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Study Notes

Ancient Greek Temples

Ancient Greek temples were the houses of their deities.
They were called Oikos in Greek, which was also used to refer to homes.
Temple designs evolved as the importance of statues of deities increased.
Initially, temples were simple stone structures, housing statues of deities.
The entrance and alter were central to these structures.
The temples were rectangular, often surrounded by a single row of columns, sometimes double.
Visitors ascended steps to reach the temple, then passed through the front columns to a courtyard (Peristyle) before entering the main temple area.
A square wall with two central columns (Pronaos) led to a small room (cella).
Inside the cella, there was typically a statue of the deity and an altar.
A rear room (Opisthodomos) was sometimes present, often used for storing offerings.

Temple Styles

Different greek temple designs have various column numbers and layouts.
Temple types include: - Distyle in antis - Amphidipsyle in antis - Tholos - Prostyle tetrastyle - Amphidprostyle tetrastyle - Dipteral octastyle - Peripteral hexastyle - Pseudoperipteral hexastyle - Pseudodipteral octastyle.

Types and Details

Temple in antis: A small temple with columns at the entrance.
Double Temple in antis: A temple with double columns at the entrance.
Prostyle: Small temple with columns at the front only.
Amphiprostyle: Small temple with columns at the front and back
Hexastyle: Temple with six columns in the front.
Oktastyle: Temple with eight columns in the front.
Dipteral: Temple with two rows of columns.
Peripteral: Temple with a single row of columns.
Pseudodipteral: Temple that looks like a dipteral but is not.

Greek Temple Examples

Apollo Temple at Thermos: A significant ancient Greek temple.
Hera Temple at Olympia: An ancient Greek temple with specific features (50 meters long and 19 meters wide).
Aphaia Temple at Aigina: Another ancient Greek temple (29 meters long and 14 meters wide).
Temple of Artemis at Korkyra: An ancient Greek temple with eight columns at the front and twelve at the back.
Temple of Apollo at Corinth: This temple had 38 columns (7 standing and 4 on the ground); its structure was similar to the Hera temple at Olympia.
Temple of Apollo at Delphi: This temple, designed by the Alkeminedos family, featured marble columns.
Temple of Zeus at Olympia: This temple had specific decorative elements—columns with specific features.
Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea: A temple of Athena with Corinthian columns.
Temple of Zeus at Nemea: Temple with Corinthian columns, and no back room.
Temple of Athena at Priene: A temple with a deep front porch and columns.
Temple of Artemis at Sardes: A temple with a divided main hall and double columns.
Apollo Temple at Didyma: This temple, located near Miletus, was unique in its structure and size with front columns in rows and two or three structures inside.
Temple of Serapis at Alexandria: A Hellenistic-era temple of Serapis in Alexandria.
Temple of Hera I at Paestum: A temple in Paestum with specific layout characteristics.
Temple of Athena, Ceres at Paestum: A temple in Paestum dedicated to Athena and Ceres.
Hera Temple at Selinus: A temple from the 3rd century BCE.
Temple at Samos: A temple to Hera (the third).
Erechtheion Temple: A temple dedicated to a variety of gods in Attica.
Temple of Nike: Dedicated to Nike, with special characteristics.

Additional Details

Architectural styles such as Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian were used in these constructions.
There is some discussion about the use of specific materials and construction techniques.
The documents contained some information about the figures on the friezes.