history of architecture

4
Greek architecture
is the flowering
of geometry.

GREEK
ARCHITECTURE
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Greece is located on a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea. Greece is almost completely surrounded by water. Many islands can be
found around the peninsula. The large island at the bottom of the map is Crete.
Much of Greece was rocky and barren and bad for . Most Greeks lived along the coast where the soil was good for farming. There were
many mountains and valleys. The climate was hot and dry, and rainfall was limited to the winter months. With a shortage of land for farming, the
Greeks came to rely upon trade with other countries for food, building supplies, and other goods. The rugged nature of the peninsula, made sea the
inevitable means of intercourse.
Greece and her domains had good ample supplies of building stone, but the mineral of greatest importance to her architecture was marble , the
most beautiful and monumental of all building materials and one which facilitates the exactness of line and refinement of detail. They exploited
the landscape to the fullest as in the creation of stadiums. The climate was intermediate between rigorous cold and relaxing heat, hence the Greek
character, combining the energy of the north with the lethargy of the south, produced a unique civilization. The climate favored an outdoor life,
thus porticoes and colonnades were important features of their architecture.
agriculture





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The Architectural Character
Their democratic attitude is reflected in their extrovert buildings, i.e., buildings with great clarity. They were idealists and were always on the quest
of form and proportion. Owing to their innate desire for ideal forms , they worked a lot on harmonics and carried out their architectural activities in
the human scale. Yet, monumentally was juxtaposed with this, accompanied by dignity. The Greeks can be classified into two periods, i.e., the
Hellenic and the Hellenistic.
Greek Architecture is essentially a columnar and trabeated (beam) style. This gave it that simple straightforward character in which the
constructive system is self evident, uncomplicated by such devices as are involved in arch, vault and dome.
The Hellenic period: Early Hellenic architecture had the features in common with its predecessor., Temples were of the chief building type. They
resembled the agean Megaron in plan and having timber laced, sun dried brick walls, stucco covered, on stone dadoes, timber enframed portals
(originators of the architrave), narrowing a little towards the top: timber antae or uprights projecting free ends of the naos walls where they
embraced the porch, and low pitched roof showing pediments and gables over the narrow ends.
a model of acropolis





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Colonnades appear from front and surround the temple forming an essential part of it. The wooden roof was untrussed. Rafters being supported by
longitudinal beams- wall plates, purlins and ridge piece- laid on the walls and colonnades themselves or propped on struts from cross beams.
Spans could not be large unless internal lines of columns were supplied. Greek columns and entablature were at first entirely of timber, with terra-
cotta decorations in the upper trabeation, but were converted into stone early in the period , about 600 B.C.
Walls too became wholly of stone, yet the tradition of dado survived. Almost all kinds of stone walls were used from coffered rouble To the finest
ashlar, well bonded- but always without mortar.
Elements of Greek Architecture -
Generic Greek architecture is called post-beam-triangle construction. Post? refers to the columns?; beam? indicates the horizontal members, or
architraves, that rest on the columns; and triangle? denotes the triangular area, called a pediment. Vertical grooves called fluting were carved on
the column shafts to give them a more elegant, graceful appearance. A typical temple had columns on four sides, which in turn enclosed a walled
room, called a cella, that housed the cult image.
Each temple faced east, with the doors to the cella placed so that, when opened, they allowed the rays of the rising sun to illuminate the statue of
the god or goddess.





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Democracy , extrovertness and understandability were aimed at. The orders of architecture were created.
These were-
(i) Doric - representing male character,
(ii) Ionic - representing female character, and
(iii) Corinthian - representing nature.
By the end of the 7th century BC , two major architectural styles, or orders, emerged that dominated Greek architecture for centuries: Doric and
Ionic. The Doric order developed on the Greek mainland and in southern Italy and Sicily, while the Ionic order developed a little later than the Doric
order, in Ionic and on some of the Greek islands. In addition to Doric and Ionic, a third order, the Aeolic, developed in northwestern Asia Minor, but
died out by the end of the Archaic period, and a fourth, the Corinthian, emerged late in the 5th century BC .
The Doric order was the simplest and sturdiest of the three orders. Its tapering columns rest directly on the stylobate. Doric columns have no base.
Shallow parallel grooves called flutes rise from the bottom to the top of the shaft and emphasize its function as a vertical support. Sharp ridges
divide the flutes. At the top of the shaft a fluted ring called the necking provides a transition to the column's capital. The Doric capital consists of a
rounded, cushion like element called the echinus, and a horizontal square element called the abacus, which bears the load of the building above.
The Doric architrave is a plain beam left undecorated so as not to disguise its function. Above it, the Doric frieze consists of alternating triglyphs and
metopes.
The Architectural Order
Doric order





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Triglyphs are thick grooved panels that help support the weight of the structure above. Metopes are thinner panels that do no work in holding up
the temple and hence invile decoration in the form of painting or sculpture
Overhanging the parts below is the decorative cornice molding. Like an eave it helps keep rainwater clear of the building. Above the horizontal
cornice a low, pitched roof rises to produce a triangular pediment at either end of the temple. Sculpture fills the pediments of many Doric temples.
The simplicity of the Doric order clearly emphasizes the structural function of each part. Originally, paint also enlivened its surfaces. Architectural
elements (especially in the entablature) were often painted deep red, yellow-gold, white, or blue.
The Ionic order is distinguished from the Doric primarily by its column and frieze. The Ionic column rests on an elaborate curving base rather than
directly on the stylobate. The column shaft usually has deeper flutes and is more slender than the Doric. The height-to-base ratio of early I onic
columns was 8 to 1, compared with a ratio between 4 to 1 and 6 To 1 for Doric columns. The typical Ionic capital has two spiral volutes, elements that
resemble partly unrolled scrolls. These straddle a small band at the top of the shaft, usually carved with an elaborate decorative pattern. The Ionic
capital looks different from the sides than from the front or back. This difference caused problems in columns that stood at the corners, where
volutes had to slant at a 45 degree angle so that their spiral pattern would look the same from the front of the temple as from the sides.
The Ionic architrave, unlike the plain Doric architrave, consists of three narrow bands. The frieze above it is often decorated with sculpture and is
continuous, not divided into Triglyphs and metopes as in the Doric order. Multiple rows of moldings decorate the Ionic cornice.
Ionicorder
ionic capitals





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They are generally carved in more intricate patterns than in Doric enta-blatures, and may include a row of square "teeth" called dentils. Over all,
Ionic is a more ornamental and graceful style than Doric, but it lacks the clarity and power of the Doric style. As a result, ancient critics regarded the
Doric order as masculine and the Ionic as feminine. Even so, architects used the Ionic order not only for small, delicate buildings such as the
Treasury of the Siphnians at Delphi (525 B.C.), but also for more monumental structures. In fact, the first colossal Greek temples were Ionicthe
Temple of Hera on the island of Samos and the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus {both under construction by about 560 B.C.). Both featured double
rows of Ionic columns, and were giganticthe temple at Ephesus measured 112m (366 ft.) in length, with columns some 18 m (60 ft.) Tall.
Although Doric and Ionic are often considered mutually exclusive regional styles, some buildings combined features of both orders.
The Corinthian order resembles Ionic in most aspects, but Corinthian columns have tall capitals shaped like an upside-down bell and are covered
with rows of acanthus leaves and small vine like spirals called helixes. The first known Corinthian column stood alone inside the cella of The
Temple Of Apollo Epicurius at Bassae (429-405 B.C. ). Indeed, the Corinthian order was at first used only for columns inside buildingsit did not
appear externally until the 4th century B.C.
Corinthian order
clockwise:
detail of entablature and capital
of the ionic temple of Athena Polias





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The Acropolis
The Acropolis in Athens has been in use by humans since the Neolithic period. In the late Helladic age, a Mycenaean settlement built a wall there,
later to be called the Cyclopean wall on account of its large stones. Various Mycenaean buildings stood atop the Acropolis, including the tomb of
Cecrops, supposed founder of the Athenian dynasty. Thus, the Acropolis has developed a highly elevated platform. All the above temples and also
the Parthenon later have been constructed one over the other. The access to the Acropolis is provided through the Propylaea, a magnificent
structure and the route takes the individual right through the complex before leading to the entrance of the Parthenon, opposite to the Propylaea.





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The Parthenon
The Parthenon stands apart as the human victory in The achievement of desired span (though linear alone)
The Parthenon is built in Doric peristyle with 8 columns by 17 columns. Many optical refinements were incorporated to give the Parthenon the
illusion of greater balance and proportion. The space between columns and thickness of the columns vary to create this effect The columns are also
convex to make them appear more straight from a distance. The flat base and steps of the Parthenon are actually a curve and the columns tilt
inward slightly. These, and many more subtle techniques, combat the natural illusion of a square building being top heavy and its columns
unproportioned. It is important to remember that many of the exterior surfaces on the Parthenon would have been painted to increase the temple's
eye-pleasing effect. The frieze was highly decorated and the thick cornice supported the pediments with their sculptures. A marble tiled roof
diverted the ram without gutters. s
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plan





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The Propylaea
The Propylaea serves as a majestic gateway to the Acropolis. It was designed by Mnesikles, replacing an earlier entrance, and was built mainly of
Pentelic marble. Built from 437-432 BC, its construction was abandoned during the Peloponnesian War and never completed. Pericles built the
Propylaea with funds mainly from the temple treasuries of Athena and Hephaistos.
The Propylaea consisted of a central hall and two flanking wings The central hall is a rectangle and its side walls have antae at each end. Facing
east and west are two Doric hexastyle porticoes. The hall itself is divided by the portal, consisting of five gateways. A paved ramp leads through the
center gateway while stairs lead up into the smaller side gateways. Both wings have porticoes, with the north wings portico screening a chamber
behind, while the south portico has nothing behind it and is slightly smaller.
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history of architecture specimen
clockwise from top:
illustration of propylaea
conceptual sketch of destruction of acropolis
from propylaea





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The Erecthion
The Erecthion was completed circa 409 BC, though it later burned and was rebuilt in 395 BC. In the 6th century AD, it was converted into a church.
Later, in 1463, the Turks used the building as a harem. In 1801, Lord Elgin acquired venous parts of the Temple including a Caryatid from the south
porch, and removed them to England. Since then, the temple has undergone restoration the most recent being finished in 1986. The entire temple
was unified by a single frieze which ran all the way around the temple, nearly uninterrupted. The subject of the frieze is unknown, though it is
known to have been of Pentelic marble figures attached onto a background of dark Eleusian marble.
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porch of the maidens
and plan of erecthion





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Optical Correction
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
The Greeks had already reached high in geometry and study of the perspective. It is this knowledge that they applied to their buildings so as to
achieve an even higher level of perfection. They applied optical correction to their buildings so that the final form achieved was the one that was
initially desired.
The temple front as it appears in execution with curved horizontal lines and inclined vertical features.
The temple front as it would appear if built as in A with optical corrections.
The temple front appeared with vertical axis including convex stylobate, architecture, entablature etc.
Parallel straight lines having complex convex curves on either sides, appear with apart in the centre.
Parallel straight lines having concave curves on either sides appear closer together in the centre.


history of architecture specimen
A
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D
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parthenon - elevation showing refinements





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Other Greek creations
Theatre
Propilica
Pinacotheca
Statue of Athena
Stoas
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Every Greek town had a theatre. These were used for both public meetings as well as dramatic performances. These performances
originated as religious ceremonies; they went on to assume their Classical status as the highest form of Greek culture by the 6th century BC. The
theatre was usually set in a hillside outside the town, and had rows of tiered seating set in a semi-circle around the central performance area, the
orchestra. Behind the orchestra was a low building called the skene, which served as a store-room, a dressing-room, and also as a backdrop to the
action taking place in the orchestra. A number of Greek theatres survive almost intact, the best known being at Epidaurus (shown below).
were gateways of Greeks, kept on the less steeper side of the Acropolis.
was an art gallery indicating that the Greeks were a developed community.
was situated such that it can be viewed from any part of the city.
were used during games for rest and changing place for players, but when games were not on they were used as Sarays.
Thus, we see that in Acropolis there is a right kind of understanding of requirements in the construction of a complex.
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anticlockwise from top:
illustration and view of an agora
a theatre





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