Greek+Architecture



Ancient Greek Architecture was made by those of ancient Greece who wanted to be remembered. The ancient Greeks had three main designs of the columns for there temples Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Each of these designs were use in a different order. Each of these order happened throughout the ancient Greece era. The Doric order was first, then the Ionic and following the end of ancient Greece architecture the Corinthian column styles.

Doric order: There were few memorable or lasting temples from the Doric order that are recorded but one of the more famous Doric style column is the Parthenon. The Parthenon is one of the oldest most memorable Greek architectural remembrances to the god of Athens Athena. The Doric column structure looks like this:

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.

The Next order was the Ionic order. There were three main symbolic ancient Greek temples that displayed the Ionic column design. They were Erechtheum, The Temple of Apollo at Didyma, and The Temple of Athena Nike. The Erechtheum was temple of Greek art and architecture, built on the Acropolis of Athens between 421 and 405BC. This temple was built in honor the Greek hero Erichthonius. The temple has also been said to have been a temple of the legendary king Erechtheus. The Temple of Apollo at Didyma had columns that were of the Ionic style surrounding the Statue of Apollo. Also an example of ionic columns being used in temples comes form the Temple of Athena and Nike. Athena the Greek god of Wisdom and Nike the Greek god of Victory. The Ionic columns were used on the outside of the Pyramid to hold up the structure of the building. The Ionic column style looks like this:

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.

The final order was the Corinthian column style. The Corinthian style was the most ornate of the classic orders of architecture. It was also the latest, not arriving at full development until the middle of the 4th century B.C. The oldest known example is found at the temple of Apollo in Bassae. The Corinthian order was barely used. The best known use of the Corinthian style pillar is the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates. This monument was built to commemorate the theatrical arts of Athens. This column style looks like this:

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.

Bibliography: http://www.ancientgreece.com/s/Art/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erechtheum, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_Athena_Nike, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choragic_Monument_of_Lysicrates, http://cooltext.com/Render-Result?RenderID=440292634