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Origins
Our word architecture
comes from the Greek
architecton, which
means master
carpenter.
Early Greek architecture
therefore employed
wood, not stone.
These early structures,
as well as those of mudbrick, have not survived.
Origins
In moving from wood to stone,
builders had to adapt to the
differing properties of their
building materials.
Stone has greater compressive
(resistance to crushing) strength
than wood, but lacks tensile
strength (resistance to bending or
twisting). Therefore, while
columns/posts might be relatively
thin, the entablature/beams, must
be quite thick.
Origins
Greek temples, like
Egyptian temples,
used basic post-andbeam construction.
This is sometimes
referred to as
trabeated.
Origins
Hephaistion, Athens
Origins
Some experts feel that
the entasis, the outward
bulging in the middle of
Greek columns, may
originally have been an
imitation of the effect of
great compression in
wooden posts.
It also serves as a kind of
correction to an optical
illusion, however.
Entasis
Entasis counteracts the tendency of
the eye to reach upward, forcing it
to travel up and down the shaft.
Columns that are straight appear
thinner in the middle when seen
against light, making the supports
appear flimsy.
The middle bulge counteracts this.
The upper 2/3 of the shafts to the
right are tapered.
Temples - Purpose
Unlike modern churches or
mosques, Greek temples
were not meant to be
meeting places for
congregations.
They were homes for the
communitys god or
goddess and a place to keep
offerings
Temples - Purpose
Temple Forms
Greek temples, like
Egyptian ones, tended
to follow set patterns,
which were regarded
as ideal forms.
Variations are few in
any given period,
tending to reflect the
choice of a particular
classical order, rather
than new and novel
design.
The Propylaea
This is the
monumental
entry point to
the acropolis.
The Parthenon
This is the most
important and
perfectly formed
temple on the
acropolis.
Dedicated to Athena, it
housed an enormous
cult image.
Parthenon
This building is the
culmination of
Classical Greek
architecture.
Optical refinements
are many, and the
result is a building
reflecting the Greek
concept of arete,
perfection.
Click here to see a NOVA video clip on the Parthenons optical refinements.
The Parthenon
One of the Parthenons most
impressive features was not
seen by most worshippers
the great frieze showing the
Panathenaic Procession.
The colour of this
reconstruction is indicative
of what much of the
structure would have looked
like before being bleached
by centuries of
Mediterranean sun.
The Erechtheum
This is a complex
building of up to four
distinct spaces.
It is also built on a
slope, so its walls are
of differing heights.
It is dedicated to
Athena Polias and
Poseidon Erechtheus.
The Erechtheum
ThAnK yOu