🏺Greek Art and Architecture – 500 to 320 BC Unit 4 – Early Greek Classical Architecture

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Entasis: slight convex curvature in the shaft of a column to correct optical illusion of concavity
• Stylobate: top step of the crepidoma, the stepped platform on which a Greek temple stands
  • Crepidoma consists of three steps: stereobate (bottom), stylobate (top), and one step in between
• Peripteral: a type of temple surrounded by a single row of columns on all four sides
• Cella: the inner chamber of a Greek temple, typically housing a cult statue of the deity
• Pronaos: the porch or vestibule at the front of a Greek temple, leading to the cella
• Opisthodomos: a porch or open room at the rear of a Greek temple, sometimes used as a treasury
• Pediment: the triangular gable end of a Greek temple roof, often decorated with sculpture

Historical Context and Timeline

• Early Classical period (480-450 BCE) marked by the Greek victory over the Persians in the Persian Wars
• Athenian Acropolis rebuilt under the leadership of Pericles during the Golden Age of Athens (460-430 BCE)
• Parthenon (447-432 BCE) and other major Athenian buildings constructed as part of Pericles' building program
• Peloponnesian War (431-404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta led to a decline in building activity
• Late Classical period (400-323 BCE) saw a resurgence of building, particularly in the Peloponnese and Asia Minor
• Conquest of Greece by Philip II of Macedon (338 BCE) and the reign of Alexander the Great (336-323 BCE) marked the end of the Classical period

Major Architectural Styles and Orders

• Doric order: the earliest and simplest of the three Classical orders, characterized by sturdy, fluted columns with no base and a plain capital
  • Doric frieze consists of alternating triglyphs (vertical grooved blocks) and metopes (square spaces, often decorated with sculpture)
• Ionic order: more slender and ornate than the Doric, with fluted columns, a base, and scrolled capitals
  • Ionic frieze is a continuous band of sculpture, without the division into triglyphs and metopes
• Corinthian order: the most ornate of the three orders, with slender, fluted columns and elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves
• Temples were the most important and common type of Greek public building, typically dedicated to a deity
• Other significant building types included treasuries, stoas (covered walkways), and theaters

Notable Buildings and Structures

• Parthenon (Athens, 447-432 BCE): the most famous example of the Doric order, dedicated to Athena Parthenos
  • Designed by architects Ictinus and Callicrates, with sculpture by Phidias
• Temple of Athena Nike (Athens, c. 420 BCE): a small Ionic temple on the Acropolis, known for its frieze depicting a battle between Greeks and Persians
• Erechtheion (Athens, c. 420-406 BCE): an Ionic temple with a complex plan, famous for its Porch of the Caryatids
• Temple of Apollo at Bassae (Peloponnese, c. 420-400 BCE): the earliest known example of the Corinthian order, designed by Ictinus
• Tholos of Athena Pronaia (Delphi, c. 380-360 BCE): a circular building in the Doric order, known for its intricate stone ceiling

Construction Techniques and Materials

• Primary building material was limestone, with marble used for important temples and sculptures
  • Pentelic marble, quarried from Mount Pentelicus near Athens, was particularly prized for its quality and luminosity
• Temples were constructed using a post-and-lintel system, with columns supporting horizontal beams (architraves) and a pitched roof
• Blocks were precisely cut and fitted together without mortar, using metal clamps and dowels for reinforcement
• Optical refinements, such as entasis and the slight inward tilt of columns, were used to create a sense of harmony and correct visual distortions
• Polychromy: the use of color on sculptures and architectural elements, often in vivid hues of red, blue, and gold

Influences and Cultural Significance

• Greek architecture was influenced by earlier Mycenaean and Minoan building traditions, as well as by Egyptian and Near Eastern architecture
• Classical architecture embodied Greek ideals of harmony, proportion, and beauty, reflecting the concept of "mimesis" (imitation of nature)
• Temples served as the focal point of religious and civic life, housing cult statues and offerings to the gods
  • Panhellenic sanctuaries (Olympia, Delphi) attracted visitors from throughout the Greek world for religious festivals and athletic competitions
• Public buildings (stoas, theaters) provided spaces for social interaction, commerce, and entertainment
• Classical architecture symbolized the power and prestige of Greek city-states, particularly Athens during its Golden Age

Key Architects and Patrons

• Pericles (c. 495-429 BCE): Athenian statesman who initiated the rebuilding of the Acropolis and other major projects
• Phidias (c. 480-430 BCE): the most famous sculptor of the Classical period, who oversaw the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon
• Ictinus (active 5th century BCE): architect of the Parthenon and the Temple of Apollo at Bassae
• Callicrates (active 5th century BCE): architect who collaborated with Ictinus on the Parthenon and designed the Temple of Athena Nike
• Mnesicles (active 5th century BCE): architect of the Propylaea, the monumental gateway to the Athenian Acropolis

Legacy and Impact on Later Architecture

• Classical Greek architecture had a profound influence on the architecture of ancient Rome, which adopted and further developed the Greek orders and building types
  • Roman architecture (Pantheon, Colosseum) combined Greek forms with new materials and construction techniques, such as concrete and the arch
• The rediscovery of Classical architecture during the Renaissance led to a revival of Greek and Roman forms in Europe and America
  • Neoclassical architecture (US Capitol, British Museum) drew inspiration from the principles and aesthetics of Classical Greek design
• Modern architects (Le Corbusier, Mies van der Rohe) have continued to draw on the simplicity, clarity, and proportions of Greek architecture
• The enduring legacy of Classical Greek architecture lies in its timeless principles of harmony, balance, and beauty, which have shaped the built environment for over two millennia