Ancient Greek Ancient Greek ArchitectureArchitecture

EARLY GREEK EARLY GREEK CIVILIZATIONS..CIVILIZATIONS..

Early Greek Civilization Early Greek Civilization – Minoans – Minoans

KnossosKnossos

– Many roomsMany rooms

– LabyrinthLabyrinth

Also note that Also note that

Minoans had no Minoans had no

walls around their walls around their

cities or palacescities or palaces

Early Greek Civilizations - Early Greek Civilizations - MycenaeansMycenaeans

Lions GateLions Gate

Cyclopean Cyclopean

structurestructure

Gates around Gates around

allall their citiestheir cities

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek ArchitectureArchitectureLater Greek CivilizationsLater Greek Civilizations

Basis of Greek ArchitectureBasis of Greek ArchitectureThe TempleThe Temple

A closer look at the parts of a templeA closer look at the parts of a temple

CorniceCornice PedimentPediment FriezeFrieze ArchitraveArchitrave CapitalCapital ColumnColumn ShaftShaft BaseBase

The bottom of the The bottom of the TempleTemple

CapitalCapital Connecting piece between Connecting piece between

shaft and “cross beam”shaft and “cross beam”

Column/Greek orderColumn/Greek order Of which there are three Of which there are three

kinds…doric, ionic and kinds…doric, ionic and corinthiancorinthian

BaseBase Consists of a foundation Consists of a foundation

and steps on the outsideand steps on the outside

The top of the templeThe top of the temple

Cornice – the decorative edge Cornice – the decorative edge around the toparound the top

Pediment – the middle of the Pediment – the middle of the triangle – usually decoratedtriangle – usually decorated

Frieze – can be of a plain or Frieze – can be of a plain or ornate design – it is the top ornate design – it is the top horizontal supporting beamhorizontal supporting beam

Architrave – the bottom Architrave – the bottom horizontal supporting beamhorizontal supporting beam

Doric ColumnsDoric Columns

The plainest of all The plainest of all columnscolumns

It tapers slightly as it It tapers slightly as it gets highergets higher

It has a smushed It has a smushed donut/half bagel look donut/half bagel look

Ionic ColumnsIonic Columns

The “mediumThe “medium

ornate” columnsornate” columns

Looks like an Looks like an elaborate “elaborate “II” or a ” or a ram’s hornram’s horn

TEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKETEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKE

Corinthian ColumnsCorinthian Columns

The MOST elaborate of all the columnsThe MOST elaborate of all the columns Tends to look like a firework going off, producing lots of acanthus Tends to look like a firework going off, producing lots of acanthus

leaves and flowersleaves and flowers

TEMPLE TO OLYMPIAN ZEUS

ERECTHEUM

PORCH OF THE MAIDENS

Important Ideas of Important Ideas of TemplesTemples

It’s allliiiivvvvveeeeee!It’s allliiiivvvvveeeeee! Similarity to human bodySimilarity to human body It flows It flows It’s perfect!!!..the model for all of western It’s perfect!!!..the model for all of western

architecturearchitecture Measured units – the bottom radius of the Measured units – the bottom radius of the

column…uses the golden rectanglecolumn…uses the golden rectangle All other work was based off that number All other work was based off that number

Greeks Greeks ♥ Being outside – it’s all OPEN♥ Being outside – it’s all OPEN

Important Greek Important Greek Structures you Structures you should be able to should be able to identifyidentify

The Parthenon (at the The Parthenon (at the Acropolis)Acropolis)

Acropolis PlanAcropolis Plan

The Acropolis as a whole – a fortified The Acropolis as a whole – a fortified agora on a hilltopagora on a hilltop

Amphitheaters…Amphitheaters…

Theater of Dionysus, AthensTheater of Dionysus, Athens

The Theater at EpidaurusThe Theater at Epidaurus

perfect acousticsperfect acoustics

Modern Day Modern Day Connections:Connections:Buildings that use the Greek model Buildings that use the Greek model for architecturefor architecture

The NY Stock Exchange

The New York City Hall Building

The US Supreme Court Building

QUINCY MARKET (Boston, QUINCY MARKET (Boston, MA)– Uses the agora styleMA)– Uses the agora style

Greek Architecture Greek Architecture ConclusionConclusion

Often you do not hear of the Greek style Often you do not hear of the Greek style of column as there has never been of column as there has never been anything other than the Greek style of anything other than the Greek style of columns. Architecture thus is part of the columns. Architecture thus is part of the Western heritage of ideas that the Western heritage of ideas that the Greeks began and which we still use Greeks began and which we still use todaytoday

GREEK SCULPTUREGREEK SCULPTURE

Archaic Period: 750-450 B.C.Archaic Period: 750-450 B.C.

Classical Period: 450-300 B.C.Classical Period: 450-300 B.C.

Hellenistic Period: 300-100 B.C.Hellenistic Period: 300-100 B.C.

TWO TYPES OF TWO TYPES OF SCULPTURE…SCULPTURE… in the roundin the round

in reliefin relief

Archaic Sculpture:

• Stiff• Blocky• Arms at sides (males)• Stylized• Weight evenly balanced• Left foot forward• Archaic smile• Male/kouros; female/kore• Males usually nude,

females clothed

• Kouros

• 525 B.C.

KORE

• females usually clothed

• one outstretched arm to offer something

to the gods

THE TRANSITION….

• The Charioteer of Delphi

• 470 B.C.• bronze

Transition: severe style..Transition: severe style..

Poseidon/ZeusPoseidon/Zeus c. 460 B.C.c. 460 B.C. Found by fishermen Found by fishermen

in 1928in 1928

Classical SculptureClassical Sculpture

7 heads tall7 heads tall PerfectPerfect Natural, not realisticNatural, not realistic No emotion on faceNo emotion on face ContropostoControposto Classical profileClassical profile Before or after the Before or after the

actionaction

..Hermes with the..Hermes with theinfant Dionysusinfant Dionysus

..attributed to Praxiteles..attributed to Praxiteles

SpearbearerSpearbearer 440 B.C.440 B.C.

• “Diadoumenos”• 430 B. C.• Attributed to

Polykleitos

Hellenistic Sculpture

• Often realistic, not perfect

• Emotion• In action

• NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE

• “WINGED VICTORY”

• The Old Market Woman

• Metropolitan Museum of Art

Conclusion:

The Romans conquered the Greeks in the 1st century B.C., and took many examples of Greek sculpture back to Rome to decorate both public and private spaces. The Greek ideals were copied by the Romans, who spread them all over the Mediterranean world.