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GREEK ARCHITECTURE GENERAL INFLUENCES Demeter - Goddess of agriculture and mother of Persephone (again, her offspring is not considered to be be an Olympian). 1 Geographical...

GREEK ARCHITECTURE GENERAL INFLUENCES Demeter - Goddess of agriculture and mother of Persephone (again, her offspring is not considered to be be an Olympian). 1 Geographical Hephaestus - Lame god of fire and the forge. The Hephaestion near the Acropolis is the most beautifully preserved ancient It was upon the island of Crete that arose the first great temple in Greece. sea-power of the Mediterranean, which flourished a Hera - Wife of Zeus, protector of marriage, familiar with magic. thousand years before the Greek civilization reached its Hermes - The speedy messenger of the gods, god of business. peak. The Romans refer to him as Mercury. Hestia - Calm goddess of home and home life, symbolized by The region was home to two crucial Bronze Age the hearth which holds the continually-burning flame. civilizations. First, the Minoans, led by legendary King Poseidon - God of the sea, horses, and of earthquakes. Minos of Knossos, followed by the Mycenaeans, Zeus - Supreme lord of gods, god of the sky, symbolized by the created advanced civilizations that developed into the thunderbolt. civilization of Classical Greece. ***Hades, although he was an important god and the brother of Zeus and Poseidon, was not generally considered to be one of The Mycenaeans were the first Greek Civilization to the twelve Olympians since he dwelled in the underworld. write and speak the Greek language. 5. Historical and Social 2. Geological The history of Greece is divided into 3 distinctive periods: The greatest importance to her architecture was her a. Mycenaean or Helladic Greece unrivalled marble which facilitates exactness of line Defense architecture such as fortifications of Mycenae and and refinement of detail. Tiryns were necessary for protection. Citadel palaces were built. The most famous variety of marble is the Pentelic marble of Greece, found in the quarries of Mount b. Hellenic Greece Pentelikon in Attica. Pentelic marble was used by the The “city state” (‘polis’) emerged as the basis of Greek great sculptors of ancient Greece, including Phidias society. and Praxiteles. Great figures in philosophy and science such as Pythagoras and Socrates 3. Climatic Greek theatre has a religious attribute and originates from the Climate was intermediate between rigorous cold and festival of the worship of Dionysus. relaxing heat conducive for activities in the open air and porticoes and colonnades were important features of c. Hellenistic Greece structures. Philip of Macedonia unified Greece and his son, Alexander the Great embarked on a national crusade against Persia. 4. Religious The death of Alexander, 32, led to the division of the empire a. AEGEAN among his generals. The Aegeans practiced nature worship. The supreme Greece became a Roman province. deity was the fertility goddess, Rhea. AEGEAN ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Their religious ceremonies included sacred games and ritual dances. The MEGARON is a great hall in a Mycenean palace complex. It is the characteristic domestic unit. b. GREEK The gods were personifications of particular elements. Parts of an Aegean megaron Each deity has its own attribute. 1. Anteroom The Greeks considered the 12 Olympian gods and 2. Vestibule goddesses. 3. Main room with central hearth and throne Aphrodite - Goddess of love, romance, and beauty. Her son was Eros, god of Love (though he is not an Olympian.) Apollo - Beautiful god of the sun, light, medicine, and music. Ares - Dark god of war who loves Aphrodite. Artemis - Independent goddess of the hunt, the forest, wildlife, childbirth, and the moon; sister to Apollo. Athena - Daughter of Zeus and goddess of wisdom, war, and crafts. UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 1 1 Minoan Column Timber forms were imitated in stone with remarkable exactness. For this reason, Greek architecture has Columns were of cypress wood and cylindrical. been called “carpentry in marble’’. They are smaller at the bottom and wider at the The method of constructing the column was the top, a result of inverting the cypress trunk to mortise and tenon or the tongue and groove. prevent sprouting once in place. It has 2 parts: Several refinements were practiced by the Greeks in order to correct optical illusions. Some of these, like the a. square abacus (above) Parthenon, exemplify a most advanced sensitivity to b. circular echinus (below) form. Tombs were constructed underground. a. The stylobate has an upward curvature at its center of Corbel method was used for vaults or pointed domes. 2-3/8” on the shorter sides and 4-5/16” on the longer sides. b. Vertical columns were inclined inwards towards the top Methods of Walling (refer to Fletcher) of 2-3/8”. 1. Cyclopean c. Columns have the usual entasis, a slight curvature on the 2. Polygonal column’s profile. 3. Rectangular d. Angle columns were stouter and set closer to the adjacent 4. Inclined blocks columns. e. Letters were larger on the upper lines than in the lower. EXAMPLES OF AEGEAN ARCHITECTURE The method of constructing the column was the 1. The PALACE OF KING MINOS, KNOSSOS mortise and tennon or tongue and groove. Columns were usually constructed in " drums " and the Rooms were functionally organized around a large central fluting was carried out after the shafts were in position. court. Sectioned columns were carved with a center hole or The palaces also had extensive basement storage areas, depression so that they could be pegged together, artists’ workshops, dining halls, and sumptuous living using stone or metal pins. quarters (including bathrooms) for the noble ruling families. The structures were light and flexible, rather than 2. THE HELLENISTIC PERIOD monumental. Public buildings multiplied in number and became permanent structures. 2. The PALACE, TIRYNS is a hilltop citadel surrounded by Civic design developed and building groups were laid defensive walls. The masonry is of the cyclopean type and short out on symmetrical lines linked colonnaded porticoes stretches of ashlar. or ‘stoas’ Town planning became new developments. 3. The LION GATE, MYCENAE is the most famous feature of Trabeated architecture was still usual, but arches the Palace, Tiryns. began to appear over wall openings Above the huge lintel, corbelled stones form an arch, creating a Greek cities (Acropolis) were located upon the highest triangle that is filled by the two lions carved in relief on either part for dignity. It is enclosed with a ‘temenos’ or side of a sacred Minoan column. The heads of the lions, now sacred enclosure. lost, were made of separate pieces of metal or stone. Ex. : The Acropolis, Athens is the best known acropolis in TOMB ARCHITECTURE the world. Important and sacred buildings were built in the acropolis. These are the following: Types of Aegean tomb : Propylaea – forms the imposing entrance to the 1.Rock-cut or chamber tomb is cut within the slope of a hillside Acropolis. and approached by a passageway which is open to the sky Pinacotheca – contains painted pictures. called the dromos. Temple of Athena, Nike – dedicated to the Wingless Ex.: The Treasury of Atreus, Mycenae (also known as Victory. The Tomb of Agamemnon) The Parthenon Erechtheion 2. Tholos type is more elaborate; a subterranean stone- Odeion of Herodes Atticus vaulted construction shaped like a beehive. Odeion of Pericles Theater of Dionysus GREEK ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER Old Temple of Athena Stoa of Eumenes 1. THE HELLENIC PERIOD Temples were the principal buildings. The Altis, Olympia was the center of all religious activities Colonnades surround the temple. during the Olympics. Greek architecture was essentially columnar and trabeated. Delphi in Mt. Parnassus was the major site for the worship of the god Apollo. Pythian Games were held here like music, poetry and sports. UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 2 2 Delphi is a masterpiece of monuments, terraces, temples, and treasuries. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Delos holds the position as a holy sanctuary and cult center in ancient Greece. Delos was a sacred place with splendid buildings and sanctuaries. Delos is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1990, attracting pilgrims from all over Greece, making Delos a prosperous trading port. TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE signify a celebration of life on earth rather than afterlife shrines for gods. were depositories of civic and religious treasures. were not built for internal worship but with special regard to the outward effect. they stood upon a crepidoma of 3 or more steps. windows were rare and some were hypaethral (partly open to the sky). INTERCOLUMNIATION is the clear space between two on the ends of the temple roof is the tympana (triangular– adjacent columns. shaped pediment) filled with sculptures. roof ridge has an acroteron ornament and roof eaves are Ionic and Corinthian Intercolumniation: terminated with antefixae ornament. A. Pycnostyle = 1 ½ column diameters B. Systyle = 2 column diameters Parts of a Greek Temple: C. Eustyle = 2 ¼ column diameters 1. Pronaos – front portico. D. Diastyle = 3 column diameters 2. Epinaos/Opisthodomos – rear portico. E. Araeostyle = 4 or more column diameters 3. Naos – contains the statue of a god or goddess. ***The adyton is the most sacred part of a temple. Types of Temples (refer to Fletcher): 1. According to the number of columns on the entrance front Number of Style of Temple Columns 2 Distyle 3 Tristyle 4 Tetrastyle 5 Pentastyle 6 Hexastyle Doric intercolumniation is not measured by diameters but 7 Heptastyle based on the number of triglyphs between columns. 8 Octastyle Monotriglyph : an interval of 1 triglyph 9 Enneastyle Ditriglyph : an interval of 2 triglyphs 10 Decastyle Polytriglyph : an interval of more than 2 triglyphs 12 Dodecastyle THE GREEK ORDERS 1. According to the arrangement of exterior columns in relation to the naos. An ORDER consists of an upright column, the base and the In-antis – 2-4 columns at the front. capital and the horizontal entablature. Prostyle – has a portico of columns at the front. It determined the style of columns, the form of structure and the decoration that were applied on them. Amphi-antis – 2-4 columns at the front and rear. DORIC, IONIC and CORINTHIAN orders are the principal Amphi-prostyle – has a portico of columns at the front and external features of temples. The Doric was the favorite of the rear. Greeks; the Corinthian was least used. Peripteral – single line of columns at the front and rear. Psuedo-peripteral – flank of columns attached to the naos wall. Dipteral – double line of columns surrounding the naos. Pseudo-dipteral – like dipteral but the inner range of columns is omitted. Doric Ionic Corinthian UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 3 3 THE DORIC ORDER TEMPLES OF THE DORIC ORDER masculine in quality The Parthenon, Athens has no base an ambitious plan of Pericles, a Greek statesman height is 4-6 1/2x Ø the of base a supreme example of Classical Greece has 20 flutes (Classical Greek columns were fluted because upheld as a symbol of democracy they were derived from timber construction. The columns are dedicated to Athena Parthenos whose 12.8. m. high statue a stone form of a tree trunk debarked with adze. Fluting was one of the most marvelous works of Phidias; made of promotes a play of light on a column which helps the column ivory and gold with eyes of precious stones. appear more perfectly round than a smooth column.) designed by Ictinus and Callicrates master sculptor was Phidias peripteral octastyle in plan the naos known as ‘hecatompedon’ was named because it measures 100’ long. Temple of Zeus, Olympia designed by Libon the most important building in the Altis located at the very center a peripteral hexastyle with thirteen columns at the sides contains the gold and ivory statue of Zeus by Phidias Second Temple of Hera, Paestum, Italy made of golden-colored travertine stone UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1998 TEMPLES OF THE IONIC ORDER Temple of Athena Nike, Apteros dedicated to Athena Nike(Wingless Victory) designed by Callicrates smallest structure in the Acropolis symbolizes Athen’s military & political strength Temple of Apollo, Didyma designed by Paeonius and Daphnis roof was hypaethral dipteral octastyle plan THE IONIC ORDER no opisthodomos four-fronted capital Erechtheion, Athens originated from nautilus shell and ram’s horn designed by Mnesicles frieze has continuous figures made of Pentelic and blue Eleusinian marble architrave has 3 stepped bands called fasciae has a ‘caryatid porch’ of 6 draped female figures has 24 flutes separated by fillets not by arrises The Caryatid (“maiden of Karyai”), probably by Alcamenes has has an attic base become the temple’s signature feature. height is 9xØ of base It is a sculpted female figure serving as a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head. THE CORINTHIAN ORDER ** A Canephora is a caryatid with a basket on her head; used The acanthus leaf and scroll play an important role in Greek either as a support or as a freestanding garden ornament. Ornamentation. Its invention was due to Callimachus who got the idea from ** An Atlantes is a decorative column in the figure or half figure observing a basket covered with a tile over the grave of a of a man. Corinthian maiden. Temple of Artemis, Ephesus most ornate of the classical orders designed by Demetrius, Paeonius & Deinocrates has slender fluted columns one of the most impressive of Greek temples plain frieze one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world has a base similar to the ionic dipteral octastyle at the front & enneastyle at the rear height is 9x–10xØ of base Tholos Philippeion, Olympia was begun by Philip of Macedonia and completed by Alexander. UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 4 4 ** A tholos is a circular temple (this word is also used for a Mycenaean circular subterranean tomb). TEMPLES OF THE CORINTHIAN ORDER Tholos, Epidaurus astronomical monument built by Polykleitos perystyle in plan with 14 internal corinthian columns and 26 external doric order columns floor in black and white marble Parts of a Greek Theater: Temple of Olympian Zeus built by Cossutius and completed by Roman Emperor 1. Orchestra is the space between the audience and the Hadrian stage. renowned as the largest temple in Greece 2. Theatron or Cavea is the audience seating space. housed one of the largest cult statues of Zeus in gold and 3. Kerkis is the wedge-shaped seating space in a theatron. ivory by Pheidias 4. Diazoma is the horizontal aisle separating the lower and upper sections of theatron seating. GREEK MOULDINGS 5. Parodos is the side entrance into the orchestra. 6. Klimakes are the stairways. Characteristics of Mouldings: 7. Skene is the stage building and dressing rooms. Refined 8. Episcenium is the wall of the second storey of the skene. Delicate in contour 9. Proscenium is the front wall of the stage. a. due to the fine-grained marble in which they were 10. Paraskenia is an extended wing of the proscenium. carved b. due to the clear atmosphere and continuous sunshine The Theater of Dionysus, Acropolis, Athens which produced strong shadows from slight projections It was the first stone theatre ever built — cut into the southern cliff face of the Acropolis. Though these mouldings were formed by hand, they It was a major open-air theatre that could seat 18,000 was one approach very closely to various conic sections: parabola, of the earliest theaters in the world, where plays were performed hyperbola and ellipse. at festivals in honor of the god Dionysus (God of wine). Greek mouldings and their usual ornaments (refer to Theater Epidaurus by Polykleitos, is an impressive open-air Fletcher): theater renowned for its nearly perfect architecture and acoustics. 1. Cyma reversa (ogee): water-leaf and tongue The acoustics in this theater are magnificent, and words spoken 2. Cyma recta: anthemion (or honeysuckle very softly in the orchestra can be heard in the top rows. 3. Ovolo: egg and dart (or egg and tongue) It is one of the most beautiful and symmetrically-perfect of all 4. Astragal or bead: bead and reel Greek theaters. 5. Torus: the guilloche or plait ornament, or with bundles of It has 55 semi-circular rows, with an estimated seating capacity leaves tied by bands. of 12,000-14,000. 6. Corona: usually painted with the fret ornament (also called People from neighboring places come to Epidaurus to seek key pattern) medical treatments for ailments. The theatre was constructed 7. The fillet is a small plain face to separate other mouldings. from money collected from patients at a nearby medical 8. The scotia is a deep hollow moulding. sanctuary. 9. The cavetto is a simple hollow moulding The theater’s relation to Asklepius: Asklepius (legendary Greek 10. Dentils are a series of small projecting rectangular blocks physician) was said to have prescribed writing songs and under a cornice. “comical mimes” as treatments with the idea that the emotional 11. Bird’s beak has a section resembling a beak. state of a patient is as important as the physical, and so the theater was part of the cure. Theater was medicine. GREEK THEATERS PUBLIC BUILDINGS Greek theaters are open-air structures, generally hollowed out of the slope of a hillside. AGORA is an open place of assembly and a center of social & business life. STOA - long, colonnaded covered walkways used around public places. Stoa of Attalos, now the Museum of Ancient Agora has walls made of limestone and Pentelic marble. UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 5 5 ASSEMBLY HALLS – for public assemblies. It was designed by Pythius and Satyrus with Scopas as the Telesterion, Eleusis by Ictinus was an assembly hall master sculptor. big enough to hold thousands of people. Tower of the Winds, Athens BOULEUTERION (Council House) – meeting place for the made of Pentelic marble by the Greek astronomer democratically-elected councils. They were either rectangular or Andronicus of Cyrrhus semi-circular in plan. has sundials, a water clock, and a wind vane Bouleuterion, Priene (also known as considered as the world's first meteorological station Ecclesiasterion), rectangular in plan, has banked seats facing inwards on 3 sides. Library of Celsus, Ephesus (Turkiye) Bouleuterion, Ephesus is circular in plan. 3rd largest library in the Greco-Roman world behind those of Alexandria and Pergamum PRYTANEION (Town Hall) – senate house for the city council. built of marble and concrete The building contained the holy fire of Hestia, the goddess of the begun by Gaius Aquila for his father Julius Celsus and hearth and symbol of the life of the city. finished by Emperor Hadrian believed to have held around 12,000 scrolls ODEION – kindred type to the theater, where musicians performed. Library of Pergamum, Bergama, Turkiye Odeion of Herodes Atticus (161 AD) was hewn from by Eumenes II the rock of the Acropolis with a seating cap. of 5,000. 2nd largest library in the ancient world It was built in 161 A.D. by Herodes Atticus in memory associated with the invention of parchment of his wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla. STADIUM – a foot racecourse where games were celebrated. Other Examples of the Hellenic and Ptolemaic Periods During competition and training, athletes were usually naked and covered with olive oil to keep off the dust. Library of Alexandria Stadium, Olympia was the oldest stadium in Greece. by Alexander the Great and funded by the Ptolemies The ancient Olympic Games were held on this site. largest and most famous library of Classical antiquity Stadium, Epidaurus has a track length of 180 m. and contained 500,000 scrolls in its time a width of 21.5 m. mixed heritage of both Greek and Near Eastern book HIPPODROME – for horse and chariot-racing. collections PALAESTRA is a wrestling school. The palaestra functioned Pharos of Alexandria both independently and as a part of public gymnasia. archetype of all subsequent lighthouses Events that did not require a lot of space, such as boxing and built of limestone and granite by Ptolemy I wrestling, were practiced here. one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World The palaestra essentially consisted of a rectangular court surrounded by colonnades with adjoining rooms. These rooms DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE might house a variety of functions: bathing, ball playing, undressing and storage of clothes, seating for socializing, One worry of all homeowners in the classical times was the observation, or instruction, and storage of oil, or athletic house. The threat of an intruder filled the mind of the man of the equipment. family, especially when away from the house. Both work and war kept the man away from his home, leaving an invitation for GYMNASIUM is a place for naked physical exercises. neighborhood men and outsiders to have their way with his wife, The word 'Gymnasium' comes from the Ancient Greek term daughters and sons, and the family's belongings. The lack of gymnós which means 'naked'. Back then, athletes would home security brought the pressures of protecting the house compete nude as a tribute to the Gods and in appreciation of the and everything within to a challenging height. The Greek term male body. Greeks and Romans all imposed physical training oikos is an equivalent to a man's area, which is the space that on boys and young men. The purpose? Preparing for battle. he has the sole responsibility to protect, so that present and They celebrated the idea of having a sound mind, in a sound future generations can dwell in the home already prepared by body. The Greeks were outstanding among the peoples of the the man. ancient world for their love of athletics. Most homes in ancient Greece had a courtyard, which was the A perizoma, a type of loincloth held up by a band of fabric that center of activity. went around the athlete's waist was often used. The story goes Houses were made out of sun-dried brick on a foundation of that it fell off while one is running, so it was decreed that athletes stones. should henceforth compete naked. Homes were divided into areas for the men and areas for the women. Other Examples of the Hellenistic Period The andron was a room reserved for males to entertain male guests. Mausoleum, Halicarnassus was erected for King Mausolus by The nicest ancient Greek houses used colored pebbles to his wife. From it, was derived the term “mausoleum” for create mosaics. monumental tombs. Covered with white marble, its beauty and uniqueness made it one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world. UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 6 6 Characteristics of Greek Architecture : Simplicity and harmony Purity of line Perfection of proportions Refinement of details Copyright © 2024 by Ar. Ma. Vicenta Sanchez (HOA1 Sub-cluster Head) This handout was produced by the History of Architecture 1 (HOA1) Sub- cluster in preparation for S.Y. 2024-25. These pages and any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used without the written consent of the University of Santo Tomas College of Architecture except for brief quotes or for review UST Architecture | Copyright © 2024 by HOA1 Sub-cluster | No reproduction without written consent of HOA1 Sub-Cluster Page 7 7