democracy prevents the Greeks from building palaces or big tombs, because politically all men are supposed to be equal, and so it would look bad to have a big palace even if you could afford it. Instead, the Greeks build public buildings: Gymnasia, and stoas, where men can meet and talk. By the 300's B.C. in the Hellenistic period, there are some new architectural types. Less time is spent on temples. The new form is the theatre, and people build many theatres all over the Greek world. Also, there is new interest in town planning at this time: people begin to lay out streets in straight lines, instead of just developing naturally. With the conquests of Alexander the Great, architecture becomes an important way to spread Greek culture and show who is in charge in the conquered countries.

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