Greek Architecture

Greek architecture began on the shores of the Aegean Sea around 700 BC. The great works of Greek architecture, such as the Parthenon were produced between 700 BC and 145 BC. The Greeks built temples, tombs, public meeting places, stadiums, amphitheaters, and many other things. The Greek temples were built mainly to be viewed from the outside. There was generally a statue of a god or goddess inside. The entrance was surrounded by pillars and in some temples one could see the statue through the entrance.

The Greeks used stone to build their temples. They relied on gravity to hold up their temples, instead of using mortar to stick them together. After the 5th century BC they made their buildings out of white marble. The buildings were thought to have been left white, but traces of coloring have been found.

There were three main orders of Greek Architecture. The oldest style was the Doric order. The second, appearing after 500 BC, was the Ionic order. The Corinthian order was the third and least commonly used.

The Doric order was the oldest and simplest of the Greek orders. It was first used when the Dorians came to Greece. The Doric style was characterized by plain, sturdy, heavy columns with simple tops and no base. Most of the famous Greek buildings were of the Doric order.

The next major order was the Ionic order. It was first used around 500 BC and was fancier than the Doric. The pillars were more slender and at the top of the column there were scroll-like ornaments with spirals on either side. The Erechtheum was a major Ionic building.

The third and least used order was the Corinthian order. It began around the same time as the Ionic. It was very ornate and the pillars had bell shaped tops decorated with carved acanthus leaves. Examples of the Corinthian order can be found in Athens.

Greek Architecture made a great impression on other styles of architecture. The Romans got ideas from the Greeks. Many buildings use some of the concepts found in Greek Architecture.

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