Greek Architecture

B.Arch,
1st Semester.

Ancient Greece

A Step Back In Time

Architecture

Art, method and style of

building.

Introduction!!
Thearchitecture of Ancient
Greeceis the architecture produced by
theGreek speaking people (Hellenic
people) for a period from about 900 BC
until the 1st century AD.

 Ancient Greek architecture is best

known fromits temples. The second
important type of building that survives
all over the Hellenic world is theopenair theatre.
Other architectural forms that are still in
evidence are the processional gateway
(propylon), the public square (agora)
surrounded by storied colonnade (stoa),
the town council building, the public
monument, the monumental tomb
(mausoleum) and thestadium.

How They Build Their Houses..

The Greeks had to find a way to

support their bigger houses.

To

build a bigger house the

prehistoric way would have meant
the house would have fallen down.

The Greeks used columns to support

their houses.

Columns

A column was a huge stick that held

the roof up.

The

first columns were made of wood.

The Greeks ran out of wood.

They had a lot of rock, so they used
rock instead of wood.

Marble

Marble is a kind of
rock.

It comes in many
colors and is beautiful.

There was a lot of

marble in Greece.

Most of it was a
creamy white color.

Many Grecian buildings

are made of marble.

Temple

Atemple(from

theLatinwordtemplum) is a structure
reserved forreligious or spiritual activities, such
asprayerandsacrifice, or analogousrites.

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

In

the mild climate of Greece, ceremonies

generally took place outdoors.
Even the alter, upon which sacrifices were
made, were outside the temple structure.

The Classical Orders

The

three
classical
orders are:
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian

The Doric Order

TheDoric

orderwas one
of the three orders of
ancient Greek or
classical architecture.

Doric

columns are the

heaviest in appearance.

Their
The

capital is plain.

columns are thick.

Doric

This is a drawing of a
Doric column.

Notice the square

block is at the top.

Notice the rounded

piece under the block.

The column is thick.

The base is made of a

square block.

Doric Colonnade in Zeus Palace

 The capitals were very large.

Doric Columns in the Parthenon

The Ionic Order

TheIonic

order is
from one of thethree
ordersofclassical
architecture.

The

shaft is thinner.

The

Ionic capital
looks like a scroll and
has distinctive coils.

The

Ionic column is
skinnier.

The

base is apparent
and square.

Ionic Order

1- entablature

2- column

3- cornice

4- frieze

5- architrave or epistyle

6- capital (composed of abacus and volutes)

7- shaft

8- base

9- stylobate

10- krepis.

Ionic

This is a drawing of
an Ionic column.

Notice the capital is

shaped like a scroll.

Notice the column is

skinnier.

This base is square.

Many times the

bases were fancier.

Ionic Column in Athenas Temple

The Corinthian Order

TheCorinthian
orderis the last
developed of the
three principal
classical ordersof
ancientGreekan
d
Romanarchitectu
re.

Corinthian Columns

Corinthian columns
were the most
decorative.

The

capitals were
carved to look like
leaves.

The

columns were
the thinnest.

base is also
employed.

Corinthian Columns

This is a drawing
of a Corinthian
column.

Notice the capital

looks like leaves
and flowers.

The column is the

thinnest of all.

The base is the

Corinthian Columns in Zeus Temple

Corinthian Columns in the

Olympeian

Important Structures

1. The Acropolis

The

most famous Greek buildings is 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.

The Parthenon
This

is the most
important and
perfectly formed
temple on the
acropolis.

Dedicated

Athena.

to

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 and
Erechtheus.

The Erechtheum

The

most distinctive element of this

building is the Porch of the Maidens.

2. Agora
TheAgora

was a
central spot in
ancientGreekcitystates.

The literal meaning of

the word is "gathering
place" or "assembly".

The

agora was the

center of athletic,
artistic, spiritual and
political life of the city.

 TheAncient

Agora of Athenswas the

best-known example.

3. The Great Altar of Pergamum

This

building is
completed with
traditional style.

The

frieze was
brought down to
the level of outside
observers.

The

colonnade was
raised above it.

4. Stoa
Astoainancient

Greek
architecture, is a
covered walkway,
commonly for
public use.

5. Theatre of Ancient
Greece

TheTheatre

Of Ancient Greece, OrAncient Greek drama, is

atheatricalculturethat flourished inancient Greece700 BC.

Thecity-stateofAthens,

was its centre.

 Panoramic

view of the theatre

atEpidaurus.

 Theater

of Dionysius, Athens, Greece

 The

Ancient Theatre ofDelphi.

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
also have
become an
integral part
of the
vocabulary
of world
architecture.
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