lifestyle , art , architecture

GREEK
 Introdu
ction
Greece is known for its classical civilization (500 to 300 BC). Classical
Greek culture, particularly that of Athens, is famed for its beautiful
arts, architecture, philosophy, theater, Olympic games, and for
creating the first democracy.

Ancient Greek ideas greatly influenced Western civilization and is considered the
principal source of Western Civilization.

‘Democracy’ comes from the Greek world for ‘the people.’

The Greek teacher and philosopher Socrates affected Western speculative

thought and philosophy with his emphasis on dialogue and rational
argument.

Greek scientists developed methods of reasoning to demonstrate mathematic

principles.

Greek dramas set structural and thematic styles emulated by great Western
playwrights such as William Shakespeare.
 Geogra
phywith
Mountainous and rocky peninsula
little good farmland, but its long irregular
coastline provided fine harbors.
Many Greeks turned to the sea to make
a living by fishing and trading.
Greeks established colonies and
dominated trade in the Mediterranean
and Black Seas.
Communities isolated by mountains
developed into independent self
governing city states that often fought
with one another.
Leading city-states were Sparta
with its strong military government,
and Athens, the present-day capital
of Greece.
 Philoso
 Innate love of logic – ‘logos’ phy
 Sought balance and symmetry

 Everything had a rationale and

could be explained.

 Described the cosmos as a

balance of opposites

 Concept of ‘arete’ – quality of

excellence that results from Socrates Pythagoras – ‘all is in numbers’
refinement and testing in all
human endeavors.

 Translated literally into their

architecture and buildings.
Proport
ion
 Proport
ion

Parthenon
 Religio
 The ancient Greeks considered
human beings to be the center of
n
existence.

 This emphasis on humans can be seen

in Greek art that portrayed the
human body realistically.

 God was described in human terms

and depicted in perfect human forms.
 Architec
Influenced by geography, beliefs and ture
philisophies – rationale, importance of
landscape, covered spaces, balance
and order

Built public and sacred architecture

Symbol of clarity and precision

Celebration of human capacities

Based on of Ancient Egypt - post and

beam system, and sculpture
Landscape an important element, and
formed the backdrop for the sculptural
Greek buildings. The Greeks had a
polytheistic religion; their gods lived on
Mount Olympus.
 Architec
ture

Temple of Athena Nike, Athens, Greece

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005. © 1993-2004 Microsoft

Corporation. All rights reserved.
 Post and beam construction. Structurally articulate/skeletal.
Architec
ture
 Three-dimensionality. Buildings and art as free-standing, fully-three-dimensional
objects (sculpture) rather than as surface.

 Non-axial, non-frontal, peripetal. Movement around (rather than in or to). More

than one side visible.

 Small interior spaces. Not for general public.

 Gable/pediment form.

 The orders (related to proportions and the ornamentation of columns).

 Clear development of base middle and top. Object has its own syntax and
characteristics. Codification of proportions and proportioning systems
(orders, golden rectangle/ratio)

 Beginning of the frame in art. Buildings frame views/artwork. Representational

rather than symbolic art.
 Architec
Classical Orders of ture
Greek Columns
Capital
The topmost element of the
column, helps to transfer loads
from beams to columns.
In classical Greek architecture,

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there are three formal types: the
Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The
Corinthian was rarely used by
the Greeks, as it was
considered too 'showy', but it
was very popular with the
Romans.

e ni ni mef
The three main parts are the
base, shaft and capital.
 Architec
Entasis ture
 Visually correcting
 Refinements to the building
elements to make it appear pleasing
and proportionate
 Optical illusion
 ‘Truth is relative to man’
 Building
Acropolis Type
Greek akros, “highest”; polis, “city”

 The Greeks built their towns in plains

near or around a rocky hill that could easily
be fortified and defended.

 The word acropolis referred both to the

hill and to what was built on it. Almost
every Greek city had its acropolis, which
provided a place of refuge for townspeople
during times of war.

 In many cases the acropolis became the Acropolis of Athens

site of temples and public buildings and
thus served as the town’s religious center
and the focal point of its public life and as a
place of refuge.
 Building
Propylaea Type
 The principal entrance to the Acropolis is
a monumental gateway called the
Propylaea, which is made of white marble.

Propylaea (437-432 bc), monumental

gateway to the Acropolis in Athens,
Greece.
 Building
Agora Type
 Public square or marketplace
of any ancient Greek city.

 Large and open and easily

accessible, it was regarded as the
center of political, commercial,
religious, and social life in the city.

 The agora was surrounded by

public buildings and temples, Agora of Athens
frequently with colonnades (stoai) The Acropolis and its temples, including the
on the side facing the square. Parthenon, stood guard over the Agora and the
rest of ancient Athens.
 Building
Stoa Type
 Lines and defined the agora
Long rectangular buildings, open up on 1
side to face the ‘agora’ and with a row of
small chambers along the back.

 The long and narrow structure that was used

for offices and shops at the agora.

 The enclosed space was only one office in

Agora
depth, but the entire front of the building
provided a wide covered porch for merchants
or a convenient place to get out of the rain.
Stoas were most often two stories in height. Sto
a
 Building
Bouletarion Type
 Designed to house the council
of the city and comes from
'boule', the council of the
'polis'.

 It was used to hold public

meetings; the council chamber.

 It was roofed and had tiers of

benches on three sides either
rectangular or semicircular in
shape.
 Building
Theater Type
 Represented the coming together of
the whole visible universe of man and
nature – stage structure was
relatively low, for in becoming part of the
drama itself, the audience could raise their
eyes to look over the landscape.

 Assembly of all citizens - important part of

the civic life. Important means of defining and
elaborating the ideal civic and moral virtue.

 Drama production began as religious

rituals.

 Celebration of community spirit dramas and

comedies portrayed moral virtue and vice.

 Political education
 Building
Theater Type
 Building
Theater Type
 The acoustics in this theater are
magnificent, and words spoken very
softly in the orchestra can be heard in the
top rows.

Theater at Epidaurus
This theater in Epidaurus, Greece, was
designed by Polyclitus the Younger around
350 bc. A late classical structure, it
featured stone benches instead of the
wood benches found in earlier theater
construction.
 Building
Temple Type
Sacred architecture was the most important building type
and was the symbol of each city

They were a crucial way of defining the

community. Religious festivals and sacrifices
were open to members of the community, and by
participating and sharing in the celebrations,
citizens validated their memberships in the
community.

The temples are understood as houses of the

deity, containing statues of the god or
goddess.

Monumentality – power of an architecture of

public scale; built of stone and made meaner
with communicative sculpture.
 Building
Temple Type
• Clarity in appearance

• Perfection of kind

• Celebration of site – a monumental sculpture set in the landscape

• No predefined axis – temple adjusted to the topography of the site and often
aligned on axes leading out to mountain peaks in the landscape.

• Human inspired reasonables of built form

• Served a most vital public function and symbol of the polis

• Not really a public building, only priests and selected individuals actually
entered it.

• Interior very plain, lavish exterior with artistic attention – public rituals were
celebrated at the altar in front of the temple.
 Building
Temple Type

Parthenon

Public worship is carried on outside

the temple, which is designed and
The Temple of Athena Nike
situated for maximum impact in the
context of the surrounding landscape.
Features Building
Temple Type
 Common features:

 External colonnades

 Orthogonal organization

 Axial plan

 Resembles sculpture

 Longitudinal cella which housed

the statue of the god.

 ‘Naos’ – projecting chamber with

projecting spur walls

 ‘Antae’ – each end with 2

columns between them
The End
History and Culture
Studies 1
Identify these elements in a typical
Greek building.
Pediment
Tympanum
Stylobate
Streobate
Caryatid
Atlas
Acroterium
Cella / naos Greek Temple

Pronaos
Epinaos
Metopes
Interior Architecture
141
Tutorial # 2
Sacred buildings were a crucial way of defining the
community. It was a display of power and wealth , making the community superior
than another . The design of and siting of each Greek temple was a reflection of
the deity dedicated to it.

Compare and analyze the different elements of a temple dedicated to the Greek
God Apollo (masculine) and the God Hera (feminine). State the elements
dedicated to the specific Gods which were clearly reflected in the built structure.

* Use maps, drawings or diagrams to help you explain your argument.

Deadline : in class , 20 March 2008