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Greek Architecture

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Submitted By cede
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Ancient Greek architecture is featured by two main orders, namely the Doric and the Ionic. Greeks effectively applied these architectural styles in constructing buildings, theatres and temples. The Doric style was predominantly applied in mainland Greece with a further spread to the Greek settlements in Italy. The Ionic style was applied in Ionia and the Aegean islands. At that, the Doric style was more austere and formal, whereas the Ionic was more decorative and relaxed. The styles are mostly reflected in the three orders of column capitals, bearing different decoration and design features. The examples of the Doric order are the Temple of Hephaestus and Parthenon Athens. In turn, the Iconic masterpieces include the temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis and the Erechtheum. The Ionic order gained dominance during the Hellenistic period, however was prone to a great deal of resistance by many Greek States. Compared to Romans, in their architectural constructions and designs the ancient Greeks applied wood for roof beams, plaster for bathtubs, brick for walls, marble and limestone for walls, columns, and upper portions of public buildings and temples, terracotta for ornaments and roof tiles, and metals for decorative details to construct civic, religious, domestic, recreational, and funerary buildings. The commonest form of Greek public architecture was temple, with altar standing under the open sky in the sacred fane before the temple. Temples were closely associated with the cult of the god. Palaestra (gymnasiums) served as the social center for males, namely physical exercises and athletic contests. Council chambers in Greek cities served the functions of a meeting place for the town council and court houses. In contrast to ancient Romans, Greeks did not apply domes and arches, and therefore could not build constructions with huge interior spaces. Theaters

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