Greek Architecture and Art

Beauty Architecture
• Athenians enjoyed beauty, both written • Athenians wanted their city to be
and visual most beautiful in Greece
• Loved and appreciate the natural beauty • Built magnificent temples,
of man (did not feel threatened by
theatres, public buildings
nudity)
• Expressed love of written beauty
through literature; visual beauty through
architecture, art
Enhancements Parthenon
• To enhance appearance of • Most magnificent on acropolis
buildings, added fine works of art,
• Massive temple to Athena
painted and sculpted
• Begun by Pericles, 447 BC
• Grandest buildings built on
acropolis, at city’s center • Took 14 years to build
Egyptians used post and lintel architecture in their
buildings
Egyptian Influence
• The Greeks adopted post and lintel from the
Egyptians modifying and developing their
own style of column or order decoration
• These columns were used to support the
roofs and tops of buildings. They were strong
and could hold the weight of the structures.
• There are three types of Greek columns--
which are still used today.
 Columns are the post part in construction; the
Greeks also modified the Lintel part
1. Doric
 The first of the Greek order (the oldest)
 Very plain capital, with no base, fluted
2. Ionic
 The second Greek order (the middle)
 Scroll capital, now has its own base, fluted
3. Corinthian
 The third type of the Greek order
 Flowery/detailed capital, larger base,
sometimes fluted length, though sometimes
not.
 Pediment (Lintel): triangular structure above columns,
normally decorated with a frieze.
 Frieze: artwork, sometimes statues, othertimes
paintings; usually of the Gods that adorn the
pediment. See below (that frieze is on the
Philadelphia Art Museum)
US Supreme Court: Notice the lintel
Buildings
 Many Greek buildings remain in partial standing

These buildings and styles

influenced Roman architecture
that followed.
 Acropolis
 Main temple
complex in
Athens—and
Greece
 Built by Pericles;
“Golden Age of
Athens”
Parthenon
 Athena’s Temple at the Acropolis
Temple of Athena
Greek Revival
 The antiquities of Greece inspired the Greek Revival style.
This style was in widespread use from the 1830s until after
the Civil War. A bold, orderly style, it became the most
predominant housing style in the United States. Many
prominent buildings were built in this style over the course of
the next 100 years including the Philadelphia Museum of Art,
US Supreme Court, 30th Street Station, and others.
 In the mid-19th century, many prosperous Americans believed
that ancient Greece represented the spirit of democracy.
Greek Revival
 Greek Revival architecture began with public
buildings in Philadelphia. Many European-trained
architects designed in the popular Grecian style, and
the fashion spread via carpenter's guides and pattern
books.
Girard College
2nd Bank of the United States
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Lincoln Memorial
US Capitol
US Supreme Court
Greek Sculpture:
Greeks did a lot of sculpture and
as part of it they were always
trying to depict the perfect form
and movement. The Greeks
believed in trying to depict
movement as it was graceful.
Notice that they do not have the
discus thrower clothed. Nudity is
common in many early/ancient art
pieces. Why do you think this is?
Winged Victory: Nike of Samothrace

This is a sculpture of one

of the Greek Gods, Nike,
the Goddess of Victory.
Notice how it appears as
though her clothing is
moving, as if she were
floating.
Not Greek, but Greek
inspired. This is one of the
first modern nudes. The
Christian church had banned
nude artwork for almost
1000 years before this was
created, sometimes having
clothing added to ancient
pieces of art to cover up
“private parts”. It is
Michaelangelo’s, David.