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Thought out Greek's magnificent reign, they had made many advances in such things as chemistry, physics, mathematics, and especially architecture. Thought this section of Architecture Through the Ages, you will see how different time periods changed the Greek's architectural techniques and tastes.

Classical Greek Architecture

    During this time period, the Greeks especially liked to build temples. These temples however were not just used to house Gods, but also people who seek sanctuary from the sun or rain. The temples rest on a low foundation and were approached from all sides by three steps. The columns were designed  with a combination of supporting shafts with a conical echinus making a transition of the square abacus which actually bears the architrave above.

    The essential material which the temples were made of was stone, except for the timbering in the roofs and ceiling as well as the terra-cotta tiles. Everything else was made up of marble cut in large blocks and fastened by means of clamps and dowels. Paint was then applied to the marble to accentuate a certain feature or to make it looks stronger.

    Light also played a function in creating forms and various shapes and intensities of luminosity among the details of the moldings. The light would then be used to bring out colors. The final texture which was a characteristic of this time period was the texture of the building. It was   generally made of smooth  marble in most parts of the building. This texture was modified by the effects of the light and line which could create a ripple effect that looks both smooth and rough.

    These elements combined together are known as "classical" Hellenism. The Greeks focussed more on the forms of the "ideal" or "typical" building rather than that of a "realistic" type or "radically abstract". In addition, all of these forms are essentially like those of the Doric buildings. This type of architecture did not strive for either marked individuality or for extreme education to theoretical essence.

    Another characteristic which the Greeks strived to make perfect was their carving. They wanted all of their buildings to have a sharp and precise appearance as well as an element of uncomplicated and unimpeded looks. They also placed a great emphasis on mass, on the form of three dimensions, and on the composition of figures using solid geometry. They used such three-dimensional figures as the simple- rectangle, prism, cones, and cylinders.

    Finally, the Greeks made sure that all of their buildings were completely integrated with the environment. From the low horizontal steps clinging to the ground and the repeating horizon of the earth, the structure would rise to the triangular pediment that were broken by akroteria and antefix which fit the rectangular building between the flat earth and domed sky. In addition, all buildings were easily accessible from all sides.

The Form of Nature

Stone Age to Homer: 4000-700 B. C.

    At about 3000 B. C., the Greek architecture was represented chiefly by relatively small  houses which were constructed in the familiar mud and mud-brick, with small stones ,reeds and brush. The plans for these buildings were simple -  a rectangle with two large rooms and a several long narrow rooms or corridors. These buildings lacked good looks, but they did what was needed of them.

    Although both these structures were not very elaborate or pleasing to the eye, they were all the Greeks could  manage to build. Nature provided all of the building materials.  As time progressed, however, this changed.

The Form of Substance

Homer to Plato: 700-400 B. C.

    During this period in Greece's history, architecture took a dramatic change. Temples were very abundant. They were basically a simple cella, or room. Building materials for this period changed from the traditional mud-brick, mud and stone, wood, and reeds to more interesting and stable limestone or marble. The more notable new material was tera cotta, baked times for roofing and the ornamental antefixes.

    Also during this period, the Doric order was no longer the only order around. In Asia Minor, the Ionic order was born.  Because of the the birth of this new order, the Doric order started to diminish.

The Form of Kosmos

Plato to Augustus: 400-31 B. C.

    During this time period, more changes occurred dealing with architecture. There were no new important structural devices, but arches and vaults were now employed more and more for aesthetic, beauty, and looks. In addition, no new forms were developed formally, but unofficial forms sprang up from time to time with no real sticking power.

     For one thing, greater emphasis was placed on vertical dimensions. This was achieved partly by a somewhat consistent shortening of the proportions of the ground levels. During the fifth century, this would have been in a ration where the width was a little less than half the length, but they later changed it so the length would be a little less than twice the width. In addition, the Greeks had a tendency to go and make the columns taller in proportion to the width, emphasizing vertical height.

    Another area of architecture that was effected was the buildings volume.The proportion of the thickness of the column to the intercolumniation was diminished, thus giving the building the look of greater space. In addition, many major buildings were built on the pseudoperipteral scheme. The  space between naos wall and outer colonnade doubled the normal width found in regular temples.

    Bibliography:

1. Scranton, Robert L., Greek Architecture, George Braziller Publishing