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Ancient Greece - The History of Architecture

When it comes to Greek civilization, this is something that has covered many years and over this time period, many Greeks mastered various fields including, entertainment, astronomy, science, art, government, economy, leadership, and mathematics, as well as many other fields too. The way the Greeks understood mathematics and science can be seen in their architecture and engineering, which are clearly advanced. For many centuries, the ancient Greeks have created and innovated. It began in the 8th century BCE and continued until 600 CE and succeeded in such a way that a huge amount of what the Greeks achieved influenced a great deal of our culture as it is today. If we look around us, we will see the influence that the Greeks have had on us, and this is especially the case when it comes to architecture. 

The ancient Greeks were widely recognized for their different style and their three different orders when it comes to their architecture. The three different orders all varied in complexity and the most famous of them was the column. However, it wasn’t the Greeks that invented the column, but they used it in the best way possible. Doric order was the first of the three styles, and it was simple. It didn’t have any extra design aside from the grooves which were known as fluting and the arises, which were the sharp edges where the fluting met. The earliest Doric columns did not have any bases, but there was a circular ring at the tip which was referred to as the echinus. The echinus led to the abacus which was the top and a square piece. Quite often, the echinus considered three horizontal grooves which were called the hypotrachelion. The next style was known as the Iconic order and this order is probably the one that's most used in architecture that's modern.  Iconic order is similar to Doric columns when it comes to the bottom of the middle. The difference is at the top where the Iconic column has fillets and there are flatter arrises. At the top, there are carved designs on the echinus and there are also scrolls that have spiral volutes. The National Bank of Oamaru in New Zealand and the White House are both examples that feature Iconic columns. The final order and the one that is most elaborate is the Corinthian order. The features are intricately carved out of acanthus leaves and small tendrils which are in the shape of a scroll. 

It wasn't just structural design that the ancient Greeks were interested in as friezes were used purely for decorative reasons and these could be found located on pediments. Pediments are flats in triangular spaces found at the top of the building and these are supported using columns. They are placed between the roof and the rectangular-shaped wall or the top of the square. The design on many of them features mythology such as gods and goddesses, events, or animals,  Stoae were long walkways that were paved in Ancient Greece and were there to create a safe environment.  Usually, they were supported by columns, often of Doric order, and symmetry could be seen in their alignment.

 Greek structures had a purpose that reflected the culture, and they were hugely influenced by Greek entertainment and religion. Temples were the most commonly found building as the ancient Greeks were polytheistic and therefore prayed to many gods and goddesses. In Athens, it is The Parthenon which was the most famous of all the temples, and many of those famous architectural elements that the Greeks displayed can be seen in this temple, including pediments, friezes, columns, and geometry. Work began on The Parthenon in 447 BCE  by the Architects, Callicrates, and Ictinos, and the construction was completed in 438 BCE. The temple displays perfect symmetry and has a rectangular base with columns that are evenly spaced for support.  The east pediment highlights the birth of Athena, where the west pediment displays Athena and Poseidon and their rivalry to become the city’s patron. 

The arts and entertainment played a huge role in the daily life of the ancient Greeks, particularly in Athens. For this reason, many buildings were created to satisfy these needs. Open-air theaters were very popular and consisted of huge amphitheaters which were outdoors. A stage could be found in the middle of the circle.  The stage itself was a good size so that many performers could use it and quite often, these outdoor theaters could seat up to 14000 people. 

It's clear to see why ancient Greek civilization was one of the most advanced in history. The ancient Greeks succeeded in so many areas such as architecture, economics, government, music, and art. Today we can see that a lot of our architecture, from our homes to government buildings, is thanks to the ancient Greeks. Without a doubt, ancient Greek architecture did contain very aesthetically pleasing and useful elements, and a huge amount of these aspects are still being used today. 

References

1. Amy Tikkanen. Ionic order. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/technology/Ionic-order

2. Dr. Jeffrey A. Becker. Greek architectural orders. Khan Academy. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek-art/beginners-guide-greece/a/greek-architectural-orders#:~:text=The%20Doric%20order%20is%20characterized,either%20painted%20or%20sculpted%20decoration.

3. Jackie Craven (January 21, 2019). The History of Corinthian Columns. ThoughCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-corinthian-column-177504 

4. Stephanie Przybylek. Greek Friezes: History & Patterns. Study.com. https://study.com/academy/lesson/greek-friezes-history-patterns.html#:~:text=A%20frieze%20was%20a%20standard,which%20order%20was%20being%20used.

5. (March 23, 2012). Greek pediments. Art History Summary. Periods and movements through time. http://arthistorysummerize.info/ArtHistory/greek-pediments/ 

6. The Parthenon.Ancient-Greek.org. https://ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon.html 

7. Mark Cartwright (22 April 2016). Greek Theatre Architecture. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/895/greek-theatre-architecture/#:~:text=The%20ancient%20Greeks%20built%20open,landscape%20in%20all%20Greek%20cities