Ancient Greek Architecture -550 BC- 330 BC

1
Ancient Greek Architecture -550 BC- 330 BC
2
New Vocabulary Cornice Pronaos Frieze Colonnade
Architrave Peristyle Capital Anta Shaft entasis
Base caryatid Triglyphs Metope Stylobate Entablat
ure Dentils Volute Cella (Naos)
3
Doric, Ionic, Corinthian orders
4

• Architectural Orders- constant group of
  architectural families
• Doric- from mainland Greece- basic order, older,
  more sharply defined-probably came from Mycenae
• the exterior of any Doric temple-Doric
  column-shaft, marked by shallow vertical grooves
  (flutes) and the capital, which is made up of the
  cushion-like echinus and a square tablet known as
  the abacus
• Entablature is the most complicated section-
• architrave- a series of stone blocks directly
  supported by the columns
• frieze- with its triglyphs and metopes and
  projecting cornice
• cornice- on long side of the temple, the cornice
  is horizontal, on the short sides (façade),
  cornice is split open to enclose the pediment
• entire structure is built with stone blocks
  fitted together without mortar, sometimes fitted
  together with metal dowels

5
Greek temples Were meant to be more impressive
from the outside, as opposed to Egypt, where the
inside of the temple was more important
Anta
Cella or Naos
Pronaos
Colonnade Or Peristyle-
Typical Plan of a Greek temple
6
Doric Temples-
Temple of Poseidon, c. 460 BC

• shafts of columns have a pronounced taper- have a
  sense of compression- gives the columns a
  muscular quality- entasis
• one of the best preserved of all Doric
  sanctuaries- 2 rows of columns support the
  ceiling 2 story interior

7
The Acropolis- different dates
8
Plan of the Acropolis, 400 BC
9
The Parthenon 448-432 BC
480 BC- Persians destroyed the temple and statues
at the Acropolis that had been fortified since
Mycenae- provided archeologist with many archaic
pieces (like calf-bearer and Rampin Head)
Pericles oversaw the reconstruction of the
Acropolis during the later 5th century- represent
the Classical phase of Greek art in full
maturity
Plan
10

• Less massive than Poseidon - more balanced and
  graceful-columns are more slender, the space
  between them are wider-thought to add to its
  beauty
• Originally had roof of wood and tile

11
Propylaea, Acropolis, 437-432 BC

• Also commissioned by Pericles- serves as the
  entry way to the Acropolis
• Architect was Mnesicles- fits alongside a
  hill-rising site
• Includes a picture gallery-1st known instance of
  a room made for this purpose
• Just beginning to change over to Ionic style...

12
IONIC STYLE- (First used around 450 BC
Temple of Athena Nike, Acropolis, 427-424 BC

• Ionic Temples- from the Aegean Tradition with
  influences from the Near East
• Many examples are found in the Acropolis
• More flexible than the Doric order- major
  difference is in the columns
• More slender, less tapering, lighter and more
  graceful- more plantlike and less powerful-
  probably Egyptian (papyrus) in origin
• Thought of at first as only suitable for small
  temples of simple plans

13
Erechtheum, Acropolis 421-405 BC

• Large and complex, also suited to a sloping site
• Flanked by two porches

14
Porch of the Maidens, Acropolis, 421-405 BC

• Shows off the feminine quality of the Ionic order
• Female figures are called caryatids
• Sculpture confined to the freize- pediments are
  bare- perhaps because of lack of funds

15

• Corinthian Capitals-
• Substitute for Ionic capitals
• Shaped like an inverted bell, with leaves of a
  acanthus plant
• At first, used only for interiors
• Monument is not really a building- no entrance to
  its hollow base
• Built to show off a tripod won by Lysicrates in
  a contest
• Columns are engaged
• Corinthian order became the standard for Roman
  architecture

Monument of Lysicrates, Athens, 334 BC
16
The Theater, Epidaurus, 350 BC

• Many theaters were built with same plan
• Shape built into a hillside, concentric rows of
  seats
• Center stage is called the orchestra

17

• Greek architecture failed to progress much past
  the time of the Peloponnesian War (400 BC)
• Greeks never moved beyond post and lintel
  architecture, which eventually led to a staleness
  in building design
• Never moved past the rigid nature of the orders
  of architecture