INFLUENCES IN GREEK

ARCHITECTURE
RELIGION
• Religion played a key role in ancient Greek
architecture. Many of the infamous
structures, such as the Parthenon and the
Acropolis, were influenced by a particular
Greek god or goddess.
PARTHENON
ACROPOLIS
TEMPLE OF ZEUS
Temple of Hephaistos (449
BCE)
Athens.
Other Architectural
Influences
• Religion was not the only important aspect
to have an influence on ancient Greek
architecture. Architecture in Classical
Greece was also influenced by a
geographical, geological, climatic, and social
aspects.
Geography
Most of Greece is made up of
mountainous terrain. Mount Olympus is
the highest mountain in Greece reaching
it's peak elevation at about 9,570 feet.
Mount Olympus is also regarded to be the
heavenly abode of the Greek gods and the
site of Zeus' throne. Many temples, such as
the Acropolis, can be found sitting atop a hill.
MOUNT OLYMPUS
Geology
•The chief mineral found in Greece was
marble. Marble was used to construct
many of the ancient Greek temples. A
good example of a ancient Greek
structure that is made of marble is the
Temples at Paestum.
The Paestum temples
Climate
• The climate of ancient Greece was
moderate and warm. There were sudden
rain showers. Greeks favored outdoor life
which had a great impact on the design of
buildings. Many buildings featured an open
concept and featured porticoes and
colonnades.
A portico
A COLLONADE
Social
• Greeks were devoted to religion and held
many religious festivals. In addition to
religion, Greeks had a passion for music,
drama, and art.
GENERAL ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS