Greek Architecture

Ancient Greek Architecture was extinct around 1200 BC near the end of the Mycenaean period. We don't have much left of the most early buildings because they were made from wood, mud-bricks, or clay, but we do have remains of limestone columns, which were common in Greek architecture. The Greeks used bronze for detailed decorative things. They had 5 different types of buildings which were religious, civic, domestic, funerary, or recreational. They also had 3 different types of architecture which were Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian.

The three styles, Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian, were styles of columns that were used in temples, which is not surprising because religion was dominant in Greek society. The Ionic style was thinner and more elegant, with a scroll-like top to it. The Ionic style was found in eastern Greece and the Greek Island s and was used in many famous temples. This style was used in the Erechtheum, the temple of Apollo, and the temple of Athena. The Doric style is more sturdy than the others and is decorated with a plain top. This style is found in the mainland of Greece, southern Italy, and Sicily, and was used in the making of the Parthenon. The Corinthian style is seldom used. It has a very elaborate top and is found in many temples in Rome.

The Parthenon is an Ancient Greek temple. It was built from 447 to 442 BC dedicated to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon was one of the earliest and simplest of the Greek Architecture and was built on the Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon was built by Greek architects Actinus and Callicrates. The Parthenon was a designed as a large, marble, rectangular table that had 17 columns on the length and 8 columns on the width. The Parthenon measures at about 102 x 230 feet. The east end of the Parthenon was a representation of the birth of the goddess Athena and how she sprang out of Zeus' head fully grown. The west end of the Parthenon was designed to represent the contest between Athena and Poseidon to see who the Patron of Athens would be. The victor of that contest was said to be Athena because her gift of the olive branch proved to be more useful then Poseidon's gift of the horse. The outer columns have representations of battles. In the center chamber of the Parthenon, there was a statue of Athena made from ivory and gold. At the base of the statue, there is an image representing the birth of Pandora, who was said to be the first person on earth. Though the statue is no longer there, we have heard of it through writings of the Greek poet Pausanias. Another temple to the goddess Athena was the Tegea which was burnt down in 390 BC, but was rebuilt and is one of the greatest temples around today.

The Erectheion is located in Athens, Greece and was built from 425 to 421 BC. The Erectheion was famous for its ionic style and because it had caryatid columns in the shape of women. The temple is a sanctuary to the god Poseidon and the goddess Athena and is said to be the place where Athena's olive tree sprung and where Poseidon left his trident marks in the stone. The Erectheion was named after the mythical Greek king Erectheus and was built by Greek Architect Mnesicles. The building was a rectangular cellar that was divided into three rooms. The south end of it is the Porch of the Caryatids where the Maiden Statues once were. The Erectheion was built on a hilltop where there is a Mediterranean climate. This temple is stone cut and is put on one of the most sacred parts of the Acropolis.

The Greeks made great advances in architecture and came up with ideas that are still utilized today. The White house has Ionic style columns around it as well as the Capital buildings and many other historical buildings in Washington D.C. The Greek architectural designs have helped America a lot.

Prag, A. Facts on File Encyclopedia of Art, vol. 1. New York: Facts On File, Inc. 2005.

Sacks, David. Encyclopedia of the Ancient Greek World, Revised Edition. New York: Facts On File, Inc. 2005.