History of architecture | WORLD architecture

• Marble – chief building materials, they also

had ample supplies of building stones
GREEK ARCHITECTURE
8th Century B.C. – 2nd Century B.C
CLIMACTIC INFLUENCE

• Climate was intermediate between cold &

hot, which favored an outdoor life
GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE dramatic presentation; most of public
ceremonies took place in an open air, even
in religious rites, due to limited public
buildings other than temples.
• On the mainland, rugged mountains made
communication difficult
• Mountains separated inhabitants into
groups, clans, and states
• Archipelago and islands: sea was the
inevitable means of trade and
communications
• Between rigorous cold and relaxing heat

RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
Fig 1. Greek Civilization

GEOGRAPHICAL INFLUENCE

• The rugged nature of the Greek Peninsula

and its widespread islands, made
communication difficult.
• It was bounded on two sides by Black Sea
and the Mediterranean Sea, Athens as its
center kingdom contains the upper city
known as Citadel.

GEOLOGICAL INFLUENCE Fig 3. Aegean People

• Aegeans
- worship nature
- Primitive stage of nature worship
- Priestesses conducted religious rites,
sacred games, ritual dances, worship on
sacrificial altars
• Greeks
- Represents their deities by large statues.
They worship natural phenomena
- Gods as personifications of natural
Fig 2. Marble
elements, or deified mortals

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- Gods could influence events in the Minoans and Mycenaeans, the Cycladic
human world people are counted among the three major
- Greeks sought advice from oracles – Aegean cultures. Cycladic art therefore
oracle at Delphi comprises one of the three main branches
of Aegean art.
Greek Gods and Goddesses • Chief diversions were music, dancing,
Greek Roman Role wrestling, boxing, gymnastic, and bull
goddess of love and fighting often with religious connection.
Aphrodite Venus
beauty • Women took part in hunting and more
Apollo Apollo
god of law and reason , art strenuous games, as well as in craftwork.
music& poetry • Tyrannical, aristocratic, & democratic were
Ares Mars god of war
the forms of government. Pericles one of
Artemis Diana goddess of chastity
goddess of learning & leaders in Athens.
Athena Minerva
wisdom
goddess of earth & HISTORICAL INFLUENCE
Demeter Ceres
agriculture
Dionysius Bacchus god of wine & feasting Periods Of Development:
god of fire, flame &
Hephaestus Vulcan
forgery • Early Period (3000 B.C – 700 B.C.)
wife of Zeus, goddess of - Aegeans
Hera Juno
marriage - Minoans
Heracles Hercules
son of Zeus, mythical half - Mycenaeans
god & man - Continuation of Cretan ideas and
Hermes Mercury messenger of the gods
craftsmanship on mainland Greece
Hestia Vesta goddess of hearth & home
Nike Victoria goddess of victory - Wealth due to their control of metal
Pan Pan god of flock trading between Europe and Middle
Poseidon Neptune god of the sea East
supreme god, ruler of
Zeus Jupiter
the sky, chief god • Hellenic Period
- essentially columnar & trabeated in
SOCIAL & POLITICAL INFLUENCE Acropolis, which was crowned by
Parthenon
- City-states developed on the plains
between mountains – Sparta and
Athens were most important
- The polis (city) emerged as the basis of
Greek society
- Each had its own ruler, government and
laws
- A federal unity existed between city-
states due to common language,
customs, religion
- Under Pericles (444 BC to 429 BC),
Fig 4. Cycladic Art
peak of Athenian prosperity
• Cycladic art encompasses the visual art of - Outburst of building activity and
the ancient Cycladic civilization, which construction, developments in art, law-
flourished in the islands of the Aegean Sea making, philosophy and science
from 3300 - 2000 BCE. Along with the - Philosophers- Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

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• Hellenistic Period
- Corresponds to the period between the
death of Alexander the Great in 323
BC and the annexation of the classical
Greek heartlands by Rome in 146 BC.
- This entry focuses on the history of
Greece proper during this period.
- During the Hellenistic period the
importance of Greece proper within the
Greek-speaking world declined sharply
Fig 6. Megaron in Tyrins

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER • Megaron Areas

- Enclosed porch
Aegean Architecture Or Early Period - Living apartment or megaron proper
- Thalamus or sleeping room
- Civilizations on Crete and Greek - Inclined blocks – stones with inclined
mainland from 1900 to 1100 BC blocks
- The first great commercial and naval - Four Methods of walling surface
power in the Mediterranean, founded finishes:
on trade with the whole eastern
seaboard: Asia Minor, Cyprus, Syria,
Palestine, Egypt and Libya, even South
Italy and Sicily on the west
- Trade and communications produced a
unity of culture and economic stability
- Knossos was the largest city, had a
magnificent palace

Fig 7. Cyclopean

- Cyclopean – a masonry made-up of

huge stone blocks laid mortar

Fig 5. Aegean Architecture, Palace of Knosssos

• Characteristic Features
- Low pitch or flat roof on multi-storey
structure.
- Stairway was developed for vertical
circulation
- Houses termed as Megaron & palaces
were principal building types
Fig 7. Polygonal

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- Polygonal – a masonry which is • Characteristic Features

constructed with stones having - They use rectangular plan
polygonal faces - Temples gateways propylaea
- Collonade surrounds the temple.
- Ceiling were omitted & treated with
timber panelled coffers lacunaria
- Walls were made up of stones.
- Marble sculptures completed the
buildings

Fig 7. Rectangular

- Rectangular – block of stone cut into

rectangular shapes.

Greek Architecture Or Hellenic Period

Fig 9. Greek Mural

- Mural paintings on the walls of temples

were highly developed.
- Optical Illusions were corrected from
horizontal lines not to appear dropping
or sagging from the center, a slight
covex outlines were formed for
stylobates, cornices & architraves from
the temple Parthenon, the same with
the vertical lines for columns

Fig 8. Propylaea

• Characteristics of Greek Architecture

- Simplicity & Harmony
- Purity of Lines
- Perfection of Proportions
- Refinement of Details
- This Hellenic Period chief building type
were temples which were built towards
the rising sun (east) Fig 10. Fresco Painting

- Fresco - is a technique of mural

painting executed upon freshly laid

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lime plaster. Water is used as the • Palace of King Minos, Knossos

vehicle for the pigment and, with the - The name Knossos survives from
setting of the plaster; the painting ancient Greek references to the major
becomes an integral part of the wall. city of Crete.
- The identification of Knossos with the
Bronze Age site is supported by
EXAMPLES OF STRUCTURES tradition and by the Roman coins that
were scattered over the fields
surrounding the pre-excavation site,
then a large mound named Kephala
Hill, elevation 85 m (279 ft) from
current sea level

Fig 11. Lion’s Gate

• Gate of Lions, Mycenae

- most ancient stone sculpture in Europe.
- It was erected during the 13th century
Fig 12. The Palace, Tyrins
BC in the northwest side of the
acropolis and is named after the relief • The Palace, Tyrins
sculpture of two lionesses in a heraldic - Situated near the site of Mycenae,
pose that stands above the entrance Tiryns is a cyclopean fortress on a low
- Corbeled Arch hill in the centre of the Argolid plain.
- Post and Lintel
TOMBS

PALACES

Fig 12. Tholos at Aetreus

• Tholos
- a stone vaulted construction, shaped
like an old fashion beehive.
Fig 12. Palace of Knossos - It consists of a long passage known as
Dromos leading to domed chamber

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Fig 13. Ancient Greek Burial Chamber Samos Fig 15. Agora

• Rock-cut or Chamber Tomb • Agora – Market. Civic Square, square city

- Rectangular chamber, cut w/ in the or market place, the Greek’s political
slope hill -side approach by Dromos business & economic life
• Stoa - is a term defining, in ancient Greek
TEMENOS architecture, covered walkways or porticos,
commonly for public usage.
• Temples – were the chief building. Usually
the plan is rectangular in shape.

PARTS OF A GREEK TEMPLE

• Naos – principal chamber containing the

statue of the god or goddess, with porticoes
& collonades.
• Pronaos – the inner portico in front of naos,
or cella of the naos
• Epinaos or Opisthodomus – posticum that
Fig 14. Temenos (Acropolis) serves as the treasury chamber.

• Temenos or sacred enclosure, also known Two Ways of Describing Temples:

as citadel or acropolis or upper city
• According to the number of columns on
• Important Structures Found in Acropolis the entrance front
- Principal Temple
- Pinacotheca (picture gallery)
- Glypthotheca (sculpture gallery)
- Statue of Athena
- The Erecthelon
- Old Temple of Athena
- The Parthenon
- Theater of Dionysos
- Stoa of Eumenes
- Odeion of Herodes Atticus Fig 16. Typical Greek Temple
- Temple of Nike Apteros

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• By the arrangement of the exterior

columns of the temple in relation to naos
as below:
Henostyle (1) one column
Distyle (2) two columns
Tristyle (3) three columns
Tetrastyle (4) four columns
Pentastyle (5) five columns
Hexastyle (6) six columns
Heptastyle (7) seven columns
Octastyle (8) eight columns
Enneastyle (9) nine columns
Decastyle (10) ten columns
Dodecastyle (12) twelve columns

ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE

• Shaft, Capital, and Horizontal entablature

(architrave, frieze, cornice)
• Originally, Doric and Ionic, named after
the two main branches of Greek race
• Then there evolved Corinthian, a purely
decorative order

Doric Order

• The oldest and simplest of the orders

• Characterized by a fluted column having • The column stands directly on a stylobate
no base, plain cushion-shaped capital usually three steps including the cap.
supporting a square abacus and an • Entasis, and outward curvature profile
entablature consisting of a plain architrave, • The entablature usually about one quarter
• A frieze of triglyphs and metopes and a of the height of the order, is supported by
corona of which has mutules on its soffit. columns
• Acroterion - is an architectural ornament
placed on a flat base called the acroter or
plinth, and mounted at the apex of the
pediment of a building

Fig 17. Doric Capital

Fig 18. Acroterion

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Ionic Order

• Characterized by the spiral or scroll

volutes of its capital
• The fluted column typically had molded
bases and supported an entablature
consisting od an architrave of three fascia,
a richly ornamented frieze and a cornice
corbeled out on egg and dart and dentil
moldings

Fig 19. Ionic Capital

• The columns have shafts usually about 9

times lower diameter in height including
the capital and the base
• Having 24 flutes separated by fillets and
not sharp edges

Corinthian Order

• The most ornate of the classical orders

• Characterized especially by a deep bell
shaped capital decorated by an acanthus
leaves and an abacus with concave sides
• Capital has a row of acantus leaves with
palm leaves
• Callimachus of Corinth - is credited with
inventing the Corinthian capital
Fig 20. Ionic Volute

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• The Hellenic Period contains all the

principal temples and monuments
• Many of the Greek cities were upon in the
immediate vicinity of a hill which was
known as Acropolis (in Greek literally
translates to “Upper City”)
• Formed a citadel upon which the principal
temples or treasure houses were erected for
safety
• The Temples found the most important
class of buildings erected during this period

Fig 21. Corinthian Capital

• The proportion is a defining characteristic

of the Corinthian order: the "coherent
integration of dimensions and ratios in
accordance with the principles of
symmetria”

Fig 22. The Acropolis during Hellenic Period

FORMS OF GREEK TEMPLES

• In Antis – temples that have one to four

columns between antae at the front.
• Amphi- Antis – temples that have one to
four columns between antae at the front
and rear. Two is the usual no.
• Prostyle – temples that have a portico of
columns at front.
• Amphi – Prostyle – temples that have a
portico of columns at the front & rear.
• Peripteral – temples that have single line of
columns surrounding the naos.
• Pseudo – Peripteral “ – temples that have
flanked of columns. Attached to the naos
wall.
• Dipteral– temples that have a double line
of columns surrounding the naos.

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• Pseudo – Dipteral– temples are like the last,

but the inner range of columnsis omitted 1.5D
on the flanks of the naos.

2D

2.25D

3D

4D

Fig 24. Intercolumniation

ARCH’L STRUCTURES: TEMPLES

The Parthenon, Athens

Fig 23. Forms of Greek Temple • Doric, Peripteral, Octastyle
• Dedicated to the goddess Athena,
INTERCOLUMNIATION considered largest Greek Temple.
• Architect: Ictinus & Callicrates
• Intercolumniation - is the spacing between • Master Sculptor: Phedias
columns in a colonnade, as measured at
the bottom (diameter) of their shafts
- Pycnostyle – 1.5D The Temple of Zeus Olympus, Agrigentum
- Systyle – 2D
• Doric, Pseudo – Peripteral, Heptastlye
- Eustyle – 2.25D
• Second largest Greek temple
- Diastyle- 3D
- Areostyle- 4D • Used Atlantes, carved male figure
• Architect: Theron

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Temple of Nike Apteros, Athens

Fig 24. Atlas
• Ionic, Amphi–Prostyle, Tetrastyle
- Atlas – male figure support carrying the • Dedicated to the “ wingless victory “.
world in kneeling position. • Architect: Callicrates

The Erechtheion, Athens

Fig 25. Telamones
• Ionic, Apteral, Irregular Plan,
- Telamones – male figure support in • No side colonnades
standing position • Forms the imposing entrance to the
Acropolis. Uses caryatid porch

Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Bassae

• Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Peripteral,

Hexastyle - Caryatids – female figure support w/out
• Architect: Ictinus a basket on her head.
-

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• One of the seven wonders of the ancient

world, Center of Pan – Ionic festival of the
Asiatic Colonies.
• Architect: Deinocrates, under the time of
Alexander the Great.
• Master Sculptor: Scopas

ARCH’L STRUCTURES: MONUMENTS

- Canephorae – female figure support

carrying a basket on her head

Fig 26. Egg and Dart Ornament

The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens
• Used Egg & Tongue or Egg & Dart • a type of monument erected to support a
ornament Tripoid, as a prize for athletic exercises or
musical competitions in Greek festival

Tower of the Winds, Athens

The Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
• Octagonal structure, known as the
• Hellenistic Temple, Ionic, Dipteral, Horologium of Andronikos Cyrhestes,
Octastyle Clepsydra or water clock internally,
sundial externally

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The Olympion, Athens ARCH’L STRUCTURES: GATEWAYS

• Corithian, Dipteral, Octastyle Propylaea – entrance gateways w/c marked

• Architect: Cossutius the approach to the sacred enclosure in many
• Builder: Antiochus Epiphanes cities in Greece

ARCH’L STRUCTURES: THEATERS

Theater – an open-air structure, which

consisted of orchestra, auditorium or out of the
slope of hillside, in or near city.

Propylaea of Athens

• Forms the imposing entrance to Acropolis.

• Architect: Mnesicles
• Other examples:
- Propylaea, Epidauros
- Propylaea, Priene
- Propylaea, Eleusis
-
The Theater of Dionysus, Athens
ARCH’L STRUCTURES: PUBLIC BUILDINGS
• Where famous Choragic competitions took
place during the Panathenaic festivals, Public Buildings – the restoration of Athens,
prototype of all Greek temples Olympia, Delphi, & Epidaurus gave an idea of
• Considered to be the prototype of all Greek the distribution of buildings on these famous
theaters and accommodating almost sites.
18,000 spectators.

Fig 27. Stoa

The Theater, Epidaurus

• Most beautiful and best preserved Greek Stoa – a long colonnaded building which
Temple serves to connect public monuments and for
shelter.

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Prytaneion – a senate house for the chief

dignitaries of the city

Agora or Town Square – an open air, meeting

place for the transaction of business & also
market place

Fig 29. Hippodrome

Hippodrome – plan similar to stadium but

longer, for horse & chariot racing

Fig 28. Bouleuterion

Bouleuterion – or council house, covered

meeting place of the democratically elected
councils.

Assembly Halls – used by citizens in general

Fig 30. Palaestra
assembly
Palaestra – (usually a court) wrestling school

Fig 29. Odeion

Odeion – a theater building used mainly by

musicians in the presentation of their works for Fig 31. Gymnasium
competition & for public approval.
Gymnasium –a place for physical exercise,
Stadium /Stadion – foot race course and also both Palaestra & Gymnasium were prototype
used for other athletic performances. of Roman “ Thermae ”

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Parts of Gymnasium: • Apotheca – Storeroom, wine storage.

• Cyclostyle–a circular projecting colonnade.
Courts for athletes
• Cyrtostyle – a circular projecting portico.
- Tanks for bathers
• Dentils – a small square block used in
- Dressing rooms & toilets
series in lonic, Corinthian, Composite and
- Exedrae & other seats for expectators
rarely in Doric Cornices.
- Stores, places for rest & conversation
• Dromos – the long deep passage way to an
- Ephebium or club – for lectures
ancient Egyptian tomb.
• Entasis – a slight convex curve used on
• Naval Buildings – includes ship-sheds and
Greek columns (Vertical & Horizontal) to
stores
correct the optical illusion of concavity w/c
result to dropping & sagging.
• Fluting – a shallow, concave grooves
running vertically on the shaft of a column,
pilaster or other surfaces.
• Glyptotheca - a sculpture gallery.
• Konistra – in ancient Greek theater, it was
the orchestra.
• Loggia – an arcaded or colonnaded porch
or gallery attached to a larger structure
• Modillion – a console on the other side of
Fig 32. The Mausoleum, Halicarnassus a doorway supporting a cornice.
• Plinth – the lowest square member of the
• Tombs – “mausoleum “ or monumental base treasury house
tombs, one of the most famous of all tombs
& one of the seven wonders of the ancient
world was erected to King Mausolos (The
Mausoleum, Halicarnassus, architect:
Pythius & Satyrus) by his widow,
Artemesia & from it derived the term
“mausoleum” applied to monumental
tombs.
• Domestic Buildings or Greek Houses –
usually one storey with rooms built around
an internal court w/ porticoes on three
sides & Chambers grouped around.
Fig 33. Quadrigas
OTHER GREEK TERMS
• Quadrigas – a chariot drawn by 4 horses.
• Abacus – the flat square on top of a capital;
uppermost member of a capital. • Thesaurus – in ancient Greece it is the
treasury house.
• Ancon or Console – a scrolled bracket w/c
supports a cornice or entablature over a • Trigas – a chariot drawn by 3 horses.
door or a window • Volute – a spiral scroll in an Ionic capital;
• Andron / Andronitis – the part of a smaller versions appear on Corinthian and
building used by men especially at the Composite capitals.  
banquet room
-End of Section-

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