The

Greek Architecture
Prepared by:
Patricia May V. Carayap
BS Architecture III

Origins
Our word architecture
comes from the Greek
architecton,
which
means
master
carpenter.

Early Greek architecture

therefore used wood, not
stone.
These early structures, as
well as those of mudbrick, have not survived.

Wood Features in Stone

By the 6th Century BC, stone
replaced wood in the
construction of important
temples.
Designs still reflected their
origins in wood, however.

Origins

Origins
In moving from wood to stone,
builders had to adapt to the
differing properties of their building
materials.
Stone has greater resistance
strength than wood, but it lacks
flexibility strength (resistance to
bending or twisting).

Therefore, columns of stone had to

be thick enough to resist snapping
or bending under pressure.

Origins
Greek
temples,
like
Egyptian
temples,
used
basic
post-andbeam
construction.

Origins

Temple of Hera, Paestum

Hephaistion, Athens

Early temples had

massive pillars as
architects worried
about their ability to
support the weight
above.
Later temples
appear more
elegant.

Temples - Purpose
Unlike modern churches or
mosques, Greek temples
were not meant to be
meeting places for religious
gatherings.
They were homes for the
communitys god or goddess
and a place to keep
offerings.
A image or statue was
usually located in the middle
of the naos, or chapel.

Temples - Purpose

In the mild climate of Greece, ceremonies generally

took place outdoors.
Even the altar, upon which sacrifices were made, was
outside the temple structure.

Temple Forms
Greek temples, like
Egyptian ones, tended
to follow set patterns.
Variations are few and
usually reflect one of
the classical orders,
rather than new and
novel design.

The Classical Orders

The three
classical
orders are:
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian

The Doric Order

Doric columns are the
heaviest in appearance
The capital, or top of
the column is plain.
The shaft is thick
though it loses some of
its mass over time.
There is no base.

The Ionic Order

This order has greater
elegance.
The capital has distinctive
volutes, or curled scroll
designs.
The column is thinner than
in the Doric order.
There is a base.

The Corinthian Order

This is also a tall,
elegant form.
The capital has
distinctive acanthus leaf
decoration.
It has a base.

Parts of a Greek Temple

The next section is vertical
and is the column.
Most columns had a base
(though not the Doric), at
the bottom, a shaft in the
middle, and a capital at
the top.
The shaft may be smooth
or fluted.

Parts of a Greek Temple

Above the column
is the entablature.
If the column is the
leg, think of this as
the tabletop.

Parts of a Greek Temple

PEDIMENT:
Depicted
scenes related
to
the
god/goddess of
that temple.

Plans of Greek Temples

The greatness and value
of a temple can be seen
in the number of columns
it has.

Simple temples have

blank walls around a
naos, or chapel. With an
open area or porch in
front with two or four
supporting columns.

Designs of Greek Temples

Designs of Greek Temples

Grander temples, like

the Parthenon, had
columns
surrounding
the entire structure.

Reconstruction of the Parthenon

in Nashville.

Designs of Greek Temples

Designs of Greek Temples

Grander still, and
generally from the
Hellenistic age, are
dipteral temples.
They have an inner
and outer row of
columns surrounding
them.
Artists reconstruction of the
Temple of Artemis, Ephesus, Turkey

Designs of Greek Temples

Important Structures
The Acropolis
The most
famous Greek
buildings
topped the
Athenian
Acropolis.

Greek Homes
The homes of
the farmers and
laborers were
usually small and
made of mud-brick.

The middle and

upper class Greeks
lived in houses
very similar to
modern houses
today.

Other architectural
features

The Greek Heritage

Greek architecture
had a lasting impact
on the world.
The Romans
adopted it as an
ideal, but modified it
to meet their
practical needs.

The Greek Heritage

Today, elements of
Greek architecture
surround us
everywhere, from the
Doric columns gracing
local homes to the great
Ionic capitals of the
Vancouver Art Gallery.

The Greek Heritage

Greek forms
have become an
integral part of
the vocabulary
of world
architecture

The Supreme Court of the United States