Mapua University

School of Architecture, Industrial Design, and the Build Environment

S.y 2021-2022

In-depth review of the literature to

Greek Architecture
AR120-1 | History of Architecture 1

Passed by: Germagne P. Verutiao

Passed to: Mr. Yosef Maru Pablo
Course/Year: BSAR/ 1st Year
Section: A59
The structures created on the Greek mainland, the Aegean Islands, and across the Greek colonies

in Asia Minor which is also known as Turkey today, Sicily, and Italy between 900 and 27 BCE

are referred to as Ancient Greek architecture. It is best notable for its stone temples during

600BCE and onward, as evidenced by the Temple of Hera I in Paestum, Italy; the Parthenon,

Erechtheum, and Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis in Athens; and the Temple of the

Olympian Zeus at the Acropolis' foot.

Greek architecture is notable for various reasons: (1) Because of its logic and order. Greek

architecture is based on logic and order. A coded pattern of pieces, based first on function, then

on a reasoned system of sculptural embellishment, was used by the Hellenes to plan their

temples. The symmetry, harmony, and pleasure of the sight were defined by mathematics.

Under the Ancient Greek Architecture, there were five orders the Doric, Ionic, Corinthian,

Tuscan, and Composite. Greek architects built the first three and heavily impacted the

subsequent two which were composites rather than true inventions. An order is a combination of

a certain column style, with or without a base, and an entablature (what the column supports: the

architrave, frieze, and cornice). The older employment of wooden pillars quickly evolved into

the Doric column in stone. This was a vertical fluted column shaft, thinner towards the top, with

no base and a simple capital below a square abacus.

The entablature frieze featured alternating triglyphs and metopes. The Ionic order, with origins in

mid-6th century BCE Asia Minor, appended a base and volute, or scroll capital, to a leaner,

straighter column. A frieze with intricately carved sculpture is usually shown on Ionic

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entablature. A identical to the Ionic column but with a more beautiful capital of exaggerated

acanthus and fern leaves, the Corinthian column, which was constructed in Athens in the 5th

century BCE, is similar to the Ionic column. These orders established the foundation of western

architecture, and it's rare to walk through any modern metropolis avoid witnessing

representations of them in some way.

The Greek society was significantly influenced by geography. The country is steep, with hills

and dales dividing it. Moreover the area is encircled on all three sides by sea with several islands.

the coast line is indented with the many natural harbours. The mountains divided Greeks from

one another, which drove Greek communities to create their own way of life. Greece is made up

of various mountains, secluded valleys, and tiny islands. The Greeks were unable to construct a

big empire like Egypt or Mesopotamia due to their location.

One of its geological influences is the Marble. Marble, the most magnificent and grandiose of all

construction materials and one that permits exactness of line and refinement of detail, was

Greece's main mineral riches.

The weather in Greece varies depending on the region. The characteristic Mediterranean climate

of hot and dry summers with warm to rainy winters prevails in the south and central parts of the

nation, but the harshest winters prevail in the north.

Within a society that accepted multiplicity, the ancient Greeks worshipped a variety of gods. A

single truth or code were recognised by Ancient greece civilization, but still no sacred written

record such as the Bible or Qur'an was produced.

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The architecture that was employed in ordinary dwellings and living surroundings supported a

more sociable lifestyle. This was done by making their dwellings face inward, with gardens and

windows facing a central courtyard, where it it was where frequent meals and social gatherings

of friends and family would take place.

A classic Greek dwelling was built in a block-like pattern. It was made up of several rooms that

were connected by a central courtyard. The courtyard was the most prominent feature of the

house because of the ambience. This form of house supported a sociable lifestyle. It is an outside

room with a veranda where the home's owners, as well as their friends and family, could gather.

The Architectural characters of the Ancient Greek Architecture are very diverse with its different

period of Architecture. Aegeans used to make multi-storey constructions with a low pitch or flat

roof is used, vertical circulation that is achieved by creating a stairway, and the main

construction types were "Megaron" houses and palaces where it has a porch that is enclose, the

living room or megaron proper, bedroom or thalamus.

They also have four (4) methods of wall surface finishing: Cyclopean, where it is made up of

laid down huge stones blocks that are also called “Masonry”. Polygonal, where it is a masonry

where the stones are in a polygonal shape. Rectangular, where the stone blocks are cut into

several rectangular shapes. And Inclined, where the stones are fixed in an inclined manner.

The characteristics of Greek Architecture are focused on simplicity and harmony of the buildings

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with the purity of lines, perfection of proportions and the refinement of details of each structure.

Some of the prominent examples of Ancient Greek Architecture is the Temple of Apollo and the
Temple of Artemis.

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

The Temple of Apollo, Delphi is located in what is now Phocis. It was a sacred site devoted to

the Greek deity Apollo in ancient times. The sanctuary, which was built in the 8th century B.C.,

was home to the Oracle of Delphi and the priestess Pythia, who was known throughout the

ancient world for divining the future and was consulted before all important endeavors, as well

as the Oracle of Delphi. Apollo's temple was erected in the 7th century B.C. B.C. Trophonios

and Agamedes, two renowned builders.

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 Temple of Artemis, Corfu

Corfu, which is an island found in along coast of Greece, is the home to this temple. Croesus,

king of Lydia, built the huge temple around 550 bce and repaired it when it was burnt by

Herostratus who was known as a lunatic back in the days. The Ephesus Temple of Artemis was

established to worship Artemis, one of Olympus' three female deities. The Temple of Artemis is

considered as one of the Ancient World's Seven Wonders.

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References

Caliliw, Alanis. “Greek Architecture.” SlideShare, July 3, 2017.

https://www.slideshare.net/AlanisCaliliw1/greek-architecture-78388822.

Cartwright, Mark. “Greek Architecture.” World History Encyclopedia. World History

Encyclopedia, January 6, 2013. https://www.worldhistory.org/Greek_Architecture/.

History.com, Editors. “Delphi.” History.com. A&E Television Networks, May 9, 2018.

https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-greece/delphi.

SoftSchool Inc.. “Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Facts.” Math, 2015.

https://www.softschools.com/facts/wonders_of_the_world/temple_of_artemis_at_ephesus_facts/
69/#:~:text=The%20Temple%20of%20Artemis%20at,would%20be%20near%20Selcuk%2C
%20Turkey.

Visual Arts Cork. “Greek Architecture (C.900-27 BCE).” Greek Architecture: History,
Characteristics, 2017. http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/architecture/greek.html.