Aegean Architecture Quiz

The culture of the island of Crete, which flourished a thousand years before the peak of Greek civilization and spread throughout the eastern Mediterranean.

The extensive network of trade routes connecting Greece with various civilizations around the eastern Mediterranean sea.

The distinctive geographic features of Greece, characterized by its rugged terrain and mountainous landscapes.

The challenges faced by ancient Greeks due to the difficult terrain and limited internal communication.

The frequent rivalry and conflict between different Greek states stemming from their geographic isolation and reliance on the sea.

A construction technique using large, irregular stones fitted together without mortar, creating a strong and visually striking wall.

A method that used heavy blocks, layered and angled inward, to create a triangular arch-like structure over openings. This method was used for doorways, windows, and even drainage.

The distinctive architectural style of ancient Greece. It featured houses, palaces, and elaborate tombs.

Walls made of roughly cut or uncut stones laid without mortar, often used in early Aegean architecture.

A thick layer of plaster applied to the walls to create a smooth and even surface. It was often used in Aegean architecture to mimic the framed structure of the walls and floors.

A method of building vaults and pointed domes using layers of stones that project outwards, each layer slightly overlapping the one below.

A convex molding in Greek Doric architecture, typically resembling a sea urchin shell. It supports the abacus, or square top piece, of the column.

The top part of a column that supports the weight of the roof or lintel. In Greek Doric architecture, it consists of a square abacus on top of a round echinus.

A vertical cross-section view of a structure, showing the layers and how they are assembled.

A horizontal view of a structure, looking down from above as if from a bird's-eye perspective.

A self-governing city-state that formed the basis of Greek society. These independent city-states shared common language, customs, and religion, but lacked political unity.

The period marked by the expansion of Greek culture and civilization eastward, initiated by Alexander the Great's conquests and the establishment of a vast empire. It fused Greek traditions with Eastern influences.

A period of intense societal change in Greece, characterized by the rise of democratic regimes in various city-states, particularly Athens.

A period of significant growth in Greek philosophy and scientific thought, despite political struggles and wars.

The ruling period of Pericles in Athens that saw the city's pinnacle of democratic development, massive construction projects including the Parthenon, and a flourishing of art and culture.

Ancient walls were often constructed using stone, held together by metal cramps and dowels embedded in lead.

A method used in ancient stone wall construction where wrought-iron clamps and dowels were used to hold the stones together. These fasteners were protected by molten lead.

Ancient stone walls were often built without mortar, relying instead on the tight fit of the stones and the use of metal fasteners.

The slight outward curve given to horizontal lines in Greek architecture to counter the illusion of sagging.

The human eye perceives a long horizontal line as slightly sagging in the middle.

The base of a Greek temple, typically made of large, horizontal blocks.

A horizontal beam that runs above the columns in Greek architecture.

The uppermost horizontal element in Greek architecture, often decorated with moldings.

Zeus, the king of the gods in Greek mythology, is equivalent to Jupiter in Roman mythology.

Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, corresponds to Venus in Roman mythology.

The main living area of a house, typically with a central hearth, located within the megaron.

A columned entrance porch with a central doorway, characteristic of ancient Aegean architecture.

A sleeping room found in buildings from northern Aegean regions, often featuring a V-pitched roof.

The upper part of a column, including the architrave, frieze, and cornice, which were originally made of wood and decorated with terracotta.

The lower part of a wall, often decorated separately, preserving a traditional feature from the time when walls were made of wood.

A construction technique where ceilings are decorated with square or rectangular recessed panels, often mimicking the look of timber.

Decorative panels or recesses in ceilings, particularly in colonnades, intended to mimic the appearance of timber construction.

The use of stone to replicate the original timber forms in Greek architecture, leading to the description of Greek architecture as "carpentry in marble."

The climate of ancient Greece was neither excessively cold nor excessively hot, with clear skies and bright sunlight. This contributed to the development of precise and detailed architecture, as seen in Greek temples, where public events and judicial proceedings were often held outdoors.

The Aegean civilizations, encompassing Crete and mainland Greece, flourished from 3000 to 1100 BCE. They established a thriving trading empire, connected by coastal towns, and developed a distinct culture characterized by its craftsmanship, pottery, and trade networks.

Around 2000 BCE, a migration of people, possibly from Southern Russia, arrived in the Aegean region. They introduced a new house style called 'Megaron', characterized by timber-framed construction, similar to styles found in Northern and Eastern Europe.

Between 1800 and 1600 BCE, the Aegean culture flourished, reaching a level of sophistication comparable to civilizations like Egypt and Mesopotamia. A notable difference was the prominent role of women in society, who actively participated in various activities.

The Mycenaean civilization, also known as Helladic Greece, spanned from 1400 to 1100 BCE. This period saw the rise of powerful city-states with fortified citadels, like Mycenae and Tiryns, although these impressive fortifications also reflected a culture of conflict and violence.

During the Mycenaean period, the adoption and adaptation of Cretan ideas and craftsmanship maintained continuity even after Crete's decline around 1450-1400 BCE. This indicates a cultural exchange between these two civilizations.

Around 1300 BCE, the prosperity of Mycenaean cities began to decline. The Trojan War, occurring around 1200 BCE, marked a significant event that contributed to the end of the Bronze Age and the transition to the Iron Age in Greece.

While many Mycenaean centers faced decline, some survived, preserving traditions and standards, eventually shaping the Homeric age. Athens emerged as one such center, eventually becoming a prominent city-state.

A large, open space within the palace used for public gatherings, markets, and sports events. It often featured broad, shallow steps and a paved surface.

A fortified hilltop citadel, often featuring extremely thick defensive walls made from massive, unshaped stones fitted together without mortar. This construction technique is known as "cyclopean masonry."

A monumental gateway featuring two upright stone jambs supporting a massive lintel and a triangular relieving opening above it. This opening often featured a relief carving, like the two rampant lions facing a central column in the Lion Gate at Mycenae.

A type of tomb typically found in Mycenaean culture. It consists of a subterranean, stone-vaulted chamber resembling a beehive, often used as a burial place for prominent individuals.

A type of tomb, also known as a shaft grave. It was a rectangular chamber, roughly 3.6 to 6.1 meters in size, cut into a hillside, with an open passageway called a "Dromos" leading to a doorway in the rock face.

The period between 650-323 B.C. A key development was the evolution of the columnar and trabeated style, where columns surrounded temples and supported beams forming a distinct architectural feature.

The porch of a Greek temple, which was typically enclosed by walls and featured a roof supported by columns.

The upright supports that frame a doorway in ancient Greek architecture, often placed at the exterior edges of the entrance to give it a more prominent look.