Similarities & Differences

between
Greek & Roman
Art & Architecture

-SAKIBA NAWAR
2019345018
 Greek
T h e a n c i e n t G re e k s
d e v e l o p e d t h re e
a rc h i t e c t u ra l s t y l e s c a l l e d
the Doric, Ionic and
C o r i n t h i a n o rd e rs . Ea c h s t y l e
h a s i t s o w n f l a re a n d c a n b e
most easily identified by its
type of column. The Doric
o rd e r e m p l o y s t h e e a r l i e s t
and simplest column, which
h a s a c a p i ta l ( t o p ) a n d a
s h a f t ( t h e l e n gt h o f t h e
column) but no base. The
I o n i c o rd e r c a l l e d fo r a m o re
d e c o ra t i v e d e s i g n t h a t
i n c l u d e d v o l u t e s ( s c ro l l - l i ke
d e c o ra t i o n s ) o n t h e c a p i ta l ,
flutes (lines) carved into the
columns and a base that
gav e t h e a p p e a ra n c e o f r i n g s
s ta c ke d o n t o p o f e a c h o t h e r.
Ta l l e r s h a f t s a n d a s p e c i a l
b u l g e i n t h e m c a l l e d e n ta s i s
gav e t h e I o n i c c o l u m n s a
l e a n e r a n d m o re g ra c e f u l
a p p e a ra n c e t h a n t h e i r D o r i c
counterparts. The Corinthian
o rd e r i s t h e m o s t d e c o ra t i v e
a n d e l a b o ra t e o f t h e G re e k
styles. The Corinthian style
is also the only one that
e m p l o y s a f l a t ro o f.
L i m e s t o n e a n d m a r b l e w e re
the materials most
commonly used to construct
the temples and public
buildings.
 Roman
T h e a r c h i t e c t u ra l l e g a c y o f
the ancient Greeks lived on
in Roman architecture where
all three of the established
orders continued to be
employed. The Romans
preferred the Corinthian
order and added their own
flare to it by making it even
more decorative and
elaborate than the Greeks
had. While Roman architects
followed the Greek orders,
they also experimented with
concrete, arches and vaulting
that propelled them into
their own right as architects.
The Romans shaped the
interior spaces of their
buildings to make them
equally as remarkable as
their exteriors. While the
Greeks are known for their
columns, the Romans are
known for their arches,
which were used for both
design and support in
numerous buildings and
monuments. Romans used
arches to build aqueduct
systems, which allowed them
to funnel fresh water into
their cities. Arches were also
employed in the construction
of the Colosseum and were
even built to celebrate war
victories. In addition to
helping supply the city with
w a t e r, R o m a n a r c h e s l e d t o
the development of domed
ceilings that were used to
build both public buildings
and private dwellings.
Similarities
In the colonial era, the Greeks and Romans affected and influenced each
other. The two nations mostly interacted through trade at the black sea and
Mediterranean regions. The trade also thrived due to security from Roman
military. As time eloped and civilization perpetuated, the Romans adopted
beliefs and practices of the Greeks (Guttman, 2012).
There are huge similarities between Greek and Roman art and architecture.

 ORDERS:The most obvious similarity between Greek and Roman

architecture is the use of the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders.
 CONCEPT: Both of them used to follow concept of harmony,
balance and simplicity in the use of space.
 MARBLES: The Romans and the Greeks both used lots of marble in
their statues, specifically white marble.
 MYTHOLOGY: They both had same gods (different names as it
was with Athena the goddess of beauty renamed Venus
the goddess of gardens.)and as their art was highly influenced
by mythology it made a lot of similarities.
 POLITICAL STRUCTURE: They had the same political structure
which also has greatly affected their art and architecture.
 TEMPLES:The Roman and Greek temples havea lot of similarities
in their structure.
 DIRECT INFLUENCE: In many cases Greekand roman art and
architecture share a lot of similarities to the point that it becomes
really hard to separate the two forms. As Roman were so
impressed by Greek culture, mythology and so on they followed
their way of formation and brought that to another level.
 CLASSICAL ARCHITECTURE: The Greeks and Romans created
unique styles of architecture that together are known as classical
architecture and continue to influence modern architects.
 Differences
Though Romans were highly influenced by Greek culture still they had a lot
of differences.

 CORINTHIAN ORDER: The Greeks did prefer the use of the Doric and Ionic
orders, whereas the Romans preferred the more ornate Corinthian order.
 ARCHES AND DOMES:Roman architecture was characterized by arches
and domes which Greeks didn’t use.
 IDEALARTISTIC FORM VS.REALISTIC POTRAITS: Greek art was to produce
ideal artistic formswhile Roman art was to decorate using realistic portraits.
 AMPHORAVS. FRESCI:The Greeks wereknown foramphora (which are
basically big jugs) on which they would paint images of myths or important
events. Onthe other hand the Romans wereknown forfresci, mosaics and
wall painting which were very similar because they would just put mosaics
on the floor and in the wall was a painting which could look the same. The
Roman mosaics and paintings were usually images of events or important
people.
 SPIRITUALISM VS. REALISM: The Greeks soughtto explore spiritualism, the
Romans were inclined towards realism.
 CONCRETE:The Greeks did not have concrete like the Romans which was
some tough stuff. The Romans used their concrete to make massive building
like the colosseum. Since the Greeks did not have concrete, the Greeks used
lots of marble in their larger and more public places. For housing they used
wood and brick.
 POTTERY:When it comes to pottery the Greeks would paint onto
pots/vases with a watered down clay (usually depicting scenes of mythology
again, sometimes eroticism) that when fired in a kiln would turn black and
reveal a beautiful black and terracotta image. The Romans preferred to
engrave theirs.
 SIMPLICITY VS. EXTRAVAGANCE: Greek artleaned more towards harmony
and simplicity whileRoman arttowards extravagance.
 TEMPLES: Roman temples, while related to theGreek templeform in
general design and use of the orders, represent a separate category of
temple form. For example: Romans temples were built on an elevated
plateau with a front staircase while the Greek temples were on a on a base
of three steps (a stylobate).
 The artistic forms of ancient Greece and Rome, which we call
the Classical civilizations, set the foundations for Western aesthetics
that define our tastes in music, art, and architecture to this day.