Ancient Greek Architecture

Doric Ionic

Corinthian

Temple Architecture

• Cult statue was kept in the cella with access restricted to priests (similar to Egypt and Mesopotamia)

• Rectangular• Very organized• Columns part of post and lintel construction• Little light inside enhances sense of mystery• Pediments with sculpture celebrating the god

housed inside

ShrinesTholos, Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia, Delphi, 400 BCE

• Placed in front of larger temple of Apollo

• Unsure of the purpose of the building

• Tholos was circular, although the vast majority of Greek architecture was rectangular

Types of Temple ArchitectureNot a linear timeline; many temples combined types; Ionic more popular in Asia Minor; Doric

more popular on Mainland

Architectural Elements

Frieze

Architrave

Which style? Which period?

West pediment, Temple of Artemis

Early TempleNotice the Caryatids

AcropolisHill with temple complex

Re-creation of acropolis at AthenaStudy page 147 of Stokstad for details

Know the Buildings with Yellow Arrows

Parthenon Key Details

• X = 2y + 1 seen throughout (6 columns in front = 13 on side and ratio of length to width = 9:4)

• Stylobate (floor) curves upward at middle to drain water and counteract optical illusion

• IONIC elements (interior frieze and inner room columns) in a DORIC temple

• Massive statue of Athena inside cella

Parthenon, Athens, Greece, 447-438 BCE, marble.Architects: Iktinos and Kallikrates Political Leader: PeriklesLead Sculptor: Pheidias

Porch of the Maidens, Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athena

• Marks the spot where Athena battled Poseidon in a contest for Athens (she gave an olive tree and won)

• Caryatids in procession towards Parthenon

• Ionic architecture

Blinged-out Athena

Pediment Sculpture, Parthenon

Metope Sculpture (left), Horsehead from pediment (right)

Theater, Polykleitos (he of the Canon of Proportion!), Epidauros, 350 BCEPlays were important on feast days and as contests; perfect acoustics – 12,000 could hear; audience encircles stage on 3 sides

Pergamon Alter, from Pergamon in Asia Minor, 175 BCEreflects Panathenaic Frieze in Parthenon – 400 feet long, 7.5 feet high – Pergamon victory over the barbarians; Ionic