Greek Architecture

Kevin J. Benoy

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.

Wood Features in Stone

By the 6th Century BC, stone replaced wood in the construction of important temples. Designs still reflected their origins in wood, however.

Origins

The trigyph, which alternates with the metapes, began as wooden beam ends.

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
Early temples had massive pillars as architects worried about their ability to support the weight above. Later temples appear more elegant.

Temple of Hera, Paestum

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 A cult image was centrally located within a naos, or chapel.

Temples - Purpose

In the mild climate of Greece, ceremonies generally took place outdoors. Even the alter, upon which sacrifices were made, were outside the temple structure.

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 Classical Orders

The three classical orders are: Doric Ionic Corinthian

The Doric Order

Doric columns are the heaviest in appearance The capital is plain. The shaft is thick though it loses some of its mass over time. There is no base.

The Ionic Order

These have greater elegance. The capital has distinctive volutes. The shaft is thinner than its Doric equivalent. A base is apparent.

The Corinthian Order

This is also a tall, elegant form. The capital has distinctive acanthus leaf decoration. A base is also employed.

Parts of a Greek Temple

There are four distinct parts to a greek temple.
The bottom, horizontal part is the steps. Most Greek temples had three of them. This part is called the stylobate.

Parts of a Greek Temple

The next section is vertical and is the column.
Most columns had a base (though not the Doric), at the bottom, a shaft in the middle, and a capital at the top. The shaft may be smooth or fluted.

Parts of a Greek Temple

Above the column is the entablature. If the column is the leg, think of this as the tabletop.
It has 3 parts: the architrave, a kind of base. The frieze, a decorated part The cornice the top.

Parts of a Greek Temple

The top section is angled and is called the pediment.
The sloping top part is called the sloping cornice. The triangular part below is called the tympanum. This is often carved and decorated. Sometimes there are caved features sticking up from the room. These are called antifixae or acroterions.

Plans of Greek Temples

The grandeur and evident expense of a temple can be seen in the number of columns employed. Simple tempes have blank walls around a naos, or chapel. With an open area or porch in front, called a pronaos, with two or four supporting columns.

Designs of Greek Temples

Designs of Greek Temples

Grander temples, like the Parthenon, had both a front and back porch, as well as a colonnade surrounding the entire structure. This is called a peripteral temple.

Reconstruction of the Parthenon in Nashville.

Designs of Greek Temples

Designs of Greek Temples

Grander still, and generally from the Hellenistic age, are dipteral temples. They have a double colonnade surrounding Artists reconstruction of the Temple them. of Artemis, Ephesus, Turkey

Designs of Greek Temples

Important Structures The Acropolis

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
This is the monumental entry point to the acropolis.

Temple of Athena Nike

This is a small temple dedicated to the victorious Athena. The ratio of height to diameter of the columns is 7:1 and not the 9:1 or 10:1 generally found in Ionic temples.

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

The most distinctive element of this building is the Porch of the Maidens.

Important Structures The Great Altar of Pergamum

This Hellenistic building broke completely with traditional style. The frieze was brought down to the level of outside observers. The colonnade was raised above it.

The Greek Heritage

Greek architecture had a lasting impact on the world. The Romans adopted it as an ideal, but modified it to meet their practical needs.

The Greek Heritage

Today, elements of Greek architecture surround us everywhere, from the Doric columns gracing local homes to the great Ionic capitals of the Vancouver Art Gallery.

The Greek Heritage

Greek forms have become an integral part of the vocabulary of world architecture

The Supreme Court of the United States

Finis