Greek Architecture

A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF
THE ARCHITECTURE OF
ANCIENT GREECE

At the top of Mount Olympus in Athens, Greece, is the Acropolis. an assembly of temples and associated structures dedicated to the Greek gods and goddesses. At its peak is the Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Parthenos, patroness of Athens. Most of the temples were built during the 400's bce, although admittedly built atop more ancient structures. Today they lie in various stages of ruin from causes as varied as Roman and Celtic invasion, earthquake and fire, Christian Crusades and Muslim jihads. The image below shows the Acropolis, with the white marble ruins of the Parthenon at the top.


West end of the Parthenon at Athens. Pentelic marble, c. 448-432 bce. The building measures 111' X 237' at its base.	Front of the Parthenon. The column top is called a 'capital,' and the capital style of the Parthenon is Doric.

The aerial view of the Acropolis below, shows the Parthenon in the upper left corner. The Parthenon was designed by the Greek architects, Iktinos and Kallikrates. An inscription on the Temple of Athena, to the right below, states that "Alexander the Great gave the temple to Athena," meaning that he paid for its construction.


Another view of the Acropolis at Athens, the religious center of the Greek world in the 5th Century bce.	The Parthenon, the Temple of Athena Parthenos, by the architects Iktinos and Kallikrates. Athens, Greece. 447-438 bce. (See Page 127 in the Gardner text, 13th edition).


The Temple of Athena Nike (Victory) at the Acropolis. The capital style in this building is Ionic, the second style of the three main architectural orders of ancient Greece.	Ruins of the colossal temple of the Olympian Zeus at Athens, Corinthian order, built by the Roman architect, Cossoticus, c.174 bce.

Greek architecture is characterized by post and lintel stone construction and columns of stone in drum sections. The temples are understood as houses of the deity, containing statues of the god or goddess. For religious activities, the people gathered on the stairs outside the temple and in the courtyards.

Greek style capital in the Corinthian style

Although the site of a Roman theater, this was originally a Greek colony on Sicily. The capitals are in the Corinthian style, and the columns are in drum sections.


Corner of the "Basilica" at Paestum, Italy. This Doric style structure is from c.550 bce.	The Temple of Athena at Priene, built c. 350 bce by the Roman architect Pytheos in the Ionic style.

Page Updated 8/27/08

PLEASE USE YOUR BROWSERS BACK BUTTON TO RETURN