Ancient Greek Ancient Greek ArchitectureArchitecture

Early Greek Civilizations - Early Greek Civilizations - MycenaeansMycenaeans

Lions GateLions Gate

Cyclopean Cyclopean

structurestructure

Gates around Gates around

allall their citiestheir cities

Basis of Greek ArchitectureBasis of Greek ArchitectureThe TempleThe Temple

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1sE5H7nAAA

A closer look at the parts of a templeA closer look at the parts of a temple

PedimentPediment FriezeFrieze CapitalCapital ColumnColumn ShaftShaft BaseBase

The bottom of the The bottom of the TempleTemple

CapitalCapital Connecting piece Connecting piece

between shaft and “cross between shaft and “cross beam”beam”

Column/Greek orderColumn/Greek order Of which there are three Of which there are three

kinds…doric, ionic and kinds…doric, ionic and corinthiancorinthian

BaseBase Consists of a foundation Consists of a foundation

and steps on the outsideand steps on the outside

The top of the templeThe top of the temple

Pediment – the middle of Pediment – the middle of the triangle – usually the triangle – usually decorateddecorated

Frieze – can be of a Frieze – can be of a plain or ornate design – plain or ornate design – it is the top horizontal it is the top horizontal supporting beamsupporting beam

Doric ColumnsDoric Columns

The plainest of all The plainest of all columnscolumns

It tapers slightly as it It tapers slightly as it gets highergets higher

Ionic ColumnsIonic Columns

The “mediumThe “medium

ornate” columnsornate” columns

Looks like an Looks like an elaborate “elaborate “II” or a ” or a ram’s hornram’s horn

TEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKETEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKE

Corinthian ColumnsCorinthian Columns

The MOST elaborate of all the columnsThe MOST elaborate of all the columns Tends to look like a firework going off, producing lots of leaves Tends to look like a firework going off, producing lots of leaves

and flowersand flowers

TEMPLE TO OLYMPIAN ZEUS

ERECTHEUM

PORCH OF THE MAIDENS

Important Ideas of Important Ideas of TemplesTemples

It’s allliiiivvvvveeeeee!It’s allliiiivvvvveeeeee! Similarity to human bodySimilarity to human body It flows It flows It’s perfect!!!..the model for all of western It’s perfect!!!..the model for all of western

architecturearchitecture Measured units – the bottom radius of the Measured units – the bottom radius of the

column…uses the golden rectanglecolumn…uses the golden rectangle All other work was based off that number All other work was based off that number

Greeks Greeks ♥ Being outside – it’s all OPEN♥ Being outside – it’s all OPEN

Golden MeanGolden Mean

Important Greek Important Greek Structures you Structures you should be able to should be able to identifyidentify

The Parthenon (at the The Parthenon (at the Acropolis)Acropolis)

Acropolis PlanAcropolis Plan

The Acropolis as a whole – a fortified The Acropolis as a whole – a fortified agora on a hilltopagora on a hilltop

Amphitheaters…Amphitheaters…

Theater of Dionysus, AthensTheater of Dionysus, Athens

The Theater at EpidaurusThe Theater at Epidaurus

perfect acousticsperfect acoustics

Modern Day Modern Day Connections:Connections:Buildings that use the Greek model Buildings that use the Greek model for architecturefor architecture

The NY Stock Exchange

The New York City Hall Building

The US Supreme Court Building

QUINCY MARKET (Boston, QUINCY MARKET (Boston, MA)– Uses the agora styleMA)– Uses the agora style

Greek Architecture Greek Architecture ConclusionConclusion

Architecture thus is part of the Western Architecture thus is part of the Western heritage of ideas that the Greeks began heritage of ideas that the Greeks began and which we still use todayand which we still use today

GREEK SCULPTUREGREEK SCULPTURE

Archaic Period: 900-500 B.C.Archaic Period: 900-500 B.C.

Classical Period: 500-350 B.C.Classical Period: 500-350 B.C.

Hellenistic Period: 350-100 B.C.Hellenistic Period: 350-100 B.C.

TWO TYPES OF TWO TYPES OF SCULPTURE…SCULPTURE… in the roundin the round

in reliefin relief

Archaic Sculpture:

• Stiff• Blocky• Arms at sides (males)• Stylized• Weight evenly balanced• Left foot forward• Archaic smile• Male/kouros; female/kore• Males usually nude,

females clothed

archaic

• Kouros

• 525 B.C.

KORE

• females usually clothed

• one outstretched arm to offer something

to the gods

THE TRANSITION…Classical.

• The Charioteer of Delphi

• 470 B.C.• bronze

Transition: severe style..Transition: severe style..

Poseidon/ZeusPoseidon/Zeus c. 460 B.C.c. 460 B.C. Found by fishermen Found by fishermen

in 1928in 1928

Classical SculptureClassical Sculpture

7 heads tall7 heads tall PerfectPerfect Natural, not realisticNatural, not realistic No emotion on faceNo emotion on face Classical profileClassical profile Before or after the Before or after the

actionaction

ClassicalClassical

SpearbearerSpearbearer 440 B.C.440 B.C.

• “Diadoumenos”• 430 B. C.• Attributed to

Polykleitos

ClassicalClassical

..Hermes with the..Hermes with theinfant Dionysusinfant Dionysus

..attributed to Praxiteles..attributed to Praxiteles

Hellenistic Sculpture

• Often realistic, not perfect

• Emotion• In action

Hellenistic

• NIKE OF SAMOTHRACE

• “WINGED VICTORY”

Hellenistic

• The Old Market Woman

• Metropolitan Museum of Art

Conclusion:

The Romans conquered the Greeks in the 1st century B.C., and took many examples of Greek sculpture back to Rome to decorate both public and private spaces. The Greek ideals were copied by the Romans, who spread them all over the Mediterranean world.