ANCIENT NEAR EAST • Different cultures established city states &

empires at different period

ARCHITECTURE
The cultures include Sumerian, Akkadian,
Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian

*not been possible to trace a neat order of

the history of the cultures

Sequence of Civilization

4500 to 2000 BC Sumerian culture,

peaking in 3300 BC

2350 to 2200 BC -Akkadian

2000 to 1600 BC -Babylonian

1.1 LOCATION
1600 to 1717 BC -Kessites
• Located in and around the valley of
Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern 1350 to 612 BC -Hittites
Iraq
612 to 539 BC -Assyrian
• Area is also known as Mesopotamia
or land between two rivers 539 to 330 BC -Neo Babylonian Persian
• The land had poorly defined edges
• The land stretches from
Mediterranean to eastern borders of 1.2 SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS & BELIEFS
present Iran
1. Mesopotamia is the cradle of civilization
What do we mean by civilization?
Black Sea
-To the south and west, it fades into the - Civilization is usually associated with the -
Arabian desert cultural practices of cities and urban living,
-To the north and west, it fades into the plains the presence of writing and written law
of Syria
-The Tigris and Euphrates rivers sit in the land 2. In Mesopotamia, earliest cities were
as dominant physical feature established & urban culture took hold
-The Rivers were un predictable, being subject 3. Between 4000 and 3000 BC, large number
to alternating flood and drought of people began living in a small area creating
first cities
1.1 PERIOD 4. Many people began to have jobs that is
• The area witnessed the earliest rise of unrelated to agriculture
human civilization around 4500 BC 5.Once established, cities grew and increased
Transformation from prehistory, to villages power and importance
and cities occurred there 6. As cities grew in power and importance,
Civilization there lasted for 5000 yrs. rivalries developed between them for military
and economic control
Cultural development was not homogenous
during the period 7. The ANE was land without natural defences
8. Warfare was common throughout its 27. Aspects of life such as war, weather,
history disease, were explained by the actions of gods

9. The Tigris and Euphrates also suffered from 28. The Sumerian had a religion based on the
alternate drought and floods elements- sky, earth, water, sun, moon, etc

10. Combination of warfare and frequent 29. This reflected the agrarian nature of their
drought and flood made a continuous society KE
homogenous civilization impossible
30. As ANE people came together to live in
11. The result is that several cultures cities, they needed a means of
flourished and died out during the ANE period communication and record keeping ET TE ET
<π = KH
12. Cities in the ANE initially developed with
authority residing assembly of male citizens 31. Around 3500, the Sumerians invented a
system of writing based on pictograph
13. Short term leaders were selected during
wars 32. This was later developed into a simpler
writing called the cuneiform
14. When war leaders were retained during
peace time, kingship evolved 15. It was 33. Development of written language-
initially elective and later hereditary KETTENET enabled them to produce historical
records
16. As some cities became more powerful,
they defeated weaker ones to create empires 34. Written records also led to the
and kingdoms development of written law as in the code of
King Hammurabi
17. This led to collective rule of city states by
a sovereign king 35. Cities in ancient Mesopotamia were
enclosed by wall fortifications.
18. With kingship also came monumental
palaces as place of residence and 36.The fabric of the cities are a blend of
administration for the king residential, commercial buildings. industrial

19. Almost all ANE culture worshiped many 37. Houses were one story high and mostly of
gods and goddesses mud brick.

20. ANE people did not believe in immortality 38. Rooms were arranged around courtyards
or eternal life
39. Houses looked inward.
21. They believed only gods immortal
40. Rooms were narrow with thick walls and
22. Rather, they believed in divine rewards for flat, vault or dome roofs
moral conduct
41. Timber & stone were scarce; Clay was
23. The reward was enjoyed in this life abundant & mud brick was most common
building material.
24. The rewards include increased worldly
goods, numerous offspring and long life 42. Buildings were usually raised on platforms
to protect them from the floods 43. Clay was
25. The most popular and earliest religious
also used for pottery
cults related to fertility
44. Mesopotamians invented astrology,
26. Fertility goddesses influenced the growth
wheeled vehicle & made advances in science
of crops
& math
 17.Cities were enclosed in walls with Ziggurat
temples and palace as centres of the city
2.0 ARCHITECTURE OF THE
18.Fabric of the city is made up of residences
CIVILIZATION: SUMERIAN
mixed with commercial and industrial
2.1 SUMERIAN ARCHITECTURE buildings

1. The transition from prehistory was made

around 4500 BC with the rise of the Sumerian
Oval Temple Khafaje
civilization
5. The inner court had an offering table and
2. Sumerians established an irrigation system
showed evidence of animal sacrifices
that made the capable of food production to
support urban living 6. The inner court also had basins for ablution
as well as workshops and storage rooms.
3. They were also skilled in metal craft

4. The Sumerians invented the cuneiform

system of writing 3.0 ARCHITECTURE OF THE
5. The major cities of the Sumerian civilization CIVILIZATION: ASSYRIAN
were Kish, Uruk and Ur
3.1 ASSYRIAN ARCH. Introduction
6. The Sumerian were the first civilization to
1. Assyria is the name for a part of ancient
make a conscious attempt of designing public
Mesopotamia located on the upper Tigris
buildings
2. The principal cities of Assyria were Nineveh,
7. Mud was their main building material
Dun, Khorsabad, Nimrud and Assur
8. Mud was formed into brick, sun dried and
3. The Assyrians were great warriors and
built into massive walls
hunters, and this was reflected in their art
9. Walls were thick to compensate the
4. They produced violent sculptures and relief
weakness of mud
carving in stone that was used to ornament
10. They were reinforced with buttresses their houses

11. Spaces were narrow because of the 5. During the Assyrian periods, temples lost
walling material their importance to palaces

12. Façade of buildings were whitewashed 6. Assyrian kings built walled cities, in which
and painted to disguise the lack of attraction palaces took precedent over religious
of the material buildings.

13. Buttresses and recesses also relieve the 7. Palaces were raised on brick platforms, and
monotony of the plastered wall surfaces their principal entrance ways were flanked by
guardian figures of human headed bulls or
14. Temples was their major building type
lions of stone
15. Sumerian house organization and their
8. Their halls and corridors were lined with
temple forms
pictures and inscriptions carved in relief on
16.The clearest example of the cities of the stone slabs up to 9 feet high
ancient Near East is found in the Sumerian
city of Ur
City of Khorsabad 4. The capital old Babylon was enlarged and
heavily fortified
9. Khorsabad was designed as the royal capital
of Assyria. 5. It was also adorned with magnificent new
buildings
10. The city was built on a flat land with an
area of about a square mile and was enclosed 6. The traditional style of Mesopotamian
by a double wall with seven city gates building reached its peak during the period

11. Only a part of the city including palaces, 7. Traditional building was enhanced by a new
temples and administrative headquarters was form of façade ornament consisting of figures
built. designed in coloured glazed brick work

Palace of Sargon City of Babylon

1. The palace is approached at ground level 1. The city of Babylon is shaped in the form of
through a wailed citadel a quadrangle sitting across and pierced by the
Euphrates.
2. Within the citadel is found the main palace,
two minor palaces and a temple dedicated to 2. The city was surrounded by a fortification
Nabu of double walls

3. The main palace was set on a platform 3. These had defensive towers that project
located on the northern side of the citadel well above the walls

4. All the buildings within the citadel were 4. The walls also had a large moat in front,
arranged around courtyards which was also used for navigation. (moat:
canal)
5. The palace was arranged around two major
courtyards about which were grouped smaller 5. The length of the wall & moat is about five
courtyards and a quarter mile.

6. The palace consisted of large and smaller 6. The city had a palace, Nebuchadnezzar's
rooms with the throne room being the largest palace, located on its northern side on the
outer wall
7. The building was decorated with relief
sculpture and glazed brick

Ishtar Gate

3.2 ARCHITECTURE OF THE 1. From the palace originated a procession

street that cuts through the city raised above
CIVILIZATION: BABYLONIAN
the ground to the tower of Babel
Introduction
2. The procession street enters the city
1. After the fall of Nineveh in 612 BC and the through the famous Ishtar gate
end of the Assyrian civilization, focus of
3. The Ishtar gate is built across the double
Mesopotamian civilization shifted to old
walls of the city fortification
Babylon.
4. The gate had a pair of projecting towers on
2. A new dynasty of kings, including
each wall
Nebuchadnezzar, revived old Babylonian
culture to create a Neo Babylonian civilization 5. All the facades of gates and adjoining
streets were faced with blue glazed bricks and
3. Old Sumerian cities were rebuilt
ornamented with figures of heraldic animals- conquered the entire civilized world from
lions, bulls, and dragons Indus to Danube River with the exception of
Greece
6. These were modelled in relief and glazed in
other colours 3. It was the wish of the Persians to construct
great buildings
7. None of the buildings of old Babylon has
survived to the present age 4. They were to achieve greatness with their
architectural solutions

5. The architectural solutions were a synthesis

Architecture in the city of Babylon
of ideas gathered from almost all parts of
1. Nebuchadnezzar's palace covered a land their empire and from the Greeks and
area of 900 feet by 600 feet Egyptians

2. It had administrative offices, barracks, the 6. Their materials of construction was also
king's harem, private apartment all arranged from different locations
around five courtyards
7. Material included mud-brick from Babylon,
3. The palace is also praised for its legendary wooden roof beams from Lebanon, precious
hanging garden material from India and Egypt, Stone columns
quarried and carved by ionic Greeks
4. This is recorded as one of the wonders of
the ancient Source: Unknown world, but exact 8. Despite sourcing materials and ideas from
knowledge of the nature of this garden is not different areas, their architecture was original
known and distinctive in style

5. Temples and towers were also prominent

architectural elements of Babylon
Palace at Persepolis
6. The legendary tower of Babel located at the
1. Persian architecture achieved its greatest
end of procession street is mentioned in the
monumentality at Persepolis
Christian bible
2. It was constructed as a new capital for the
7. There is also no information about the
Persian Empire
design and construction of the tower
3. The city was started 510 BC and finished in
8. Most of what is available on the tower is
460 BC
hypothetical
4. It is set along the face of a mountain
levelled to create a large platform 1800 feet
3.3 ARCHITECTURE OF THE by 900 feet

CIVILIZATION: PERSIAN NEEDSIAN 5. It was surrounded by a fortification wall

Introduction 6. The site was more than half covered by

buildings
1. The Persian empire started in about 560 BC
when Cyrus the great from the province of 7. The palace consisted of three parts:
Fars swept over the region with his powerful
a. An approach of monumental
cavalry
staircases, gate ways and avenues
2. By the end of the century, Cyrus and his b. b. Two great state halls towards the
successors, Darius 1 and Xerxes had centre of the platform
 c. c. The palace of Xerxes, the harem, 24. The monumental entrance to Persepolis is
and other living quarters at the south also one of the unique aspects of the Palace
end of the site 25. The monumental gateway ensures a
dramatic entry to the Palace
8. Structurally, the buildings relied on a
hypostyle scheme throughout. 26. It was heavily adorned with relief
sculpture ornamenting its stairway
9. They used it to achieve spaces of varying
scale 27. The relief structure addresses different
themes relating to the role of Persepolis as
10.Some of the spaces were very big and
the capital of the Persian Empire
generally square in plan
28.In some places, the sculpture shows
11.The spaces were enclosed by mud brick
delegates from the different parts of the
walls
Persian bringing gifts and rare animals to the
12. The most impressive aspect of the palace king during celebrations
was the royal audience hall
29. In some places, royal guards and nobles of
13. The Royal audience hall was a square 250 the imperial court are shown
feet in length
30. Elsewhere, the king is seen in conflict with
14. It contained 36 slender columns widely animals or seated beneath a ceremonial
space & 67 ft. high umbrella

15. The columns had a lower diameter of only 31. The ruins of Persepolis have survived to
5 feet the present day

16.The centres of the columns were spaced 32.Existing ruins however give a faulty
20 feet or 4 diameters apart expression of the city's original appearance

17. The column was the greatest invention of 33. Some columns supporting the halls of the
the Persians great halls have survived

18. The columns were fluted and stand on 34. The mud brick fabric of the palace and its
inverted bell-shaped bases enclosing walls have perished completely

19. Their capital combine Greek motifs with 35. Only the sculptures which adorn doorways
Egyptian palm leaf topped by an impost of or windows and openings and the relief
paired beast ornamenting its entrance way remain

20.Another famous aspect of the palace at

Persepolis was the throne room
ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTISCS
21.This was also known as hall of 100 columns
4.1 BUILDINGS & OTHER ARCH, ELEMENTS
22. The columns in the room were 37 feet
Building Types
high, with a diameter of only 3 feet. They
were spaced 20 feet apart or seven diameters 1. 3 building types examined in ANE: Cities
from axis to axis and houses, temples and palaces

23. The slim nature of the column created 2. Temples and palaces were the most
room and spacious feeling in the room when outstanding buildings types in ANE
compared to the audience hall
3. Significant development in house 6. Temple building declined during the
organization and city fortification was also Assyrian period, when palaces took over as
witnessed the prominent building type

4. In Sumerian civilization, development in 7. The Palaces at Khorsabad and Persepolis

house organization led to the evolution of the shows the rise of the palace as the focus of
inward-looking courtyard house architectural development over the temple

5.Houses formed the dominant buildings of

the city with narrow passages to distribute
4.2 MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION & TECH.
people
Materials
6. Across all the civilizations, cities were
usually walled 1. Stone and timber suitable for building was
rare in the plains of the Tigris and Euphrates.
7. The walls were of massive brick material,
with evenly distributed towers serving as 2. Clay was however in abundance. This was
buttresses. compressed in moulds and dried in the sun to
provide bricks for all buildings.
8. Examples of city wall or fortification
examined include City of Khorsabad and -Sun dried brick material became the
Babylon standard building
9.The chief's house at precinct of the Great -It was used across all the cultures of
Ziggurat and the Palace at Persepolis were the ancient Near East
also fortified with brick walls.
3. Wood was scarce but was imported from
Lebanon
Temples and Palaces -Wood was probably applied mainly
for roofing or for producing tools and
1.Importance of temples and palaces varied
ornaments
during the different periods of the ANE
4. Stone was used by the Assyrians but only
2. Temples started during the Sumerian
for relieve carving and for columnar support
period and were also common during the
Babylonian period. - It was in ancient Persia that
extensive use of stone witnessed
3. The Sumerian temples were raised on
Ziggurats, while the character of the - The Babylonians introduce glazed
Babylonian temples is not certain because brick, which was used in the façade of
there is no trace of them their gates and prominent buildings
4. The Sumerian temples had chief temples
located outside the city and the city temple
located within the fabric of the city Construction

5. Neo-Babylonians also built great palaces. 1. The abundance of mud brick led to the
The legendary palace of Nebuchadnezzar with development of construction methods
its hanging garden is widely reported in appropriate to its physical properties.
history -Structurally Mud brick is weak when
compared to stone
 -To compensate, walls were very -Ancient Babylon was said to have an
thick and reinforced with buttresses. aqueduct that supplied water to the
city.
-This construction system is evident in
the Sumerian temples. -The hanging garden in
Nebuchadnezzar's palace would also
-Vaulting was known and used during
be impossible without a means of
the Mesopotamian period
transporting water from the ground
2. Rooms were usually roofed with domes or to the garden Principles
vaults.
Three principles appear to predominant in
-Tunnel vaults were used to cover the organization of architectural form and
long narrow oblong spaces. space

-Columnar construction was not very 1. Courtyard organization

popular in the ANE 2. Lifting of buildings on artificial
mountains
-It was used in few instances in the 3. Organic organization of city fabric
late Assyrian and Neo-Babylonian
periods.

-It was however extensively used by 4.3 FORCES SHAPING ARCH. ORGAN
the Persians -Persian architecture,
Three forces account for the prevailing
was an architecture that borrowed
architectural organizing principles observed
from other cultures in the region,
including Egypt and Greek sources 1. Geography
2. Symbolism and meaning to the
-Two technologies appear to have
people
been commonly used in the Ancient
3. Social factors
Near East; passive cooling and water
supply. Combination of the factors account for the
architectural forms that are witnessed in all
-The evolution of courtyard in
the cultures of the ANE
Mesopotamia was probably a product
of its desert environment and the
need for climate modification.
Geography
-Courtyards were used for cooling to
• A strong factor in shaping spatial
create liveable environments in
organization and built form
houses
• Limited the availability of construction
-The thick walls of houses may also material and constrained the
have served as a thermal storage development of construction technology
• Desert environment also meant t hash
- They help to mitigate against the
climatic conditions which lead to the
wide fluctuations of temperature
evolution of the courtyard form of
-People of the ancient Near East also building
mastered the earth of water supply • Prevalence of mud bricks coupled with
the use of courtyard fixed the form of
-Channels were used to move water
buildings as a regional solution.
and supply it to agricultural fields and
houses.
• Most buildings- whether house or • Courtyard house may have evolved
palace, were of one-story multi- because of privacy needs
courtyard form.

Symbolism and Meaning

• Organizing principles may also be a

factor of symbolisms and meaning.
• The role of symbolism is evident in
the Ziggurat.
• Sumerians think of ziggurat as a
ladder to the sky and to god
• They believed that God came down to
the Ziggurat to communicating with
the chief priest
• Climbing the ziggurat is also
associated with a holy experience.
• Symbolic meaning of ziggurat
provides motivation for the
construction of larger and more
impressive mountains
• Palaces also symbolizes power and
authority
• In Assyria, architecture expressed the
authority and power of the king.
• The palace at Khorsabad also shows
the decline in the symbolic
importance of the king, which is the
centre of authority.
• At Persepolis, the palace also
expresses the authority and power of
the emperor of the Persian empire
• This power is evident in the ability to
commandeer resources from as far as
Egypt and Lebanon to create a unique
palace.

Social Concerns

• Social concerns contributed to the

evolution of design principles
• There was need for defences due to
warfare Led to construction of wall
fortifications for cities
• Also, to ziggurat as a place of refuge
from attack
• Concerns for privacy
ANCIENT EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE -It was a very predictable river, overflowing
its banks every year from July to October
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
- The floods leave a rich black silt that is
Location fertile and is farmed by the people
• Located in Africa on the northern edge of - During the floods, people were freed from
the Sahara farming to engage in other activities including
• The Nile bisects through the land from the building work
south to the north -The Nile was also the highway of Egypt
• The Nile is a seasonal river that overflows its connecting upper & lower Egypt
bank yearly to create a fertile valley -The Nile also offered protection from
invasion by outsiders
• The Ancient Egyptians lived in the fertile
valley and grew their crops -The Nile offered a symbolic sense of direction
•They buried their dead in the desert to the people, forming the primary principle
in architectural organization
• The history of ancient Egypt started with the
land divided upper and lower Egypt

• The two regions were frequently at war with b. Government

each other -At the centre of Ancient Egyptian civilization
was a strong central government headed by
• Around 3000 BC, King Menes united the
two into a single nation Pharaohs

-The pharaohs provided stability & a unified

• Unification brought about peace that led to
sense of purpose
the development of ancient Egyptian
Civilization
c. Religion
• The history of ancient Egypt is divided into
periods based on ruling dynasties -Ancient Egyptians were a religious people

-They believed in many Gods

• Seven periods can be identified; - Different symbols were used to represent
the Gods and temples were built and
• 4500 to 2000 BC
dedicated to them
• 2350-2200 BC
• 2000-1600 BC -The pharaohs were also held as living Gods
• 1600-1717 BC
- Egyptians also believed in life after death
• 1350-612 BC
• 612-539 BC -They believed that when they die, their souls
• 539-330 BC called Ka would live in them forever

- For the Ka to live, it needed either the body

of the dead person or a copy of it in the form
1.2 Social Characteristics & Beliefs
a statue
a. Importance of the Nile
-The Ka will return each night to the body or
-The Nile and its delta were the guiding force statue
of ancient Egyptian civilization
 - If both the body and statue are destroyed, - Tombs also have charms to protect the dead
then the Ka would die person & his property

d. Mummification - The dead were buried in cities of the dead,

called Necropolis located in the desert
-To ensure the availability of a body to the ka
of a dead person, the Egyptians developed a -Ancient Egyptians had many achievements
process of preservation called mummification
- This included a developed system of
- The process involves cutting open the body government, a belief system and art of
& removing all the internal organs and brain mummification already discussed

- The body is packed in natron to dry it out - They also left a legacy of tombs & temples

- It is then soaked in oil to preserve it - The Egyptians develop a system of irrigation

to improve agriculture
- Next it is wrapped in a special cloth called
mummy cloth - The ancient Egyptians invented the
hieroglyphics systems of writing
- The mummy is then coated with wax and a
face painted onto its wrapped head - Historians were able to read hieroglyphics
following the discovery of the Rosetta stone
- The mummification of a pharaoh took a
period of 72 days EARLY KINGDOM TOMB

- Once mummification is finished, burial The Pyramids at Giza

ceremonies are performed and the body is
•The construction of a true geometrical
ready for burial
pyramid was achieved during the reign of
e. Architectural Ideas Cheops, son of Snefru

- Ancient Egyptians viewed earthly dwellings •This was located at Giza

as temporary
•This pyramid is called the Great Pyramid
- They paid little attention to house because of its size
construction
• The pyramid is 482 ft high on a plan 760 ft
-The tomb was seen as a permanent dwelling square
for the afterlife
ROSETTA STONE
-Tremendous effort was exerted in tomb
What is the Rosetta Stone?
construction
- The Rosetta Stone is a stone with
-The mummified dead body was buried in a
writing on it in two languages
stone box called sarcophagus in the tomb
(Egyptian and Greek), using three
- They believed that a dead person needs all scripts (hieroglyphic, demotic and
his worldly goods Greek). It was carved in 196 BCE

-The tomb was usually packed with all the

treasures of a dead person

-If anything cannot be provided, it is painted

on the walls of the tomb
Why is it in three different scripts?
- The Rosetta Stone is written in three scripts pyramid to the renown ancient Egyptian
hieroglyphs for religious documents. demotic- pyramid
common script of Egypt: Greek language of
MASTABA
the rulers of Egypt at that time)
•The earliest method of burial in ancient
-The Rosetta Stone was written in all three
Egypt was in shallow pits in the desert
scripts so that the priests, government
officials und rulers of Egypt could read what it • The desert dried the bodies and preserved
said. them • When animals preyed on bodies, the
people dug deeper
When was the Rosetta Stone found?
• In the end they built a bench-like structure
- The Rosetta Stone was found in 1799
over graves to create first burial structure
by French soldiers who were
called Mastaba.
rebuilding a fort in Egypt (in a small
village in Delta called Rosetta (Rashid) •The name mastaba is derived from podiums
What does the Rosetta Stone say? •found in the front of traditional houses In
the Old Kingdom, rich and noble persons-built
- The Rosetta Stone is a text written by
mastaba for their burial in the city of the dead
a group of priests in Egypt to honour
the Egyptian pharaoh. It lists all of the •Above ground the Mastaba is a large bench
things that the pharaoh had done that of sun-baked bricks rising 9 meters high (3
were good for the priests and the floors)
people of Egypt
•It had a flat top and slanting walls,

•The earliest royal tombs were decorated

ARCHITECTURE OF THE CIVILIZATION with painted patterns in brilliant colours
INTRODUCTION •Internally, a mastaba consists of three parts-
a burial chamber, a serdab and a chapel
1.During the old Kingdom, the pharaoh and
his court lived in Memphis • The burial chamber was located 30 feet
below ground It was connected to burial
2.When they died, they were buried at the
chamber above ground through a shaft
Necropolis at Saqqara
•The burial chamber is the place for the burial
3. The earthly dwelling of the ancient
of the dead person
Egyptians was seen as temporary & the tomb
as a permanent dwelling • In the chamber is found the sarcophagus
where the dead body was placed
4.Houses were built of temporary materials to
last for a lifetime • The burial chamber is packed with all the
necessary things needed in the after life
• Tombs were most outstanding architectural
element of the period • After burial, the shaft to the burial chamber
is sealed
•Tombs also serve as the focus for the
worship of the dead -The Serdab and Chapel are located above
ground
• The Tomb evolved during the old kingdom
from the Mastaba, through the stepped -The serdab is a room where the statue of the
dead person is kept
- The statue acts as a substitute for body in •All the treasures buried with Zoser have long
case it is destroyed been stolen

-Egyptians believe that the Ka must return to •A stone statue of Zoser was also recently
the body or a copy of it each night found staring out through peep holes in his
Serdab
-If both body and statue are destroyed, the ka
would die -The Serdab is located on the north side,
along with the funerary temple
-The chapel is where the ka is supposed to live
forever -The stepped pyramid stands at the middle of
a large complex
- It is a colourful room meant to deceive the
gods into letting ka enter the next world -The funeral complex consisted of palaces,
temples and the stepped pyramid
- Had a false door leading to the land of the
dead -They were all surrounded by a fence wall 33
feet high
- Some mastabas had fence walls, and
chambers for burial of servants -The fence wall of the funeral complex has a
breaking pattern of about 200 projections and
-Mastaba served as an embryo for the
recessions
evolution of the pyramid
-Fourteen of these were larger than the
Stepped Pyramid
others and 13 out of the fourteen had false
- King Zoser was the powerful pharaoh of the doors
third dynasty of old kingdom
-The false doors were for the use of the
- The stepped pyramid was built for King Zoser pharaoh's ka
by Imhotep
-The entrance door leads to a long hall having
- It was built as a funeral complex in the two rows of columns
necropolis Saqqara
-This is one of the first uses of columns in
- Imhotep initially conceived of the tomb as a history
large Mastaba of stone
-The columns were designed to look like
• Dissatisfaction with the result led to the bundles of reeds & had flutes
stacking of mastaba one on top of another
•In the north palace is also found stone
• The result was the stepped pyramid with columns with capitals
five sloping setbacks
•They were designed to look like the papyrus
• The stepped pyramid is the intermediate plant
step between mastaba and geometric
•Zosers funeral complex was designed as a
pyramid
model of his palace, city and kingdom
• Stepped pyramid was 200 feet high with 6
•The shape of the pyramid suggests a
giant steps
stairway to the sky to join the sun God Amon
• The burial chamber is entered from the Ra
north side and is 92 feet down
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB
• On either side of the e chamber are store
Attempts at Pyramid Building
rooms for the king’s treasures
-After the stepped pyramids, there were -The third and smallest was built by
several attempts at building a pure geometric Mykerinus, the son of Chefren
pyramid
-The three Together Are referred to as the
-Among the prominent attempts were the pyramids at Giza
pyramid at Medun and two pyramids built by
-The three are aligned diagonally along the
Snefru at Dashur
projection of the diagonal of the great
-King Huni made the first attempt at building pyramid
a pure pyramid at Medun
-The small pyramids close to them were built
-He constructed a seven stepped pyramid for their Queens
with a square plan and height of 90 meters
-The great pyramid has a unique internal
and an angle of incline of 51 degrees
arrangement
-The pyramid did not I have a mortuary
-First it has a chamber built below the base of
temple
the pyramid
. Pharoah Snefru made two attempts at
-Another chamber was built above it known
pyramid construction
as the queen's chamber
. His first pyramid, the Bent pyramid at Dashur
-A larger burial chamber known as the king's
had a square plan with a height of 102 meters
chamber was built at the centre of the
-The pyramid had a change of angle midway, pyramid The Great Pyramid
leading to its being called the bent pyramid
-This is the chamber where the king was
-Snefru's second pyramid, the north pyramid, buried in his Sarcophagus
is the place he was buried
-The kings chamber was 35 ft X 17ft in plan &
-It had a low pitch of 43 degrees instead of 52 19ft high
degrees making it look stunted
-Both the king and queen chamber are
-A true pyramid has an angle of 52 degrees connected to the entrance on the north side

-Two air shafts also connect the king's

chamber to outside for ventilation -Once a
The Pyramids at Giza
king is buried, the burial chamber was sealed
-The construction of a true geometrical forever
pyramid was achieved during the reign of
-The pyramids were designed as part of a
Cheops, son of Snefru
funeral complex for the burial of a pharaoh
-This was located at Giza
- Chefren's complex is the best-preserved
-This pyramid is called the Great Pyramid example
because of its size
-The complex consists of three interconnected
-The pyramid is 482 ft high on a plan 760 ft units:
square
•A valley temple by the river Nile where the
-Two additional pyramids were subsequently pharaoh's body was embalmed
built at Giza
•A pyramid mortuary temple for rituals
-The second largest in the center was built by
•A long narrow causeway connecting the two
Chefren, the son of Cheops
BURIAL CEREMONY -A theory hold that it was produced from
leftover material
-The death of a pharaoh marked the
beginning of a grand funeral -It may also have been carved to stand guard
over the temple and tomb of Chefren
-Hundreds of ships and barges filled with
nobles and priest sailed the Nile from
Memphis to Giza
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB: CONSTRUCTION
-The largest barge carried the body of the
Q: How were the pyramids constructed?
pharaoh
- no accurate know ledge about the method
-The boats docked at the lower valley temple
of construction of the pyramids -It is believed
where the body was carried to the roof for
that 100,000 men worked 3 months each year
mummification
for 30 years to build the pyramids
-At the end of 72 days, an opening of the
- The limestone used was quarried from
mouth ceremony was performed
nearby and transported by lever action -They
-A procession carried the pharaoh's body were paid in food, clothing & drinks Why did
along the cause way to the pyramid mortuary Egyptians Build Pyramids
temple
- The pyramids were in general response to
-This temple had many small chapels each the vast desert landscapes
with false doors
- For structures to be visible in the desert they
-Many statues of the pharaoh were placed in have to be of gargantuan size
the temple so that his ka could come back
- The pyramids were also a product of the will
each night
to achieve immortality by the pharaohs
-After prayers to the God Osiris, the body was
- The pyramids are the everlasting home of
lowered through the secret opening on the
the pharaoh's ka
north side to his burial chamber

-There he was laid in his stone Sarcophagus

End of Pyramid Const.
-Rich treasure was heaped on him -The
passage was filled with rock & sealed forever -After the Mykerinus period, the era of
pyramid construction ended
-Now it was time for the pharaohs ka to pass
to the land of the dead -More pyramids were built later but they
were smaller and less complex
-The funeral complex shows the earliest
development of the components of the new -Later pharaohs could not also afford the cost
kingdom temple of huge pyramid construction

-Grave robbers also learned how to break into

and steal the goods buried with pharaohs
EARLY KINGDOM TOMB: SPHINX
-The end of the Old Kingdom therefore
-Located in Giza is the great Sphinx with the
marked the end of the great era of Egyptian
body of a lion and head of Chefren
pyramid construction.
-The reason for its construction is not clear
MID & NEW KINGDOM BURIAL-CHAM -At the centre is a core believed to have a
small pyramid on top
Mortuary Temples
-The pyramid is believed to be a dummy
-The Middle Kingdom began when pharaoh
burial chamber
Mentuhotep united Egypt again after the first
intermediate period -During the middle -Entrance to the real tomb is found at the rear
kingdom, the practice of pyramid construction from the western courtyard
disappeared
-The burial tomb is accessible through a ramp
-Focus in architectural development was leading down at the centre of the courtyard
however still on tombs and burial chambers
-Just like the pyramid funeral complexes, the
Two categories of structures came into use
temple of Mentuhotep also has a causeway
mortuary temples & underground tombs
leading to a valley temple
-Mortuary temples served as the place for the
burial & worship of pharaohs
Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut
-Temples dedicated to Gods were also located
in them -Queen Hatshepsut's temple was built 500
years after that of Mentuhotep during the
-Mortuary temples owe their origin to the
new kingdom
pyramid funeral complex, particular the
valley and pyramid temples -Hatshepsut was the only female pharaoh to
rule Egypt.
-Underground tombs became popular
because of the belief that they could not be -When Her husband Pharaoh Tutmosis died,
robbed her stepson was too young to rule
-Many power and wealthy pharaohs and -She therefore became the ruler
noblemen carved their tombs directly into
rock cliffs and underground during the -Even when he grew old, she would not allow
Middle and New kingdoms him to rule and crowned herself pharaoh

-Most of the tomb and burial chamber

construction was carried out at Del Al Bahari Queen Hatshepsut

•Ruled from 1503-1482 B.C.

Mortuary Temple of Mentuhotep •Married to Thutmose II
-Two mortuary Del-al-Bahari; temples were •After her husband died, Hatshepsut dressed
built at mortuary temple of Mentuhotep and like a man and ruled as a pharaoh.
Hatshepsut
•She became the first female pharaoh in
-Mentuhotep was the 1st Pharaoh of the Egyptian history.
middle kingdom

-He built the first mortuary temple at Del-al

Bahari Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut

-The temple is terraced in two levels -The -She dressed as a pharaoh, wearing men's
upper terrace is faced with double colonnades cloth with a false beard attached to her chin
-The temple of Mentuhotep served as a Underground Tomb- Rock Cut Tomb
model in the design of her temple
-Two types of Underground tombs were built
-Her extraordinary funeral temple located at by pharaohs and nobles during the Middle
Del-Al-Bahari, is set against the background and New Kingdom periods Rock cut tombs
of the cliffs and Shaft tombs

-The architect of her temple is believed to be -Rock cut tombs are tombs that are carved
Senmut who is also buried in the temple out of rocks

-The temple of Hatshepsut is like a giant -Many of these are found along the cliff of the
stage on three levels Nile

-Each of the three levels was connected by a -A very good example is the Rock cut tomb at
ramp Beni Hassan

-Her temple fits very well into the tall rock

cliffs behind it
Beni Hassan consist of 3 elements:
-On the top level is her chapel dedicated to
a. A colonnade entrance portico for public
the goddess Hathor
worship
-The chapel was dug out of the rock cliff
b. Behind the portico, chamber or hall with
-Hatshepsut hid her tomb in the deep rock columns supporting the roof serving as a
cliffs to stop robbers chapel

-But her tomb was also plundered and c. a small recess towards the back of the
smashed into a thousand pieces chapel where the person is buried

-Archaeologist believe that her son Tutmosis -The columns on the exterior were shaped like
III poisoned her to death & wrecked her tomb a prism with 8 or 16 sides

-The temple of Hatshepsut had no dominant -The columns in the interior were designed as
mass a bundle of reed tied together by rope

-Instead, there was a strong horizontal axis -Shaft tombs were a complex series of
running across the set of terraces & underground corridors and rooms cut out of
perpendicular to the mountains the mountains in the valley of the King at Del-
Al-Bahari
-Her temple was not a construction of stone
masses as in the pyramids -The large number of rooms and their
complicated arrangement is deliberately done
-It was rather a play of the emptiness of
to create a maze or puzzle
terraces, ramps & courtyards against the
busy background of the cliffs

-Her temple captures the shift from the BURIAL CHAM: UNDERGROUND TOMB-
compact geometry of the old kingdom SHAFT TOMBS
pyramids to the linear composition of the
-This is designed to make it difficult for
New Kingdom temples
robbers to determine where a dead person is
buried
-A dead pharaoh or nobleman is buried in -Many examples of the New Kingdom temples
one of the many underground rooms are found at Karnak and Luxor, all in Thebes

-Once the burial is finished, the entrance is -An avenue of sphinxes connects the two
sealed permanently and hidden from sites
everybody
-The temple of Khons at Karnak is a good
example of a simple New Kingdom Cult
Temple
NEW KINGDOM CULT TEMPLES
-This temple shows an example of the
-The Middle Kingdom lasted for 275 years
components and organization of a typical
-The New Kingdom started after the end of temple
second intermediate period
-This is dedicated to the God Amun (behind
-The New Kingdom lasted for 500 years the creation of the Egyptians)

-During the New Kingdom, the capital of -A person approaching first meets the
ancient Egypt moved from Memphis to entrance wall called pylon
Thebes
-The pylon is higher and wider than the
-The most important and common temple behind it
architectural elements of the New Kingdom
-The pylons were treated with moulding &
were temples
decorated relief carvings
-Several temples were built dedicated to
-Mast with royal and religious flags fly in front
Egyptian gods
of the pylon
-The new kingdom temples borrowed a lot of
-Behind the pylon is the peristyle courtyard
elements the funeral complexes at Giza
-Made up of a row of twin colonnades on two
-They also borrowed elements from the
or more sides and was open to the sun
mortuary temples at Del Al-Bahari
-It is the only place where common people
• borrowed elements include:
were allowed to enter
- Long approaches
-Beyond the Peristyle courtyard is the
- Guardian sphinxes hypostyle hall

- Colonnaded vestibules & inner courts -Hypostyle means room with many columns.

- Darkening shrines -Peristyle hall and columns painted in bright

colors.
- Intricate linear progression of constructed
space -The ceiling was usually painted blue to
resemble the sky with stars twinkling
• The New Kingdom temples allow a series of
experiences passing in stages from openness -The columns in the center of the hypostyle
and light in the exterior to interior closure hall were usually higher than on the two other
and darkness sides, giving the room two roof levels

• This feeling was deliberate as only the -In between the two roofs, windows were
Pharaoh and priest were allowed into the place to allow light to enter
inner part of temples
-These are called clerestory windows
-A gate from the hypostyle hall leads into the -Each pharaoh added either a pylon,
sanctuary courtyard, hypostyle hall or decorated on
parts built by an earlier pharaoh
-Only the pharaoh and the priest were
allowed here -Queen Hatshepsut, Tutmosis II and Rameses
II all added to the temple
-In the sanctuary is found boats or barges
kept on stone -The front pylon had two obelisks in front

-Each boat had a god inside -Apart from the front pylon, the temple had
two additional pylons
-At the far end of the sanctuary are found
chapels dedicated to gods and goddesses -Arrangement of the hypostyle hall is
particularly stunning
-Here the priest washed, fed and dressed
statues of the gods each day -It consists of 134 columns arranged in 16
rows; 7 rows of smaller columns on each side
-As you move from the pylon into the temple,
framing 2 rows of larger columns
the roof becomes lower and the floor rises up
-The larger columns are higher and have a
-The inside is also slowly darkened
higher roof -Smaller columns were of closed
-The sanctuary is completely dark except for papyrus bud, while the larger ones were of
small holes over the chapel of the Gods open buds

-Every morning, the rays of the sun awakened -The open buds of the higher column
the gods combined with lighting from the clerestory
window creates an effect of lifting towards
-The whole temple is surrounded by a wall light

TEMPLE OF AMON, KARNA TEMPLE OF LUXOR

-All the other New Kingdom temples have the -There are several other temples built during
same components and sequences of space the New Kingdom
found in temple of Khons
-We will not be able to review all the kingdom
-They are usually more elaborate in terms of others [339]
scale, enlargement and duplication of
elements -Among the important ones are:

-The temple of Amon, Karnak is an example of -The temple of Luxor (1408 1300 BC)
the more elaborate temples
•THE TEMPLE OF SETI (1312 BC)
-It is the largest of the New Kingdom temple
•THE RAMESSEUM THEBES (1301 BC)
and it grew in a haphazard way
•THE GREAT TEMPLE ABU SIMBEL (1301 BC)
-It is the largest of the New Kingdom temples
and it grew in a haphazard way

-Built by at least 16 pharaohs over a period OTHER ARCHITECTURAL ELEMENTS

1700 years
-Egyptian architecture also developed several
unique architectural elements
-Includes Columns, relief carving, and -Tomb construction varied with the various
writing, the obelisk and sphinxes period of Egyptian civilization

-Egyptian column has its origin in plant -During the early Kingdom, tomb construction
materials - the lotus flower, papyrus plant and evolved from the Mastaba through the
the palm tree Stepped pyramid to the Geometric Pyramid

-Columns were design to imitate the plants - At Giza, we see the ultimate development of
the Egyptian Pyramid
-Capitals were designed to resemble a bud or
bell form of a flower -In Middle and New Kingdoms, grave robbers
forced a change in tomb construction
RELIEF CARVING AND PAINTING
-Pharaohs of the periods did not also have the
-Relief carving and painting was used to
power of Early Kingdom pharaohs to
record history or depict everyday social
undertake pyramid construction
-The obelisk is an element unique to Egyptian
-Pyramid construction disappeared and
architecture
underground tombs became popular
-It was carved as a monolithic piece of stone
-Two types were examined: Rock-cut tomb &
and erected in front of temples
Shaft tomb
-They were usually dedicated to a particular
-Rock-cut tombs were carved out of existing
god, pharaoh or nobleman
mountains
SPHINXES
-Shaft tombs were dug in the underground of
-Sphinxes are statues with the body of a lion mountains
and the head of the God Horus
-The Middle and New Kingdom also saw the
-They are used to line avenues leading to introduction of Mortuary temples
temples
-Two Mortuary temples were examined:
-They are believed to provide protection Mentuhotep and Hatshepsut

-They also reinforce the axial planning of the -Mortuary temple of Mentuhotep was
new kingdom temples constructed during the Middle kingdom

-Hatshepsut's temple was constructed during

the New Kingdom
BLDGS AND OTHER ARCH. ELEMENTS
-The mortuary temples were a place to bury
Buildings as well as worship a dead person
-Two buildings types dominated ancient -The mortuary temples owe their origin to
Egyptian architecture; tombs and temples funerary buildings that were attached to the
-Minimal attention was paid to houses Pyramids
because of belief -House were simple -During the New kingdom Focus in temple
designed to last a lifetime construction shifted to Cult temples
-Effort was on buildings associated with the -The cult temples were dedicated to the
afterlife -Tombs and temples were design to worship of Egyptian gods
last forever
-Two temples were examined all located at -Two construction systems were
Karnak predominant: Adobe construction and post &
beam construction
-The temple of Khons is a typical Egyptian cult
temple -Adobe construction took the form of clay on
vegetable material or sun-dried brick
-The temple of Amon shows how the temple
construction
can become complicated through addition
and duplication of elements -This construction was reserved for houses
and other buildings of daily life
-Columns: designed to mirror plant materials
Evolved from attached columns in the Zoser's -These buildings are supposed to last for only
complex to the heavy columns of Egyptian a generation
cult temples
-Egyptian monumental construction is mainly
-Relief carving and painting: used to capture of a post and beam style
history
-This is expressed mainly in pyramids, tombs
-Obelisks: free standing poles dedicated to and temples
Gods, Pharaohs or nobles
-Columns are designed to look like plant
-Sphinxes: used to line avenues to temples for material
protection
Their shaft resembles bundles of plant stems
tied together

MATERIALS, CONST. & SYSTEMS MOTERIS Their capitals are derived from the lotus bud
or the papyrus flower or the palm leave
Materials
-Great importance was attached to relief
-Three common materials of construction in
carving and it was an integral part of the
Egypt: Plant materials, clay and stone
architecture
Plants consist of readily available material like
-The true arch was not extensively used in
reeds, papyrus and palm ribs
ancient Egypt
-Timber was available in limited quantity;
-The principle was however known
used for roofing
-Construction in Egypt took place during the
-Clay was used for construction either as for
period of floods
frame construction or as sun dried brick
-It took 20 years to build a pyramid with a
-Stone was not much used during the early team of 20,000 men working three to four
period of ancient Egyptian civilization months during the floods

-It became popular after the 3rd dynasty of

the Early Kingdom and was used for tombs
Technologies
and temples
-Ancient Egyptians contributed to
technologies in the aspect of lighting
Construction System
-Egyptians used courtyards extensively for
-Construction system in ancient Egypt lighting
reflected the availability of materials
 -Technology has existed since the ANE period -Egyptian architecture also displays an
-The greatest contribution of the Ancient understanding and application of geometry in
Egyptians is in the aspect of Clerestory lighting design

-In the hypostyle hall of Egyptian temples is This is noticeable in the pyramids at Giza
found one of the earliest applications of the
-All the three main pyramids are Geometrical
clerestory method of lighting
pyramids
-By making columns higher and creating two
-A geometric pyramid has a square base and
roof levels, the ancient Egyptians were able to
a 52-degree inclination of its sides
admit light into halls
-All the pyramids are also aligned in a straight
line along their axis
PRINCIPLES OF ARCH. ORGANIZATION
-This could only have been achieved with the
Emphasis on Building Masses understanding of geometry

-The examination of ancient Egyptian

architecture shows more concerned with
Application of Harmony & Contrast
massing & limited attention to space or
function -Architecture in ancient Egypt also displays
understanding of the principle of Harmony
-The Mastaba, Pyramids, Mortuary and Cult
and contrast
temples all display a focus on massing and
form -Example of this is reflected in the pyramids at
Giza
-There was limited consideration on
functional space -The colour and material of the pyramid
create a harmony between the pyramids and
-Consideration of function in design was
the desert
limited to provision of spaces for ritual
activities such as chapels dedicated to Gods in -The form and shape of the pyramids however
Pyramid funeral complexes and Mortuary and contrast sharply with the smooth undulating
Cult temples desert

-This understanding is also displayed in the

temples of Mentuhotep and Hatshepsut
Application of Linear & Geometrical Org
-A double row of columns used to front the
-The Most important compositional principle
lower and upper terraces create a harmony
in ancient Egypt is linearity and axial
with the rugged background of the mountain
organization
cliffs
-Linearity means organization along a line,
-The terraces of the temples are however in
while axial organization means that there is a
sharp contrast with the mountainous nature
defined axis running through the whole
of the environment
composition
-The temples appear like an island of peace in
-Almost all the predominant monuments have
a rugged and violent environment
a linear and axial organization

-These include the pyramid funerary

complexes and the mortuary and cult temples
FORCES SHAPING ARCH. ORGANIZATION -Egyptian society is segregated with
pharaohs, noblemen and commoners
Influence of the Desert
-The desire to build massive tombs and
-Ancient Egyptian architecture can only be
temples by pharaohs and noblemen is a way
understood by also looking at the
to express their social standing in society
environment in which it is located
-Put in another way, the buildings are an
-Egypt is essentially located in a desert and
expression of the power, authority and social
the desert is nothing but empty space
standing of the nobles & pharaohs who built
-For anything to be visible and considered them
monumental, it must match the scale of the
desert

-This understanding may have influenced the

architects of ancient Egypt to focus on
building massing and creating the massive
buildings

Influence of the Nile

-The Nile had an important influence in the

linearity and axiality of ancient Egyptian
Architecture

-The Nile was a very straight river

-The straightness of the line provided the

ancient Egyptians with both a symbolic sense
of direction and a principle for application in
the creation of monumental buildings

Religion and Social Symbolism

-A review of the forces shaping architecture in

ancient Egypt will be incomplete without
considering the role of religion and social
symbolism

-Religion, particularly the belief in life after

death was a strong factor in creating the
monumental architecture of ancient Egypt

-The tombs and the temples are all a factor of

the desire to achieve immortality or appease
Egyptian Gods.

-Social symbolism also played a part in

shaping ancient Egyptian architecture
GREEK 1.1 3.Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC)

Location -Greece became depopulated with groups of

people moving out of mainland Greece
1.Greek civilization occurred in the area
towards the islands of the Aegean
around the Greek mainland, on a peninsula
that extends into the Mediterranean Sea -Mycenaean and Greek culture dwindled and
many cultural elements including writing, art
2.It started in cities on the Greek mainland
and architectural techniques were lost
and on islands in the Aegean Sea
-Trade with Asia Minor, the Middle East and
3. Towards the later or Hellenistic period,
Egypt, which was at the root of Cretan
Greek civilization spread to other faraway
prosperity stopped entirely
places including Asia Minor and Northern
Africa

4.Most of the Greek mainland was rocky and 4. Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC)
barren & therefore bad for agriculture
-As Greek people migrated from the
5.Most Greeks therefore lived along the mainland, other people from other less
coastline or on islands where the soil was prosperous mountain regions of the north
good for farming migrated to the more fertile coastline regions

6. The Aegean and Mediterranean Seas -They invade the Greek mainland villages and
provided a means of communication and established their rule
trade with other places
-The northerners brought with them a Greek
6.The period of ancient Greek history can be dialect called Dorian, as opposed to the ionic
divided into four as follows: 1100 B. C.: 750 B. Greek spoken by the main settlers
C. Greek Dark Ages 750 B. C. : 500 B. C.
-The two dialects and cultures later mixed
Archaic Period 5000 B. C. 323 B. C. Classical
together to create a Hellenic culture, which is
Period 323 B. C. "The archaic & Ancient
at the root of ancient Greek civilization
Greece 700 BC classical period are sometimes
collectively referred to as Hellenic period: 147
B. C. Hellenistic Period
5. Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC)
7.. Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC) -The
Mycenaean people ORIGIN -These two dialects became equated with
characteristic architectural forms that evolved
-Greek civilization is therefore usually viewed in them
as a continuation of the Mycenaean
civilization -In the period following the invasion by the
Dorians, there was a shift in lifestyle that
-The start of the Greek civilization is therefore produced a sedentary agricultural lifestyle
dated to the end of the Mycenaean and society.
civilization in 1100BC
-Sedentary lifestyle allowed the Greeks to
-Following the decline of Mycenae, the area rediscover urbanized culture that ultimately
around the Greek mainland went into a led to evolution of classical Greek culture
period of decline that is referred to as the
Greek Dark ages/
6. Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC)
-The revival of Greece from the dark ages 7. Classical period (500-323 BC)
started during the eight century BC
-The Classical period of ancient Greek history
-The Greeks developed a new political form occurred between 500 BC, and 323 BC.
called city states
-The period started with the Greek city states
-City states are cities which are ruled as coming into conflict with the rising Persian
independent nations Empire

-The archaic period saw the renewal interest -The free Greek cities saw the threat that was
in overseas trading contact developing from the Persian Empire and
prepared for resistance
-Greek societies that were engaged in trade
became rich and by joining with other their -A seaborne expedition by the Persians to
neighbours, sometimes forcefully, formed Athens was defeated at Marathon in 490 BC
large states
-Under the Persian King Xerxes, Persia
-The polis or city state emerged as the natural attempted a retribution in 479 BC and was
and desirable political entity defeated by an alliance of the Greek states
headed by Sparta
-Early examples of these city states include
Athens, Corinth, Argos, and Sparta on the -The Greek alliance soon transformed into an
mainland, and in the Eastern Aegean, Samos, Empire under the leadership of Athens
Chios, Smyrna, Ephesus and Miletus
-Pericles, the ruler of Athens between 444
-The archaic period marked the rise of the and 429 BC became a driving force for the
aristocratic families; families that are development of temple architecture
considered noble or of higher status
-Pericles used the defence revenue from the
-The archaic period was dominated politically alliance for temple building in Athens to thank
by the leading aristocratic families in each city the Gods
state acting in concert or squabbling amongst
-Athens reached its greatest political and
themselves for supremacy
cultural heights during the classical
-At times individual aristocrats were able to
-The full development of the democratic
take advantage of popular dissatisfaction to
system of government occurred under
seize authoritarian power
Pericles
-Such rulers were called tyrants
-The Parthenon on the Acropolis at Athens
-Such tyrants stimulated the development of was built -Philosophical schools such as those
the arts through their patronage of Socrates and Plato were founded

-The archaic period marked the beginnings of -Between 431 and 404, Athens entered into a
Greek monumental stone sculpture and series of wars with Sparta which left it in ruins
architecture -Around 546 BC, the rising
-The fall of Athens gradually led to political
Persian Empire conquered some Greek city
chaos in the whole of Greece
states
-The 4th century saw the rise of Macedonia as
-The rising threat of the Persian Empire
a power in the region
marked the end of the Greek archaic period
and of classical Greek culture -The Macedonian king, Philip rapidly
extended Macedonian power and wealth
-In 338 BC, he defeated a coalition of the 1.2 Social Characteristics & Beliefs
major Greek Cities including Athens and
1.Introduction
Thebes, and created a federation of all Greeks
with him as the leader -Greek civilization is the first major civilization
in Europe
-He proposed a crusade against the Persians
but was assassinated before undertaking it -Greek civilization along with the Roman
civilization are said to be at the root of
-His son Alexander undertook the crusade and
current western civilization
established himself as the ruler of the former
Persian empire -They are referred to as "classical" cultures
because of their recognition as the root of
-Alexander undertook a lot of military
western civilization
campaigns to extend the Greek empire and
founded many new cities such as Alexandria -Greek and Roman architecture are also
in Egypt referred to as classical architecture
-He died in 323 BC without a heir to inherit -Greek civilization started with the mingling
him of two Greek cultures, the Dorian and the
lonian to create a single Hellenic culture
-The Death of Alexander marked the end of
the classical period of Greece civilization -The two developed a sedentary agricultural &
commercial society that ultimately gave birth
to the concept of the city state
8.Hellenistic period (323- 147 BC)

-The Hellenistic period of ancient Greek

2. Societal Organization- The city state
civilization started with the death of
Alexander in 323 BC -The ancient Greeks lived-in self-governing
city-states called "polis."
-When Alexander died, he did not have an
heir to inherit him -The city-states were small, independent
communities which were male-dominated
-The Greek empire split into smaller states
and bound together by race.
with Alexander's generals as their rulers
-The ancient Greek world was made up of
-The period saw the trans planting of Greek
hundreds of these independent city states
art, civic life and culture to newly conquered
areas -The polis started as a defensible area to
which farmers of an area could retreat in the
-The period also saw a marked increase in
event of an attack as in the Mycenaean
interest in civic buildings
citadels
-The Hellenistic period ended in 147 BC, when
-Over time, towns grew around these
the Roman Empire conquered Greece and
defensible areas.
incorporated the city states into it

•Societal Organization- The city state

-Every polis was different from another, even

though there were similarities between them
-They were all bounded by common language -The society of the polis had a social hierarchy
and religious beliefs with citizens at the top, followed by people
who are not citizens and finally slaves
-They all made efforts to preserve their own
unique identity, and each city state believed -Public life was for male citizens while women
that their state was better than all the other were secluded in the house
states
-Greek citizens did not have rights but duties
-The city states often fought with one
-All citizens were directly involved in politics,
another.
justice, military service, religious ceremonies,
-The city state of Athens on the Greek intellectual discussion, athletics and artistic
mainland was among the most famous and pursuits.
powerful of the city states -It was a major
-It was not acceptable for Greek citizens to
centre for learning and the arts.
refuse to carry out their responsibilities
-When city-states were first formed, they
were ruled by a few wealthy men.
4.Religious Belief
-However, they gradually moved towards
democracy. -The ancient Greeks were polytheistic,
believing in many different gods and
-Athens developed an early form of
goddesses
democracy How did they make laws? Only
men who were born in Athens were allowed -The God were regarded as all powerful but
to vote. similar to human beings in their passions,
desires and appetite
-They did this at public assemblies where
upper class citizens discussed and adopted -All aspects of life were under the protection
laws that might benefit Athens. of the gods, and they controlled everything,
from the waves in the ocean to the winner of
a race.
3.Social Organization and Responsibility
-All the gods and goddesses had specific roles,
-The scale of the polis was small. controlling one or two major aspects of life

-The philosophers Aristotle and Plato believed -Zeus was, for example, the supreme leader of
that the polis should be of a small size, so that the gods, Hermes was the messenger of the
members know each other personally gods, and Poseidon was the god of the sea

-The ideal size of a city state was fixed at 5040 -The essential concept in religious practice
males by Plato was that of contract, of obligation and the
paying of obligation -Humans call on the gods
-Citizens in any polis were by blood and so
for protection and make offerings to the gods
family ties were very strong.
to secure this
-Membership of the polis was hereditary and
could not be passed persons outside the
family -Ancient Greeks believed that religion would
make their lives better while they were living.
Social Organization and Responsibility
-They also believed that the gods would take
care of them when they died.
-Religious belief was constantly changing and civilization among the first to have established
developing as new cults were introduced from ideals of beauty Architecture in service of
time to time religion

6.6 The Greeks convinced themselves that the

secrets of beauty proportions
5. Place of Worship: TEMPLES
6.7 Man was viewed by the Greeks as having
a. the focus of Greek religious worships
the most ideal proportions and is the measure
b. usually built in the cities of the Gods called of all things
"Acropolis"
6.8 Greek developed a system of building
c. built in every town and city for one or more proportion that reflected those of the human
god or goddess body

d. considered as offerings to the gods 6.9 With time, they refined their system of
building proportion, and developed the
e. Each community was therefore under classical Greek orders
pressure to make them beautiful as possible
6.10 The principal building material of the
f. considered as the house of the gods ancient Greeks was stone
g. not designed for functional use 6.11 Clay and timber were also used
h. usually consists of a large open hall called 6.12 Timber was used mostly for roofing and
sanctuary where the statue of the god to its scarcity coupled with limitations in its
whom it is dedicated is kept length-imposed restrictions on the width of
i. places for routine festivals to the gods buildings

* festivals included plays, music, dancing, and 6.13 Temples were the main building type and
then a parade to the temple where they made it was used as a decoration element by every
sacrifices and had a feast. city

*Animals were usually sacrificed as a gift to 6.14 Greek society also made buildings other
the gods than temples

6.Architecture in service of religion 6.15 These evolved in response to changes in

need with time
6.1 Service of Religions
6.16 The most common buildings are
6.2 Temples were the abode of gods amphitheatres, council halls, public fountains
6.3 The Greeks regarded beauty as an and theatres, gymnasia, schools and libraries,
attribute of the gods and the conscious public baths and lavatories
pursuit of beauty as a religious exercise. 6.17 As these civic buildings emerge,
treatment once reserved for temple was
extended to them even though on a less
THE DIVINE BEAUTY OF MATHEMATICS grand scale than in the temples
6.4 The most important task for architects 6.18 Greek CONSTRUCTION:
was how to make the temple beautiful
-was of a simple post and lintel or trabeated
6.5 The search for ways to express construction
architectural beauty made the Greek
-ground plans were always very simple, -because the games were religious, anyone
usually rectangular who was caught cheating during the games
was never allowed to compete again
-with a combination of simple ground plans
and trabeated construction, they were able to
create amazing buildings
Orders
-constructed by skilled craftsmen who were in
In classical architecture, the parts of a building
demand and travelled from one state to the
that stand in fixed and constant relation to
other for construction work
each other; distinguishable by the capital
-designs were done on the ground by
• Doric
measuring out the foundation
• Ionic
6.19 BLOCKS OF STONE: • Corinthian
-were ordered from the quarry

-given initial preparation on building site 1. Refers to the entire set of form that
makes up the principal elevation of a
-large and retained in own weight; it was not
temple
necessary to fix them together in any way
- Composed of a base
-Roofs were of wood beams and rafters cut to 2. Greeks are credited with originating
square shapes with tile roof the 3

-Carvings and other decorative work were

finished when the building is completed Other
Activities and Achievements

6.20 Greek society contributed:

a. earliest development of science & scientific

inquiry

b. attempted to explain the world through the

laws of nature.

c. found out that the earth was round and a

Greek person is credited as being the first to
measure the circumference of the Earth

d. made significant contributions to the arts.

particularly in sculpture and painting

e. wrote many stories and plays that continue

to be performed today.

f. huge sports fans and sports was considered

a part of religion

-every four years, the Greeks held the

Olympic Games in the stadium at Olympia.

-the best athletes in Greece competed in

different events