Ancient Greek Architecture Lecture 6

Ancient Greek Architecture

• Ancient Greek civilization is the first major civilization in Europe and is considered the root of current Western civilization.
• Greek architecture, along with Roman architecture, is referred to as classical architecture.

Location

• Greek civilization occurred on the Greek mainland and on islands in the Aegean Sea.
• The Greek mainland was rocky and barren, making it unsuitable for agriculture, so most Greeks lived along the coastline or on islands where the soil was good for farming.
• The Aegean and Mediterranean Seas provided a means of communication and trade with other places.

Historical Background

• The period of ancient Greek history can be divided into four periods: Greek Dark Ages (1100 B.C.– 750 B.C.), Archaic Period (750 B.C.– 500 B.C.), Classical Period (500 B.C.– 323 B.C.), and Hellenistic Period (323 B.C.– 147 B.C.).
• The classical and archaic periods are sometimes collectively referred to as the Hellenic period.

Classical Period

Ancient Greece, located in southeastern Europe, comprised of mainland Greece, the Peloponnese, and thousands of islands. The Greeks established city-states, such as Athens and Sparta, facilitating trade and cultural exchange. Their 1,500-year history provided a rich cultural heritage, influencing Western civilization with contributions to democracy, theatre, arts, philosophy, science, and architecture..

The Mediterranean Seas facilitated communication and trade with other places.

Thent Greek history can be divided into four distinct periods:

The Greek Dark Ages (1100 B.C. - 750 B.C.)

• A time of significant cultural, economic, and social upheaval, marked by the collapse of the Mycenaean civilization.
• Limited written records and archaeological findings make it challenging to reconstruct the events of this period.

The Archaic Period (750 B.C. - 500 B.C.)

• Saw the emergence of city-states, with Athens and Sparta rising to prominence.
• The development of alphabetic writing and the introduction of the Olympic Games are notable events of this period.

The Classical Period (500 B.C. - 323 B.C.)

• Often referred to as the "Golden Age" of ancient Greece, it was a time of significant cultural, philosophical, and artistic achievements.
• Famous figures like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle made substantial contributions to Western philosophy during this period.

The Hellenistic Period (323 B.C. - 146 B.C.)

• Following the death of Alexander the Great, his vast empire was divided among his generals, leading to the establishment of new kingdoms and city-states.
• This period witnessed the spread of Greek culture, language, and philosophy throughout the ancient world.

ient Greek history is divided into four periods:

1. Greek Dark Ages (1100 B.C.– 750 B.C.)
2. Archaic Period (750 B.C.– 500 B.C.)
3. Classical Period (500 B.C.– 323 B.C.)
4. Hellenistic Period (323 B.C.– 147 B.C.)

The Classical Period (500 B.C.– 323 B.C.) was a significant era in ancient Greek history.

eriod of ancient Greek history occurred between 500 BC and 323 BC.

• The period started with the Greek city states coming into conflict with the rising Persian Empire.

• The Greek alliance soon transformed into an empire under the leadership of Athens, with Pericles as the ruler.

• The full development of the democratic system of government occurred under Pericles.

• Athens reached its greatest political and cultural heights during the classical period, with the construction of the Parthenon on the Acropolis at Athens.

Politics and Society

• The ancient Greek world was made up of hundreds of self-governing city-states called "polis".
• The city states were small, independent communities with a social hierarchy, where citizens were at the top, followed by non-citizens and slaves.
• Public life was for male citizens, while women were secluded in the house.
• The city state of Athens was among the most famous and powerful of the city states, a major center for learning and the arts.

Construction System

• The principal construction system was trabeated or column and beam construction.
• Clay was made into sun-dried blocks for use in housing construction.

Greek Ideals of Beauty

• The Greek civilization established ideals of beauty, believing that the secrets of beauty lie in proportions, harmony, balance, and symmetry in design.
• The Greeks believed that man was the measure of all things and developed a system of building proportions that reflected those of the human body.
• They refined their system of building proportion and developed the classical Greek orders and their principles.

Greek Orders

• The Greek orders refer to the entire set of form that makes up the principal elevation of a temple, composed of a base, an upright column with its capital, and the horizontal entablature.
• The three orders of the classical language of architecture are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
• Columns were understood by the Greeks to be anthropomorphic or representative of the body of a human.
• The base suggests the feet, the shaft the torso, and the capital the head.
• The Doric order was the earliest to be developed and usually does not have a base.