CHAPTER 5

GREEK
ARCHITECTURE
3,000-30 BC
OBJECTIVES:

 To determine the influences that affect

development of Greek architecture
 To know the architectural character of
Greek
 To identify the architectural examples of
Greece
GEOGRAPHICAL
It was upon the island of create that arose the first great sea-
power of the Mediterranean, which flourished a thousand
years before the Greek civilization reached its peak.
This “Aegean” culture extended to Greece and her islands, and
was founded on trade around the whole Eastern
Mediterranean seaboard, with Asia Minor, Cyprus, Syria,
Palestine, Egypt and Libya. Trading vessels also reach South
Italy Sicily.
The mountains of inland Greece separated the inhabitants into
groups or clans, and thus arose that rivalry which characterized
the Greek states, whether in peace or war.
The rugged nature of the Greek peninsula and its islands with
the mountains made communication difficult. It was bounded
on two sides by Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea.
Athens as its center kingdom contains the upper city known
“Citadel”.
GEOLOGICAL
• Marble is the chief building materials in
Greece but they also have ample supplies of
the building stones.
CLIMATIC
• Intermediate between rigorous cold and
relaxing heat. The clear atmosphere and intensity
of light conductive to the development of the love
of precise and exact orms which are special
attributes of Greek architecture.
• The administration of justice, dramatic
representations, and most public ceremonies took
place in the open air, even in winter too, and this
is largely due to the limited variety of public
buildings other buildings other than temples.
• The hot summer sun and sudden winter
showers, together with the Greek love of
conversation probably explains the porticoes &
colonnades which were such important features.
RELIGIOUS
• The “AEGEANS” worship nature which went
through a series of primitive stages. Mysteries of
masculine force were represented by the Sacred
Bull, symbolize by the “horns of consecration” ,
and the shield and the sacrificial double are also
had mystical virtues. Priestesses rather than
priests conducted the religious rites.

• The GREEK RELIGION was also a worship of

natural phenomena and highly developed. The
Gods were personifications or particular elements,
or were deified heroes, and each town or district
had its own local preferences, ceremonies or
traditions. They represent their deities by large
statues.
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
APPOLO God of law reasons, art music APOLLO
and poetry, founder of cities
ATHENA Goddess of wisdom and learning MINERVA
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
HERMES Messenger of the Gods MERCURY
APHRODITE God of commerce, love and beauty VENUS
HEPHAESTUS God of fire, flame and forge VULCAN
God of Handicrafts
ARES God of war MARS
HERACLES

HERACLES God of strength and labor pan HERCULES

HESTIA Goddess of hearth and home VESTA
NIKE Goddess of Victor VICTORIA
PAN God of shepherds and flocks PAN
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.
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.
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.
B. MYCENAEAN or HELLADIC PERIOD
(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.
C. HELLENIC GREECE (800-323BC)
- 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
 Parthenon

Parthenon in the Acropolis

D. HELLENISTIC GREECE
(232-30BC)

- 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
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
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

c. Rectangular d. Inclined blocks

B. Greek Architecture or Hellenic Period
Characteristic of Greek Architecture

1. Simplicity and Harmony

2. Purity of Lines
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
1. They use rectangular plans
2. Temples gateway “propylaea”
3. Collonade surrounds the temple LACUNARIA
4. Ceilings were omitted and treated with timber
paneled coffers “lacunaria”
5. Walls were made up of stones
6. Marble sculptures completed the buildings
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
 Technical Term Number of Columns at Front

Distyle -2 columns
Tetrastyle-4 columns, term used
by Vitruvius
Hexastyle-6 columns, term used
by Vitruvius
Octastyle-8 columns
Decastyle-10 columns
PARTS OF AN ANCIENT GREEK
TEMPLE OF THE DORIC ORDER
1.TYMPANUM
2. ACROTERIUM
3. SIMA
4. CORNICE
5. MUTULES
7. FRIEZE
8. TRIGLYPH
9. METOPE
10. REGULA
11. GUTTA
12. TAENIA
13. ARCHITRAVE
14. CAPITAL
15 ABACUS
16. ECHINUS
17. COLUMN
18. FLUTING
19. STYLOBATE
The Parthenon
General information
Type Temple
Architectural style Classical
Location Athens, Greece
Current tenants Museum
Construction started 447 BC [1][2]
Completed 438 BC [1][2]
Destroyed Partially on 26 September 1687
Owner Greek government
Height 13.72 m (45.0 ft)
Dimensions
Other dimensions Cella: 29.8 by 19.2 m (98 by 63 ft)

Technical details
Size 69.5 by 30.9 m (228 by 101 ft)
Architect Iktinos, Kallikrates
Other designers Phidias (sculptor)
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.
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
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
 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.
b. The rock-cut or chamber tomb
HELLENIC PERIOD (650-323BC)
Greek architectural style was essentially columnar &
trabeated (trabs-a beam), and this gave it that simple
straight forward character in which the constructive
system is self-evident.

Greek columns & their entablatures were at first entirely

of timber, with terra-cotta decorations in the upper
trabeation, but were converted into stone quite early in
the period, about 600 BC the translation was quite direct,
timber forms being imitated in stone with remarkable
exactness.

Temenos – sacred enclosure, also known as citadel or

acropolis or upper city.
Important Structures Found in Acropolis

a. Principal temple
b. Pinacotheca (picture gallery)
c. Glyptotheca (sculpture gallery)
d. Statue of Athena
e. The Erectheon
f. Old Temple of Athena
g. The Parthenon
h. Theater of Dionysos
i. Stoa of Eumenes
j. Odeion of Herodes Atticus
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 Civc Square at Miletus

Civic Square at Ephesus

Civic Square at Priene

Civc Square at Miletus
Temples – the chief class of buildings in the Hellenic
Period; usually the plan is rectangular in shape.

 Built with special regard to outward effect, since

they were not intended for internal worship & the
altar stood opposite the east front.
 Adorned with fine sculpture in order to form
fitting shrines to the deities to whom, they were
dedicated.
 Generally stood upon a crepidoma of three or
more steps.
Parts of Greek Temple

Naos – the principal chamber in a Greek temple

containing the statue of deity, with porticoes and
colonnades

Pronaos – the inner portico in front of the naos or

cella of the naos

Epinaos or Opisthodomus – posticum which serves as

the treasury chamber
Parts of Greek Temple
Naos Section of Greek Temple
Two Ways of Describing Temples:
a. According to the number of columns on the
entrance front
b. By the arrangement of the exterior columns of
the temple in relation to the Naos as below:
HENOSTYLE – one column
DISTYLE - two columns
TRISTYLE – three columns
TETRASTYLE – four columns
PENTASTYLE – five columns
HEXASTYLE – six columns
HEPTASTYLE – seven columns
OCTASTYLE – eight columns
ENNEASTYLE – nine columns
DECASTYLE – ten columns Distyle in antis
DODECASTYLE – twelve columns
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
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
colonnade porticoes or “STOAS”.
• TRABEATED ARCHITECTURE, but arches
began to appear over wall-openings, & large,
niche-like recesses in building plans.
Greek Stoa
TRABEATED – a style of architecture in Greek in which the beam forms the
constructive feature.
EXEDRAE or EXEDRA – a recess or alcove with raised seat where the
disputation of the learned took place.
VOUSSOIRS – the truncated wedge shaped blocks forming an
arc
PROPYLAEA, or entrance gateways, marked the approach to the sacred
enclosure in many cities such as Athens, Epidauros, Eleusis & Priene.
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
raking cornices

ANTEFIXAE - ornamental blocks fixed vertically

regular intervals along the lower ledge
of a roof, to cover the ends of tiles.
EVOLUTION OF THE DORIC ORDER
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.
TYMPANUM - the triangular CORNICE – the crowing or
surface bounded by the sloping upper portion of the
& horizontal cornices of a entablature, also used for
pediment. any crowning projection.

FRIEZE – the middle division

of classic entablature.

ARCHITRAVE - the beam or

lowest division of the
entablature, which extends
from column to column.
Also a moulded frame
around a door kl;& window.
CAPITAL – the crowning
feature of a column or
pilaster.
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
vertical channels which
form a distinguish in
feature in the Frieze of
the Doric entablature.

METOPE – the space

between Doric Triglyphs,
sometimes left open in
ancient examples,
afterwards applied to the
carb slabs.
TENIA – a flat projecting
band capping the architrave
of a Doric entablature.

GUTTAE – small cones under

the Triglyphs & Mutules of
the Doric entablature.

REGULA – the short band,

under the triglyphs, beneath
the tenia of the Doric
entablature, & to which the
Guttae are attached.

ANNULETS – a small flat

fillet encircling a column. It is
several times repeated
under the ovolo or echinus
of the Doric capital.
TRACHELION – the neck of
the Greek Dorian column,
between the annulets & the
gromes or hypotrachelion.
HYPOTRACHELION – the
channels or grooves
beneath the Trachelion at
the junction of the capital
& shaft of a column.

ENTABLATURE – the
upper part of an order of
architecture.
-comprising architrave,
frieze & cornice,
supported by a
colonnade.

COLUMN – a vertical
support, generally
consisting of a base,
circular shaft, & spreading
capital.

ANTEFIXAE – ornamental
blocks, fixed vertically at
regular intervals along the
lower edge of roof, to
cover the ends of tiles.
THE DORIC ORDER

-The simplest, earliest and the most perfect among the

orders.
-It has a timber origin. Greek columns began as tapered tree
trunks, the function of the square abacus & circular echinus
comprising the capital being to gather & transmit the load of
the entablature to the column shaft
-The lowest of the CORNICE represents the wooden plate
across the tops of the TRIGLYPHS to receive the wide, flat
rapters, recognizable in stone architecture as MUTULES,
which always retain a slope echoing the pitch of the roof.

-It stand without a base directly on the crepidoma, usually

of three steps, and has a height, including the capital, of
from 4-6 times the diameter at the base in the Hellenistic.
Arris – the sharp edge
formed by the
meeting of two
suraces.

Flutes – the vertical

channeling on the
shaft of a column.

Abacus – the slab

forming the crowning
member of a capital.

Echinus – the convex

or projecting
moulding, resembling
the shell of the sea-
urchin, which
supports the abacus
of the Greek Doric
Capital.
The Doric entablature

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
one over each inter
columniation.

THE CORNICE, the upper

part, has at the top a
cymatium or gutter
moulding.
SOME DORIC TEMPLES IN GREECE
Temple of Apollo, Corinth Temple of Apollo, Delphi

Temple of Zeus, Olympia, Agrigentum Temple of Parthenon, Athens

IONIC ORDER
- The most sophisticated, less heavy than the Doric.
- 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).
Ionic Order- second capital introduced by Greek architecture more
sophisticated order less heavy than the Doric less elaborated than the
Corinthian.
Examples of Ionic Temples in Greece
Temple of the Illissus, Athens Temple of Nike, Apteros, Athens

The Erechtheion, 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.

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
elaborated and most elegant of all the 3 capitals introduced by the Greeks. it looks
like an “inverted bell “.
EXAMPLES OF CORINTHIAN TEMPLES
Temple of Olympian Zeus The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens
 BAS-RELIEF is the carving in
low or shallow relief on a
background.

MOULDINGS – are an architectural

device whereby, with the help of
the light & shade they produce,
definition is given to the salient
lines of a building.
Greek Mouldings were refined & delicate in
contour, due first to the fine-grained marble
in which often they were carved, & secondly
to the clear atmosphere & continuous
sunshine which produced strong shadows
from slight projections.
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
leaf & tongue.
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
approaches a circle in section. It is sometimes carve with the “bead &
reel”.
6. CAVEITO – is a simple hollow.
7. SCOTIA – is a deep hollow which occurs in bases, & is generally
not enriched.
8. TORUS – is really a magnified head moulding which, when
enriched, is carved with the guilloche or plait ornament, or with bundle of
leaves tied bands.
9. BIRDS BEAK MOULDING – occurs frequently in the Doric order &
gives a big shadow.
10. THE CORONA – or deep vertical face of the upper portion of the
cornice, was frequently painted with a Greek ‘feet’ ornament.
FILLET CYMA RECTA & CYMA REVERSA OVOLO ( EGG-LIKE)

CAVIETO ASTRAGAL OR BEAD

SCOTIA TORUS BIRDS BEAK MOULDINGS

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

Atlantes, carved male figures

support carrying the world in
kneeling position
 Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Bassae – (Doric, Ionic,
Corinthian, Peripteral, Hexastyle) – by architect
Ictinus
 Temple of Nike Apteros, Athens – (Ionic, Amphi-
Prostyle, Tetrastyle) – dedicated to the “wingless
victory”
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 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 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.
The Olympeion, Athens – (Corinthian, Dipteral, octastyle) – by
architect Cossutius and builder Antiochus Epiphanes
Tower of the Winds, Athens – (Octagonal structure) – known
as the Horologium of Andronikos Cyrrhestes, Clepsydra or
water clock internally, sundial externally
 Propylaea – entrance gateways which marked the approach to
the sacred enclosures in many cities
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

The Theater Epidauros – most

beautiful and preserved Greek
temple by architect Polycleitus
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
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
of the city and as a place where distinguish visitors & citizens
might be entertained.
e.g. Prytaneion, Olympia
Prytaneion, Athens
Prytaneion, Priene
BOULEUTERION – or council house was a covered meeting
place for the democratically-elected councils.
e.g. Boulevterion, Miletus – largest accommodation of 1,200
people
ASSEMBLY HALLS – used by citizens in general, were similar,
but needed to be longer.
e.g. Thersillion, Megapolis
Ecclesiasterion, Priene
ODEION – a kindred type to the theatre, used mainly by musician in the
presentation of their works for competition and for the approval of the
public.
e.g. Odeion of Pericles, Athens
Odeion of herodes Atticus, Athens
STADIUM or STADION – foot racecourse in cities where games are
celebrated, and also used for other athletic performances. It had a length of
about 183m (600ft) between banks of seat founded on convenient natural
ground or from the spoil of excavation of flat.
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
building for horse and chariot racing; the prototype of the
Roman Circus.
PALAESTRA – a wrestling-school
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
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

CANEPHORA – sculptured female figures bearing baskets on
their heads.
CARYATID PORCH – sculptured female figures used as
columns or supports.
Telamon or Telamones – male figure in kneeling position
supporting the world at his shoulders.
Atlas or Atlantes – carved male figures serving as
pillars
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.
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
End