PART A

1. GREEK ARCHIECTURE
The Orders: Doric, Ionic, Corinthian
The Age of Pericles: Acropolis

2. The Classical GREEK Orders
 The three classical
orders are:
 Doric
 Ionic
 Corinthian

4. The Doric Order
 Doric columns are the heaviest in
appearance
 The capital is plain.
 The shaft is thick – though it loses some
of its mass over time.
 There is no base.
 Doric entablature consist of a plain
architrave.
 A frieze of alternating Triglyphs and
Metopes.
 A plain crowning cornice.

5. The Doric Order
In the Doric order, columns are presented without bases and sit
directly on the stylobate, the uppermost level of masonry on
which the temple is built. To facilitate production, the columns
were built in pieces called drums, as indicated by the faint
horizontal lines in the diagram above. The shallow, concave
grooves that run vertically, flutes, join to form arrises, the sharp
ridges visible as vertical lines running from the bottom to the top
of the column. Thenecking (or annulet) is located at the top of
the column, just below the capital.

6. The Doric Order
The capital of the Doric column is comprised of two separate parts.
The echinus, so named for its resemblance to a sea urchin, serves as a
cushion for the abacus, the square slab that supports the entablature.
Compared to the Ionic and Corinthian capitals soon to be discussed, the
Doric capital is simple in design with no added decoration.
Doric Capital
Guttae in Doric Architecture
Key pattern:
A common form of ornamentation used on Doric
temples is the fretwork Known as KEY PATTERN,
Greek key design meander or as in this case-labyrinth
motif.

7. The Doric Order
The entablature, the part of the temple above the columns, is usually
comprised of three parts: the architrave, the frieze, and the cornice. The
architrave is the horizontal slab located directly above the column capital.
More often than not, this area of the temple was kept undecorated. Just
above the architrave are the triglyphs and metopes, the two components
of the Doric frieze. Here, triglyphs, stone blocks having three vertical
decorative channels, alternate with blank, square metopes. The metopes
were sometimes decorated with sculpture. Above the triglyphs and metopes
are decorative additions called mutules and guttae. The uppermost area of
the entablature is the cornice, located just above the frieze.

8. The Doric Order
Flutes and Arrises:
Doric columns are generally carved
with vertical, parallel channels known
as FLUTES,Which should number
20. Doric flutes meet in sharp ridge
called ARRISES.
SIMA:
Sima or Cymatium is the term applied to roof gutters
placed along the gables And flanks of building. Those
of both Doric and Ionic temples often had outlets for
rainwater, modeled in the form of Lion’s head.
On the apex and two
lower angles of the
pediment were introduced
acroteria, sometimes
ornaments of flowers and
tendrils, and sometimes
statues of gods or
animals. These were
placed on small
pedestals, and offered an
æsthetic contrast to the
sliding effect which would
otherwise have been
produced by the oblique
lines of the pediment.
Acroteria

9. ANTEFIXAE

10. The Ionic Order
 These have greater elegance.
 The capital has distinctive
volutes.
 The shaft is thinner than its Doric
equivalent.
 A base is apparent.
 Femininity, slenderness & beauty.
Ex: Propylaea, Athens(437-431 BCE)
Temple of Athena Polias, Priene(340 BCE)

11. In the Ionic order, the stylobate and columns are separated
by horizontally-fluted bases. The columns remain similar to
the Doric order, but are more slender and have more
vertical flutes running from top to bottom. In later times, a
flat fillet separated flutes, as opposed to the arrises seen in
the Doric order. In the Ionic order, there is no annulet at the
top of the column.
The capital of the Ionic column consists of a band adorned
with a carved leaf pattern topped by a horizontal slab
ending in a pair of volute scrolls. Sometimes a narrow
abacus rests atop the capital to support the entablature.
The architrave of the Ionic order is often separated into
three horizontal planes called fasciae. Above the
architrave, framed at top and bottom by moldings, is the
frieze. Unlike in the Doric order, the Ionic frieze runs
continuously either with carvings of figures or a series of
dentils, small squares resembling teeth. As in the Doric
order, the cornice is located above the frieze.
The Ionic Order

12. Ionic Capital (Side View)
Carved triple guilloche on torus of Ionic base.
Flutes and Fillet_ 24 nos.
Ionic Capital
Volute/ Helix

13. Egg& Dart carved molding
Entablature
Water-leaf carved molding
Double Twist on an Astragal

14. The Corinthian Order
 This is also a tall, elegant fo
 The capital has distinctive
acanthus leaf decoration.
 A base is also employed.
 Elegance and Beauty.
Ex: Temple of Apollo Epicurius, Bassae (429-390 BCE)
Choragic Monument f Lysicrates, Athens (335-334 BCE)

15. The Corinthian Order
The Corinthian order is in many respects similar to the
Ionic; both columns are slender, supported by a horizontally
fluted base, and carved with vertical grooves and flat fillets
in between.
The capital of the Corinthian column is the most ornate of
the orders. Volute scrolls, as seen in the Ionic order, are
adorned with acanthus leaves and rosettes. Above these
details is the boss, a piece similar to the above-mentioned
abacus.
The architrave in the Corinthian order is divided into
fasciae, and serves to support a continuous frieze. Dentils
may be present above the frieze as a decorative statement.

16. Acanthus Leaf

19. IMPORTANT TERMS
abacus The square-shaped flat slab forming the stop
of a column capital.
acanthus A place, the leaves of which resemble the
principle decorative element of the Corinthian column
capital.
akroterion The ornament at the corner of the roof of a
temple or at the apex of a gable.
apex The highest point (of a temple’s roof).
architrave The course of masonry running above the
column capitals and supporting the superstructure. Also
referred to as the epistyle.
arris The join of the flutes of a column normally
forming a sharp ridge, as seen in the Doric order.
capital The upper, spreading element in a column,
forming a transition between the vertical shaft and the
horizontal elements of the architrave.
cornice The horizontal course of the entablature of a
building immediately above the frieze; either sloping
member of a gable.
dentils Small rectangular blocks used below the Ionic
cornice as decoration.

20. IMPORTANT TERMS
echinus The lower part of a column capital, as seen in the Doric order.
entablature The horizontal architectural elements forming the superstructure of a building
above the columns; the architrave, frieze, and cornice.
epistyle See architrave.
fascia An undecorated band on an Ionic architrave. Also seen in the Corinthian order.
flutes Shallow grooves running vertically on the shaft of a column.
frieze The architectural course between the architrave and the cornice.
guttae Pendent ornaments attached to the undersides of the mutules of the Doric
entablature.
metope A space between two triglyphs in a Doric frieze, sometimes filled with a block
carved with relief sculpture.
mutule A projecting flat block under the Doric cornice.
pediment The triangular space formed by the gable at either end of a Greek temple.
pedimental sculpture Sculpture figures, carved either freestanding or in relief, that fill the
triangular space knows as the pediment of a Greek temple.
rosette An ornament shaped like a rose.
triglyph An upright grooved block with three vertical bars in relief seen in the Doric order.
volute A spiral on the face and back of an Ionic capital.

21. The Acropolis of Athens

22. The Acropolis of Athens

24. Important Structures – The Acropolis
 The most famous
Greek buildings
topped the Athenian
Acropolis.
 These include: the
Propylaea, the
Temple of Athena
Nike, the Parthenon,
and the Erectheum.

27. The Propylaea (437-432 BCE)
 This is the monumental entry point to the
acropolis.

29. Temple of Athena Nike
 This is a small temple
dedicated to the victorious
Athena.
 The ratio of height to diameter
of the columns is 7:1 and not
the 9:1 or 10:1 generally found
in Ionic temples.

31. The Parthenon
 This is the most important and
perfectly formed temple on the
acropolis.
 Dedicated to Athena, it housed
an enormous cult image.

32.  This building is the culmination
of Classical Greek architecture.
 Optical refinements are many,
and the result is a building
reflecting the Greek concept of
arete, perfection.
Parthenon, Doric temple of Athena Parthenos
(“Virgin”), Greek goddess of wisdom, on the
Acropolis in Athens. Built in the 5th century B.C.,
it is the masterpiece of Greek architecture.
Situated on the Acropolis and completed in
438 B.C. Perfect example of Greek architecture
and of early column and beam construction. The
temple is 228 ft Long, 101 ft Wide, and 66 ft High.
Columns are 6 ft 1½ in. Diameter at the base,
and 34 ft High. The architrave beams are 14 ft
5 in. Long.
The Parthenon

33.  One of the Parthenon’s most
impressive features was not seen by
most worshippers – the great frieze
showing the Panathenaic Procession.
 The colour of this reconstruction is
indicative of what much of the structure
would have looked like before being
bleached by centuries of
Mediterranean sun.
The Parthenon

35.  This is a complex building of up
to four distinct spaces.
 It is also built on a slope, so its
walls are of differing heights.
 It is dedicated to Athena Polias
and Poseidon Erechtheus.
The Erechtheum (421-406 BCE)
The Erechtheum, an Ionic temple,
which an unusual design compared to
other temples, and with rich ornamental
decorations. Building started around
421 BC and completed around 406 BC
It was build approximately on the place
of an older Athena Temple destroyed in
480/79 by the Persians. In the
medieval times its interior was modified
serving as a church.

36. The Erechtheum
 The most distinctive element of this building is the
Porch of the Maidens.
Caryatids

37. without mentioning
this building by
name, Vitruvius
alludes to the
asymmetrical plan of
the structure.
Otherwise, he
ignores its exquisite
detail and famous
caryatid porch.

38. References:
Sir Banister Fletcher- A History of Architecture. (Twentieth Edition)
Emily Cole- The Grammar of Architecture
Louis Hellman- Architecture for beginners
THANK YOU.
This is just a track line to the subject matter. students are requested to study the recommended books & also go after .