Greek Architecture

2. PRESENTED BY
ADNAN ALI (1067)

3. GREEK ARCHITECTURE

4. INTRODUCTION
• The civilization of Greece was one that spanned many
years, and in this time, many the Greeks excelled various
fields, such as art, entertainment, music, government,
economy, leadership, science, mathematics, astronomy, and
more. One particular application of science and
mathematics is the Greeks’ stunning and advanced
architecture and engineering.
• Everywhere in one’s life can he see Greek influence on
modern day, especially in Architecture.
• The ancient Greeks developed and innovated for hundreds
of years; from the 8th century BC until around 600 BC.

5. HISTORY
• The history of the Ancient Greek civilization is divided into
two eras, the Hellenic and the Hellenistic The Hellenic
period commenced circa 900 BC, (with substantial works of
architecture appearing from about 600 BC) and ended with
the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. During the
Hellenistic period, 323 BC - AD 30, Hellenic culture was
spread widely, firstly throughout lands conquered by
Alexander, and then by the Roman Empire which absorbed
much of Greek culture.

6. HISTORY
• The architecture of Ancient Greece is the architecture produced by the
Greek-speaking people (Hellenic people) whose culture flourished on the
Greek mainland and Peloponnesus, the Aegean Islands, and in colonies
in Asia Minor and Italy for a period from about 900 BC until the 1st
century AD, with the earliest remaining architectural works dating from
around 600 BC.
• Ancient Greek architecture is best known from its temples, many of
which are found throughout the region, mostly as ruins but many
substantially intact. The second important type of building that survives
all over the Hellenic world is the open-air theatre, with the earliest dating
from around 350 BC. Other architectural forms that are still in evidence
are the processional gateway (propylon), the public square (agora)
surrounded by storied colonnade (stoa), the town council building
(bouleuterion), the public monument, the monumental tomb
(mausoleum) and the stadium.

7. TYPE OFARCHITECTURE
• Ancient Greek architecture is distinguished
by its highly formalized characteristics, both
of structure and decoration. This is
particularly so in the case of temples where
each building appears to have been
conceived as a sculptural entity within the
landscape, most often raised on high ground
so that the elegance of its proportions and
the effects of light on its surfaces might be
viewed from all angles

8. ORIGIN
• Our word “architecture” comes from
the Greek architecton, which means
“master carpenter.”
• Early Greek architecture therefore
employed wood, not stone.
• These early structures, as well as
those of mud brick, have not
survived.

9. Wood Features in Stone
• By the 6th Century BC, stone replaced
wood in the construction of important
temples.
• Designs still reflected their origins in
wood, however.

10. TYPE OFARCHITECTURE
• The formal vocabulary of Ancient
Greek architecture, in particular the
division of architectural style into three
defined orders: the Doric Order, the
Ionic Order and the Corinthian Order,
was to have profound effect on Western
architecture of later periods. The
architecture of Ancient Rome grew out
of that of Greece and maintained its
influence in Italy unbroken until the
present day

11. The Classical
Orders• The three classical orders
are:
• Doric
• Ionic
• Corinthian
• Seen in several of the
buildings
• Parthenon
• Temples
• Theaters

12. • The rectangular temple is the most common and best-known form of
Greek public architecture. Temples served as the location of a cult image
and as a storage place or strong room for the treasury associated with
the cult of the god in question,, and as a place for devotees During the
late 5th and 4th centuries BC, town planning became an important
consideration of Greek builders, with towns such as Paestum and Priene
being laid out with a regular grid of paved streets and an agora or
central market place, Every Greek town had an open-air theatre. These
were used for both public meetings as well as dramatic performances.
The theatre was usually set in a hillside outside the town, and had rows
of tiered seating set in a semicircle around the central performance
area, the orchestra

14. Important structures
• The important structures if ancient greek architecture
includes many building some of which will be explained in
the coming slides

15. Temples
• Unlike modern churches or mosques,
Greek temples were not meant to be
meeting places for congregations.
• They were homes for the community’s
god or goddess and a place to keep
offerings
• A cult image was centrally located
within a naos, or chapel.

16. Temples
• In the mild climate of Greece,
ceremonies generally took place
outdoors.
• Even the alter, upon which
sacrifices were made, were outside
the temple structure.

18. Important Structures – The Acropolis
• The most famous Greek
buildings Athenian
Acropolis.
• Propylaea is the
monumental entry point to
the acropolis

19. The Parthenon
• This is the most important and
perfectly formed temple on the
acropolis.
• This building is the culmination of
Classical Greek architecture.
• One of the Parthenon’s most
impressive features was not seen by
most worshippers – the great frieze
showing the Panathenaic Procession.

20. • The Erechtheum is a complex building of up to
four distinct spaces
• The Great Altar of Pergamum, This is
completely with traditional style.

21. GOALS OF GREEK ARCHITECTURE
 The purpose of ancient Greek structures reflected their culture, which were
heavily influenced by their religion and entertainment. The most commonly found
building is the temple, as ancient Greeks were polytheistic and prayed to a
plethora of gods and goddesses. The Romans based their architecture off that of
the ancient Greeks because when the Greek Empire fell, many immigrated to
Rome, and diffused their culture into Rome. Roman columns are similar to the
Greeks' in structure; they added bases to Doric columns but mainly used the
Corinthian columns.
 Ancient Greek civilization was one of the most advanced societies in history.
They flourished in countless areas, including art, music, government, economics,
and architecture.
•

22. The Greek Heritage
• Today, elements of Greek architecture surround
us everywhere, from the Doric columns gracing
local homes to the great Ionic capitals of the
Vancouver Art Gallery.

23. The Greek Heritage
• Greek forms have become an
integral part of the vocabulary of
world architecture
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