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OBJECTIVES:

CHAPTER 5  To determine the influences that affect

GREEK development of Greek architecture
ARCHITECTURE  To know the architectural character of
Greek
3,000-30 BC
 To identify the architectural examples of
Greece

GEOGRAPHICAL

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
Meditteranean sea”, Athens as its center
kingdom contains the upper city known as
“Citadel”.

GEOLOGICAL
• Marble is the chief building materials in
Greece but they also have ample supplies of
the building stones.
CLIMATIC
Climate was intermediate between “cold and
hot”, which favored an outdoor life dramatic
presentations, most of public ceremonies took
place in an open air, even in religious rites, due
to limited public buildings other than temples.

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RELIGIOUS
• “AEGEANS” worship nature, Priestesses
rather than priests conducted the religious
rites.

• GREEK represents their deities by large

statues. They worship natural phenomena.

Greek Deities                                 Attributes                                                  Roman 
Name
ZEUS the supreme god, ruler of the                    JUPITER (JOVE)
sky, chief god.

Greek Deities                           Attributes                                 Roman Name
HERA wife of ZEUS, goddess of marriage JUNO

ATHENA                                             Goddess of wisdom and learning                       MINERVA 
APPOLO        God of law   reasons, art music                  APOLLO 
                                                                   and poetry, founder of cities                        

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POSEIDON                                              The sea god                NEPTUNE 
DIONYSOS                        God of wine, feasting and revelry                         BACCHUS
 

DEMETER                              Goddess of earth and agriculture                             CERES ARTEMIS                          Goddess of the chase                                   DIANA

APHRODITE                            God of commerce, love and beauty                      VENUS

HERMES                                       Messenger of the Gods MERCURY

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ARES                                          God of war                                           MARS
HEPHAESTUS  God of fire, flame and forge  VULCAN
God of Handicrafts

HERACLES
HESTIA                          Goddess of hearth and home VESTA
HERACLES                    God of strength and labor pan HERCULES

NIKE                                  Goddess of Victor VICTORIA
PAN                              God of shepherds and flocks PAN

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HISTORICAL
Periods of Development
A. AEGEAN or Early Period (3000 BC – 700 BC)
‐ embraces the civilizations of Crete & mainland
Greece from earliest times to about 1,100 B.C.
‐ The civilizations grew & expanded, developing a
commercial empire protected by naval power.
2,000 BC – occurred a particular invasion of migrant
peoples, who may have come originally from South
Russia.
‐ spoke language like Greek & introduced houses
originally designed for more wintry climates.
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SOCIAL AND POLITICAL
Chief diversions were music,
dancing, wrestling, boxing,
gymnastics and bull‐fighting often
with religious connection.
Women were participating in
hunting and more strenuous
games, as well as craftwork.
Tyrannic, aristocratic and
democratic were the forms of
government and
Perticles‐ one of the democratic
leaders in Athens.
Between 1,800‐1,600 B.C. – the whole Aegean
culture developed until by the latter date it
had achieved a power co‐equal with the
civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Between 1,600‐1,400 B.C. – the brilliance of
the civilizations continued, but there is
evidence that the balance of power &
influence moved in the reserved direction &
Cretan influence declined after 1,500 B.C.
In about 1,450‐1,400 B.C. – Knossos and other
palace towns were destroyed and the
civilization they represented collapsed in ruin.
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B. MYCENAEAN or HELLADIC PERIOD C. HELLENIC GREECE (800‐323BC)

(1,400‐1,100BC)
‐ Mainland centers had always required defense;
quarrelling & violence among the towns perpetuated
insecurity and necessity for protection, & the magnificent
but grim fortifications of Mycenae and Tiryns conjures up an
atmosphere of somewhat barbarity cruelty in strange
contrast to the refined architecture, art and living which
existed within.
1,300 BC ‐ the wealth of Helladic towns began to decline.
1,200 BC – the Trojan War began. The destruction of
Helladic citadels was one of many events which brought
about the end of Bronze Age civilization and the advent of
the Iron Age in Greece.
‐ By the 8th century B.C. the city state (“Polis”) emerged as
the basis of Greek society and the Greeks adopted an alphabet from
the Phoenicians, the lack of political unity was to some extent
countered by a sort of federal unity derived from common language,
customs and religion.
• By 600 BC the cities of Greece had settled down to their
several forms of government‐ oligarchic, tyrannical or democratic
and by the end of 6th century the tempo of events & ideas
accelerated further.
• The rule of Pericles (444‐429BC) marked the climax of
Athenian prosperity, and the tremendous outburst of building
activity in reconstruction which has to express the ultimate
development of Hellenic art and architecture.
• Essentially columnar and trabeated and in Acropolis was
crowned by Parthenon. By the 6th century, Parthenon was converted
into a Christian Church

D. HELLENISTIC GREECE
(232‐30BC)

Parthenon ‐ The succession of Sparta

was short‐lived & the 4th
century saw a sequence of
attempts by city‐states to
dominate Greece.
‐ The vast territory
became a Hellenistic empire
through which Greek
civilization was extended new 8
Parthenon in the Acropolis  splendid cities where founded
of which Alexandria was to be
the largest & most famous.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT

ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
A. AEGEAN ARCHITECTURE (circa 3,000‐1,100 B.C.)

Characteristic Features:

1. Low pitch or flat roof on multi‐ storey structures

2. Stairway was developed for vertical circulation
3. Houses termed as “Megaron” and palaces were
principal building types

Megaron areas:

a. Enclosed porch
b. Living apartment or megaron proper
c. Thalamus or sleeping room

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4. Four methods of walling surface finishes

a. Cyclopean – a masonry made up of huge

stone blocks laid “mortar”
b. Polygonal – a mansonry which is
constructed with stones having polygonal faces
c. Rectangular – block of stone cut into
rectangular shapes
d. Inclined blocks – stones with inclined
blocks

a. Cyclopean b. Polygonal B. Greek Architecture or Hellenic Period

Characteristic of Greek Architecture

1. Simplicity and Harmony

2. Purity of Lines
c. Rectangular d. Inclined blocks 3. Perfection of Proportions
4. Refinement o Details

The Hellenic Period chief building type were

temples which were built towards the rising
sun (east)

Characteristic Features Technical Term Number of Columns at Front

1. They use rectangular plans
2. Temples gateway “propylaea” Distyle ‐2 columns
3. Collonade surrounds the temple LACUNARIA Tetrastyle‐4 columns, term used 
4. Ceilings were omitted and treated with timber by Vitruvius
paneled coffers “lacunaria” Hexastyle‐6 columns, term used 
by Vitruvius
5. Walls were made up of stones Octastyle‐8 columns
6. Marble sculptures completed the buildings Decastyle‐10 columns
7. Mural paintings on the walls of temples was highly
developed
8. Optical illusions were connected from horizontal
lines not to appear dropping or sagging from the center, a
slight convex outlines were formed for stylobates,
cornices and architraves from the temple “Parthenon”,
the same with vertical lines foe columns

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PARTS OF AN ANCIENT GREEK 
TEMPLE OF THE DORIC ORDER
1.TYMPANUM The Parthenon
2. ACROTERIUM General information
3. SIMA
4. CORNICE Type  Temple
5. MUTULES Architectural style  Classical
Location  Athens, Greece
7. FRIEZE Current tenants  Museum
8. TRIGLYPH Construction started  447 BC [1][2]
9. METOPE Completed  438 BC [1][2]
Destroyed  Partially on 26 September 1687
10. REGULA Owner  Greek government
11. GUTTA Height  13.72 m (45.0 ft)
12. TAENIA Dimensions
Other dimensions  Cella: 29.8 by 19.2 m (98 by 63 ft)
13. ARCHITRAVE
14. CAPITAL Technical details
15 ABACUS Size  69.5 by 30.9 m (228 by 101 ft)
Architect  Iktinos, Kallikrates
16. ECHINUS Other designers  Phidias (sculptor)
17. COLUMN
18. FLUTING
19. STYLOBATE

Doric Order (First Order of the Greek Architecture) The simplest and the 
earliest among the 5 orders. 

Examples of Architectural Structures

A. Aegean Architecture or Early Period
1. Gate of Lions, Mycenae – most ancient
stone sculpture in Europe
‐ great upright stone jambs support an
immense lintel, spanning 3.2 & measuring
4.9m long by 1.06m high in the middle, by
2.4m deep. Above is a triangular relieving
opening formed by advancing stone courses,
trimmed to shape & filled with a stone slab,
51mm thick, bearing a relief carving of two
rampant lions facing a central column.

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2. Palaces – used by kings or local chieftains

e.g. Palaces of King Minos, Knosses – The
whole spanned roughly 122m each way &
covered about four acres additionally on the
west side, there was paved market court & to
the North of it, a thetral area, flanked by banks
off broad, shallow steps, for public display and
sports.

THE PALACE, TYRINS‐ is a hill‐top citadel surrounded by

defensive walls upwards of 7.3m thick. At points where there
are storage chambers embodied, the thickness is as 17.3m. The
masonry is of cyclopean type.

The palace of Mycenae
The ruins palace of Mycenae

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3. Tombs
Two Types of Aegean Tombs
a. Tholos – a subterranean stone‐vaulted
construction, shaped like an old fashion beehive. It
consists of a long passage known as “leading to
domed chamber.
b. The rock‐cut or chamber tomb – a rectangular
chamber about 3.6 to 6.1m cube is cut within the
slope of a convenient hillside & approached with a
passage or “Dromos” open to the sky leading to a
doorway in the rock façade.

Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae

It is 14.6m in diameter & 13.6m high inside made up 34 rings of
masonry, capped by a single stone, dressed after completion to the form of
a pointed dome.

Section of Atreus b. The rock‐cut or chamber tomb 

 The walls were coated with stucco outside, & either tinted, or painted with
patterns inspired by the framed construction which lay behind.
 Gypsum, plentiful in Crete also served to make hard, polished floors & roof
deking carried on rounded logs, or was used in slabs for similar purposes.

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HELLENIC PERIOD (650‐323BC) Important Structures Found in Acropolis

Greek architectural style was essentially columnar &
trabeated (trabs‐a beam), and this gave it that simple a. Principal temple
straight forward character in which the constructive b. Pinacotheca (picture gallery)
system is self‐evident.
c. Glyptotheca (sculpture gallery)
Greek columns & their entablatures were at first entirely
d. Statue of Athena
of timber, with terra‐cotta decorations in the upper e. The Erectheon
trabeation, but were converted into stone quite early in f. Old Temple of Athena
the period, about 600 BC the translation was quite direct, g. The Parthenon
timber forms being imitated in stone with remarkable
exactness. h. Theater of Dionysos
i. Stoa of Eumenes
Temenos – sacred enclosure, also known as citadel or j. Odeion of Herodes Atticus
acropolis or upper city. k. Temple of Nike Apteros

Civic square or city square or market place – the

focus of Greek’s political, business and economic life.
Greek: Agora Italian: Piazza French: Place
English: Market Roman: Forum

e.g Civic Square at Miletus

Civic Square at Ephesus

Civic Square at Miletus
Civic Square at Priene

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Temples – the chief class of buildings in the Hellenic Parts of Greek Temple
Period; usually the plan is rectangular in shape.

Naos – the principal chamber in a Greek temple

 Built with special regard to outward effect, since
containing the statue of deity, with porticoes and
they were not intended for internal worship & the
colonnades
altar stood opposite the east front.
 Adorned with fine sculpture in order to form
fitting shrines to the deities to whom, they were Pronaos – the inner portico in front of the naos or
dedicated. cella of the naos
 Generally stood upon a crepidoma of three or
more steps. Epinaos or Opisthodomus – posticum which serves as
the treasury chamber

Naos Section of Greek Temple

Parts of Greek Temple

Two Ways of Describing Temples: HENOSTYLE – one column

a. According to the number of columns on the DISTYLE ‐ two columns
entrance front TRISTYLE – three columns
b. By the arrangement of the exterior columns of TETRASTYLE – four columns
the temple in relation to the Naos as below: PENTASTYLE – five columns
HEXASTYLE – six columns
HEPTASTYLE – seven columns
OCTASTYLE – eight columns
ENNEASTYLE – nine columns
DECASTYLE – ten columns Distyle in antis
DODECASTYLE – twelve columns

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Forms of Greek Temples

 In antis – temples have from 1‐4 columns between antae at the 
front.  Two is the usual number.

 Amphi‐antis – temples have from 1‐4 columns between antae
at the front & rear. Two is the usual number.

 Prostyle – temples have a portico of columns at the front.

 Amphi‐prostyle – temples have a portico of columns at the 
front & rear.

 Peripteral – temples have a single line of columns surroundings 
the NAOS.

 Pseudo‐peripteral – temples have flank columns attached to 
the NAOS wall.

 Dipteral – temples have a double line of columns surrounding 
the NAOS.

 Pseudo‐dipteral – temples are like the last, but inner range of 
columns is omitted on the flanks of the NAOS.

DADO – The portion of the pedestal between

its base & cornice. A term also applied to the
lower portions of walls when decorated
separately.

 From the original two “orders of
Architecture”, DORIC and IONIC, evolved
stimultaneously by the two main branches
of the Greek race, there at length arose a
3rd, the CORINTHIAN a purely decorative
variant which although invented by the
Hellenic Greeks was only to attain its full
identity in the hands of the Romans.
The ETUSCANS developed the Tuscan, inspired
by the DORIC & a simpler cruder version of it.
While the last to appear was the “composite” a
Roman contribution which did not differ
greatly from the Corinthian & which, was an
offshoot from the IONIC.
• DORIC – used chiefly south Italy & Sicily
on the Greek mainland.
• IONIC – Asia Minor

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HELLENISTIC PERIOD (232‐30BC)

• This period provided much of the decorative

inspiration of some Roman building types. Greek
Hellenic Architecture mostly had been of a
religious character, but from the 4th century BC
onwards, public buildings multiplied in types &
number & passed into permanent from. They
were dignified & gracious structures.
• Civic design developed space, & entire
groups of buildings were laid out in symmetrical
lines in orderly schemes, often linked by Greek Stoa
colonnade porticoes or “STOAS”.
• TRABEATED ARCHITECTURE, but arches
began to appear over wall‐openings, & large,
niche‐like recesses in building plans.

TRABEATED – a style of architecture in Greek in which the beam forms the  EXEDRAE or EXEDRA – a recess or alcove with raised seat where the
constructive feature. disputation of the learned took place.

VOUSSOIRS – the truncated wedge shaped blocks forming an PROPYLAEA, or entrance gateways, marked the approach to the sacred
arc enclosure in many cities such as Athens, Epidauros, Eleusis & Priene.

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PINACOTHECA – a picture gallery or a building to contain painted pictures. CREPIDOMA – the steps forming the base of a columned Greek temple.

PEDIMENT – a triangular piece of wall above the entablature enclosed by  EVOLUTION OF THE DORIC ORDER

raking cornices PEDIMENT – in renaissance any roof ends whether triangular or semi‐
circular in Gothic called gable.
*In classic architecture, a triangular piece of wall above the entablature
enclosed by raking cornices.

MUTULES – projecting  ACROTERION – blocks resting on 

inclines blocks in cornices,  the vertex & lower extremities of 
derived from the ends of  the pediment to support statuary 
wooden beams. or ornaments.
ANTEFIXAE ‐ ornamental blocks fixed vertically 
regular intervals along the lower ledge 
of a roof, to cover the ends of tiles.

TYMPANUM ‐ the triangular CORNICE – the crowing or  CAPITAL – the crowning

surface bounded by the sloping upper portion of the  feature of a column or
& horizontal cornices of a entablature, also used for  pilaster.
pediment. any crowning projection. SHAFT – the portion of a
column between base &
capital.
CREPIDOMA – the steps
forming the base of the
columned Greek temple
(3 steps).
STYLOBATE – the upper
step forming a platform
on which a colonnade is
place.
TRIGLYPH – blocks with
FRIEZE – the middle division 
vertical channels which
of classic entablature. form a distinguish in
feature in the Frieze of
ARCHITRAVE ‐ the beam or  the Doric entablature.
lowest division of the 
entablature, which extends  METOPE – the space
from column to column.  between Doric Triglyphs,
Also a moulded frame  sometimes left open in
ancient examples,
around a door kl;& window. afterwards applied to the
carb slabs.

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HYPOTRACHELION – the
channels or grooves
TENIA – a flat projecting beneath the Trachelion at
band capping the architrave the junction of the capital
of a Doric entablature. & shaft of a column.
GUTTAE – small cones under
the Triglyphs & Mutules of ENTABLATURE – the
the Doric entablature. upper part of an order of
architecture.
REGULA – the short band,
‐comprising architrave,
under the triglyphs, beneath frieze & cornice,
the tenia of the Doric supported by a
entablature, & to which the colonnade.
Guttae are attached.
COLUMN – a vertical
ANNULETS – a small flat support, generally
fillet encircling a column. It is consisting of a base,
several times repeated circular shaft, & spreading
under the ovolo or echinus capital.
of the Doric capital.
TRACHELION – the neck of ANTEFIXAE – ornamental
the Greek Dorian column, blocks, fixed vertically at
between the annulets & the
gromes or hypotrachelion. regular intervals along the
lower edge of roof, to
cover the ends of tiles.

THE DORIC ORDER Arris – the sharp edge

formed by the
meeting of two
‐The simplest, earliest and the most perfect among the suraces.
orders.
‐It has a timber origin. Greek columns began as tapered tree Flutes – the vertical
trunks, the function of the square abacus & circular echinus channeling on the
comprising the capital being to gather & transmit the load of shaft of a column.
the entablature to the column shaft
‐The lowest of the CORNICE represents the wooden plate Abacus – the slab
across the tops of the TRIGLYPHS to receive the wide, flat forming the crowning
member of a capital.
rapters, recognizable in stone architecture as MUTULES,
which always retain a slope echoing the pitch of the roof.
Echinus – the convex
or projecting
moulding, resembling
‐It stand without a base directly on the crepidoma, usually the shell of the sea‐
urchin, which
of three steps, and has a height, including the capital, of supports the abacus
from 4‐6 times the diameter at the base in the Hellenistic. of the Greek Doric
Capital.

The Doric entablature SOME DORIC TEMPLES IN GREECE

Temple of Apollo, Corinth Temple of Apollo, Delphi
THE ARCHITRAVE OR
PRINCIPAL BEAM usually is
made up of two or three
slabs in the depth, the
outermost showing a
vertical face in one plane.
THE FRIEZE is formed of
triglyphs with three upright
channels, which alternate
the metopes or square
spaces, often ornamented
with fine relief sculpture. A
triglyph is aligned over each
column & there is usually Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Agrigentum Temple of Parthenon, Athens
one over each inter
columniation.

THE CORNICE, the upper

part, has at the top a
cymatium or gutter
moulding.

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IONIC ORDER Ionic Order‐ second capital introduced by Greek architecture more
sophisticated order less heavy than the Doric less elaborated than the
‐ The most sophisticated, less heavy than the Doric. Corinthian.
‐ The lonic order is especially remarkable for its volute or
scroll capital. The spiral was also a common motif in Aegean art,
lonic order evolved from timber forms.
‐ Including capital & base, usually about 9 times their lower
diameter in height & have 24 flutes separated by fillets & not by
arrises or sharp edges as in the doric column.
PLINTH – the lowest square member of the base of a column.
FILLETS – a small flat band between mouldings to separate them
from each other.
FLUTES – a vertical channeling on the shaft of a column.

THE IONIC ENTABLATURE

DENTILS – tooth like blocks in lonic & Corinthian cornices.
CYMATIUM – the crowning member of a cornice generally in the
form of a cyma (above).

Examples of Ionic Temples in Greece
Temple of the Illissus, Athens
Temple of Nike, Apteros, Athens
CORINTHIAN ORDER
‐ The slenderest, elegant and the most elaborated order with acanthus leaves
and caucoli stalks
‐ This appears in the Greek Architecture in the 5th century B. C. as a decorative
variant of the IONIC, the difference lying almost entirely in the column capital.

THREE PARTS
1. Architrave
2. Frieze
3. Cornice – the cornice is the developed type, with small dentils in the
bedmould.
The Erechtheion, Athens
CAUCOLI – any of the ornamental stales rising between the leaves of a Corinthian
capita from which the volutes spring.

MODILLION ‐ a projecting member of ‘bracket’ to supports a weights generally

formed with scrolls or volutes; when carrying the upper members of a cornice,
brackets are generally termed modillions or ‘consoles’ sometimes also termed as
ancones.

ANCONES – consoles on either side of a doorway supporting a cornice.

Corinthian Order –the third capital introduced by the Greek architecture most EXAMPLES OF CORINTHIAN TEMPLES
elaborated and most elegant of all the 3 capitals introduced by the Greeks. it looks
like an “inverted bell “. Temple of Olympian Zeus The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens

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EXAMPLES
1. CYMA RECTA – often carved with honeysuckle ornament, whose
outline corresponds with the section.
2. CYMA REVEA (ogee) – when enriched is carved with the water
BAS‐RELIEF is the carving in  leaf & tongue.
low or shallow relief on a 
background.
3. OVOLO (egg‐like) – when enriched is carved with the egg l& dart,
or egg & tongue ornament.
4. FELLET – a small plain face to separate other mouldings, is usually
without enrichment.
5. ASTRAGAL OR BEAD – serves much the same as the fillet, but
MOULDINGS – are an architectural  approaches a circle in section. It is sometimes carve with the “bead &
device whereby, with the help of  reel”.
the light & shade they produce,  6. CAVEITO – is a simple hollow.
definition is given to the salient 
lines of a building.
7. SCOTIA – is a deep hollow which occurs in bases, & is generally
not enriched.
Greek Mouldings were refined & delicate in  8. TORUS – is really a magnified head moulding which, when
contour, due first to the fine‐grained marble  enriched, is carved with the guilloche or plait ornament, or with bundle of
in which often they were carved, & secondly  leaves tied bands.
to the clear atmosphere & continuous  9. BIRDS BEAK MOULDING – occurs frequently in the Doric order &
sunshine which produced strong shadows  gives a big shadow.
from slight projections.
10. THE CORONA – or deep vertical face of the upper portion of the
cornice, was frequently painted with a Greek ‘feet’ ornament.

SCOTIA TORUS BIRDS BEAK MOULDINGS

FILLET CYMA RECTA & CYMA REVERSA   OVOLO ( EGG‐LIKE)

CAVIETO ASTRAGAL OR BEAD CORONA

The Temple of Zeus Olympus, Agrigentum – (Doric, Pseudo‐Peripteral,

Examples of Greek Temples Heptastyle) – second largest Greek temple by Architect Theron, uses
The Parthenon, Athens – (Doric, Peripteral, Octastyle) – dedicated to the  Atlantes, carved male figures support carrying the world in kneeling
goddness Athena, largest Greek temple by architect Ictinus and Callicrates and 
position
master sculptor Phedias

Atlantes, carved male figures

support carrying the world in
kneeling position

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Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Bassae – (Doric, Ionic,
Corinthian, Peripteral, Hexastyle) – by architect
Ictinus
The Erectheion, Athens ‐ (Ionic, Apteral, Irregular Plan, No
side Collonades) – forms the imposing entrance to the
Acropolis. Uses caryatid porch and “egg and tongue” or “egg
and dart” ornaments
Caryatid a stone carving of a draped 
female figure, used as a pillar to support 
the entablature of a Greek or Greek‐style 
building.
The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens – (Corinthian)
– a type of monument erected to support a Tripold, as a prize
for athletics exercises of musical competitions in Greek
festivals.
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Temple of Nike Apteros, Athens – (Ionic, Amphi‐
Prostyle, Tetrastyle) – dedicated to the “wingless
victory”
The Temple of Artemis, Ephesus – (Hellenistic Temple, Ionic, Dipteral,
Octastyle) – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. The Center of Pan‐
Ionic festival of the Asiatic Colonies by Architect Deinocrates, under the
time of Alexander the Great and the master sculptor Scopas
The Olympeion, Athens – (Corinthian, Dipteral, octastyle) – by
architect Cossutius and builder Antiochus Epiphanes
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Tower of the Winds, Athens – (Octagonal structure) – known Propylaea – entrance gateways which marked the approach to
as the Horologium of Andronikos Cyrrhestes, Clepsydra or the sacred enclosures in many cities
water clock internally, sundial externally e.g. Propylaea of Athens – forms the imposing entrance to
Acropolis
 Propylaea, Epidauros
 Propylaea, Priene
 Propylaea, Eleusis

Theater – an open air structure, which consisted of

orchestra, auditorium or cavea skene, stage, parascenia,
stoae and diazoma. The building was generally hollowed out
if the slope of a hillside, in or near a city, & receive definitive
architectural form only in the 4th century B.C.

Parts of the Theater

a. Orchestra – circular paved space
b. Auditorium or cavea – in tiers of stone seats
arranged in the horseshoe shape around the circular paved
space (orchestra) used by the chows
c. Skene or scene – for actors
d. Stage or logeion
e. Parascenia or dressing room
f. Diazoma or wide horizontal walkway between the
upper and lower auditorium seats
g. Stoae or columnated portico

The Theater of Dionysus, Athens – where famous Choragic competitions
took place during the Panathenaic festivals; considered to be the prototype
of all greek theaters and accommodating almost 18,000 spectators
6. Public Buildings – restoration of Athens, Olympia, Delphi and
Epidaurus gave an idea of the distribution of buildings on this famous sites
AGORA – or town square, an open air, was the center of social & business
life, around or near which were stoas or colonnaded porticoes, temples,
administrative & public buildings, markets, places of entertainment,
monuments and shrines. Also a market place

The Theater Epidauros – most 
beautiful and preserved Greek 
temple by architect Polycleitus

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STOA – a long colonnaded building which serves to connect

public monuments and for shelter. Stoas are used around
public places and as shelters and religious shrines.
e.g. Stoa of Eumenes, Athens
Echo Collonade or Stoa Poikile, Olympia
Stoa of Atallos 11, Athens

PRYTANEION – served as senate house for the chief dignitaries BOULEUTERION – or council house was a covered meeting
of the city and as a place where distinguish visitors & citizens place for the democratically‐elected councils.
might be entertained. e.g. Boulevterion, Miletus – largest accommodation of 1,200
e.g. Prytaneion, Olympia people
Prytaneion, Athens
Prytaneion, Priene

ASSEMBLY HALLS – used by citizens in general, were similar,

but needed to be longer.
e.g. Thersillion, Megapolis
Ecclesiasterion, Priene

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ODEION – a kindred type to the theatre, used mainly by musician in the STADIUM or STADION – foot racecourse in cities where games are
presentation of their works for competition and for the approval of the celebrated, and also used for other athletic performances. It had a length of
public. about 183m (600ft) between banks of seat founded on convenient natural
e.g. Odeion of Pericles, Athens ground or from the spoil of excavation of flat.
Odeion of herodes Atticus, Athens e.g. The Stadium, Athens – up to 50,000 spectators by Architect Herodes
Atticus
Louisiana Superdome – largest stadium

HIPPODROME – plan similar to stadium though longer type of PALAESTRA – a wrestling‐school

building for horse and chariot racing; the prototype of the
Roman Circus.

GYMNASIUM – a place for physical exercises of all kinds, both

palaestra and gymnasium were prototype of Roman Thermae

Parts of the Gymnasium

a. courts for athletes
b. tanks for bathers
c. dressing rooms and tolets
d. exedrae and other seats for spectators
e. stores, places for rest and conversation
f. ephebium or club – for lectures
e.g. Gymnasia, Olympia

Gymnasia, Ephesus

Gymnasia, Pergamum

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NAVAL BUILDINGS – included ship‐sheds & stores (at this time,
principle of roof truss not yet understood).
e.g. Sanctuary of the Bulls, Delos
7. TOMBS – “mausoleum” or monumental
tombs
e.g.
NEREID MONUMENT – (Xanthos) typifies
lonian sculptural luxuriance & the use in
Greek Asia Minor of a temple form of a tomb,
elevated on a high PODIUM. The entablature,
lacks of true frieze, but the architrave is
sculptured & there are other base‐relief frieze
on the podium. Between the column stood
NEREIDS or marine nymphs.

PODIUM – a continuous
pedestal; also the
enclosing platform of the
arena of an amphitheatre
 THE LION TOMB
 TOMB OF THE
WEEPERS, SIDON
SARCOPHAGUS, CNIDOS –
taken from a tomb
chamber, of the
ornamental treatment
given to a stone coffin
hewn out of one block of
marble & with sculptures
of a late period.
Tomb of Cnidos

MAUSOLEUM, HALICARNASSUS (353 BC) – the most famous of all tombs
and one of the seven Wonders of the world; it was a huge marble tomb was
erected to King Mausolus of Caria in Asia Minor by his widow, Artemisia
and from it is derived the term “Mausoleum” applied to monumental
tombs. Architects were Phythius and Satyrus and master sculptor was
Scopas.
8. DOMESTIC BUILDINGS or Greek Houses – usually one
storey with rooms built around an internal court with
porticoes on three sides and chambers grouped around.
‐ The Greeks live much of their waking life in the public
& sacred parts of the city and their houses were at firs
modest in scope and materials.
‐ The DORIAN GREEKS developed the “pastas” house,
being a long shallow room, crossing the house from side to
side and partly open on the South towards the court, whilst
serving two for access to the main inner rooms to the north.
e.g. House No. 33, Priene – planned similar to Aegean
Megaron and considered to be the best example of a
Greek house

Maison Della Colline, Delos

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CANEPHORA – sculptured female figures bearing baskets on
their heads.
Telamon or Telamones – male figure in kneeling position
supporting the world at his shoulders.
TERMINOLOGIES
Abacus – the flat square slab on top of the capital; uppermost member of a capital
Ancon or Console – a scrolled bracket which supports a cornice or entablature over
a door or a window
Andron / Andronitis – the part of a building used by men especially the banquet
room
Apotheca – store room; wine storage
Cyclostyle – a circular colonnade
Cyrtostyle – a circular projecting portico
Dentils – a small square block used in series in lonic, Corinthian, Composite and
rarely in Doric cornices
Dromos – the long deep passage way to an ancient Egyptian tomb
Entasis – a slight convex curve used on Greek columns (vertical and horizontal) to
correct the optical illusion of concavity which result to dropping and sagging.
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CARYATID PORCH – sculptured female figures used as
columns or supports.
Atlas or Atlantes – carved male figures serving as
pillars
Fluting – a shallow, concave grooves running vertically on the shaft of a column, pilaster
or other surfaces
Glyptotheca – a sculpture gallery
Hecatompedon – a building 100 feet long or wide; especially the cella of Parthenon
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 sides of the doorway supporting a cornice
Plinth – the lowest square member of the base of the column
Quadriga – a chariot drawn by four horses
Thesaurus – the treasury house of ancient Greece
Triga – a chariot drawn by three horses
Vestibule – the anteroom or small foyer leading into a larger space
Volute – a spiral scroll in an lonic capital; smaller versions appear on Corinthian and
Composite capitals
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End

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