 Acropolis of Athens Argolis Athens Corinthos-Epidaurus Creta Delphi Evia Ioannina Kalavrita Meteora Mykonos Mythology - Ancient Greek Gods Naxos Olympia Paros Patmos Santorini Sounion Volos - Pilion
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Greece is located in
south-eastern Europe occupying the southern most part of the Balkan
Peninsula. It borders Albania,
the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
and Bulgaria to the north,
and Turkey
to the east. The Aegean Sea lies to the east and south of mainland Greece, while the Ionian
Sea lies to the west.
Architecture in ancient Greece:
Greek life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the
temples of ancient Greece
were the biggest and most beautiful. They also had a political purpose as they
were often built to celebrate civic power and pride, or offer thanksgiving to
the patron deity of a city for success in war. The Greeks developed three architectural systems, called orders, each with
their own distinctive proportions and detailing. The Greek orders are: Doric,
Ionic, and Corinthian.
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DORIC.
The Doric style is rather sturdy and its top (the capital), is plain. This
style was used in mainland Greece
and the colonies in southern Italy
and Sicily.
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IONIC.
The Ionic style is thinner and more elegant. Its capital is decorated
with a scroll-like design (a volute). This style was found in eastern Greece and the
islands.
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CORINTHIAN.
The Corinthian style is seldom used in the Greek world, but often seen
on Roman temples. Its capital is very
elaborate and decorated with acanthus leaves.
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Doric Order:
Parthenon - temple of Athena Parthenos ("Virgin"), Greek goddess
of wisdom, on the Acropolis in Athens.
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC, and despite the enormous damage
it has sustained over the centuries, it still communicates the ideals of order
and harmony for which Greek architecture is known
Ionic Order:
Erechtheum - temple from the middle classical period of Greek art and
architecture, built on the Acropolis of Athens between 421 and 405BC.
The Erechtheum contained sanctuaries to Athena Polias, Poseidon, and
Erechtheus. The requirements of the several shrines and the location upon a
sloping site produced an unusual plan. From the body of the building porticoes
project on east, north, and south sides. The eastern portico, hexastyle Ionic,
gave access to the shrine of Athena, which was separated by a partition from
the western cella. The northern portico, tetrastyle Ionic, stands at a lower
level and gives access to the western cella through a fine doorway. The
southern portico, known as the Porch of the Caryatids (see caryatid) from the
six sculptured draped female figures that support its entablature, is the
temple's most striking feature; it forms a gallery or tribune. The west end of
the building, with windows and engaged Ionic columns, is a modification of the
original, built by the Romans when they restored the building. One of the east
columns and one of the caryatids were removed to London by Lord Elgin, replicas being
installed in their places.
The Temple of Apollo at Didyma - The Greeks built the Temple of Apollo
at Didyma, Turkey (about 300 BC). The design
of the temple was known as dipteral, a term that refers to the two sets of columns
surrounding the interior section. These columns surrounded a small chamber that
housed the statue of Apollo. With Ionic columns reaching 19.5 m (64 ft) high, these ruins
suggest the former grandeur of the ancient temple.
The Temple of Athena Nike - part of the Acropolis in the city of Athens. The Greeks built
the Temple of Apollo
at Didyma, Turkey (about 300 BC). The design
of the temple was known as dipteral, a term that refers to the two sets of
columns surrounding the interior section. These columns surrounded a small
chamber that housed the statue of Apollo. With Ionic columns reaching 19.5 m (64 ft) high, these ruins
suggest the former grandeur of the ancient temple.
Corinthian Order:
Most ornate of the classic orders of architecture. It was also the
latest, not arriving at full development until the middle of the 4th cent. B.C.
The oldest known example, however, is found in the temple of Apollo
at Bassae (c.420 B.C.). The Greeks made little use of the order; the chief
example is the circular structure at Athens
known as the choragic monument
of Lysicrates ( 335
B.C.). The temple of Zeus at Athens
(started in the 2d cent. B.C. and completed by Emperor Hadrian in the 2d cent.
A.D.) was perhaps the most notable of the Corinthian temples
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