Greece Architecture

Greek Architecture and Art Beauty

Architecture

• Athenians enjoyed beauty, both written and visual

• Athenians wanted their city to be most beautiful in Greece

• Loved and appreciate the natural beauty of man (did not feel threatened by nudity)

• Built magnificent temples, theatres, public buildings

• Expressed love of written beauty through literature; visual beauty through architecture, art

Enhancements

• To enhance appearance of buildings, added fine works of art, painted and sculpted • Grandest buildings built on acropolis, at city’s center

Parthenon • Most magnificent on acropolis • Massive temple to Athena • Begun by Pericles, 447 BC • Took 14 years to build

Egyptians used post and lintel architecture in their buildings

Egyptian Influence •

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The Greeks adopted post and lintel from the Egyptians modifying and developing their own style of column or order decoration These columns were used to support the roofs and tops of buildings. They were strong and could hold the weight of the structures. There are three types of Greek columns-which are still used today.

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Columns are the post part in construction; the Greeks also modified the Lintel part

1. Doric  

The first of the Greek order (the oldest) Very plain capital, with no base, fluted

2. Ionic  

The second Greek order (the middle) Scroll capital, now has its own base, fluted

3. Corinthian  

The third type of the Greek order Flowery/detailed capital, larger base, sometimes fluted length, though sometimes not.

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Pediment (Lintel): triangular structure above columns, normally decorated with a frieze.  Frieze: artwork, sometimes statues, othertimes paintings; usually of the Gods that adorn the pediment. See below (that frieze is on the Philadelphia Art Museum)

US Supreme Court: Notice the lintel

Buildings 

Many Greek buildings remain in partial standing

These buildings and styles influenced Roman architecture that followed.

Acropolis 

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Main temple complex in Athens—and Greece Built by Pericles; “Golden Age of Athens”

Parthenon 

Athena’s Temple at the Acropolis

Temple of Athena

Greek Revival 

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The antiquities of Greece inspired the Greek Revival style. This style was in widespread use from the 1830s until after the Civil War. A bold, orderly style, it became the most predominant housing style in the United States. Many prominent buildings were built in this style over the course of the next 100 years including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, US Supreme Court, 30th Street Station, and others. In the mid-19th century, many prosperous Americans believed that ancient Greece represented the spirit of democracy.

Greek Revival 

Greek Revival architecture began with public buildings in Philadelphia. Many European-trained architects designed in the popular Grecian style, and the fashion spread via carpenter's guides and pattern books.

Girard College

2nd Bank of the United States

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Lincoln Memorial

US Capitol

US Supreme Court

Greek Sculpture: Greeks did a lot of sculpture and as part of it they were always trying to depict the perfect form and movement. The Greeks believed in trying to depict movement as it was graceful. Notice that they do not have the discus thrower clothed. Nudity is common in many early/ancient art pieces. Why do you think this is?

Winged Victory: Nike of Samothrace

This is a sculpture of one of the Greek Gods, Nike, the Goddess of Victory. Notice how it appears as though her clothing is moving, as if she were floating.

Not Greek, but Greek inspired. This is one of the first modern nudes. The Christian church had banned nude artwork for almost 1000 years before this was created, sometimes having clothing added to ancient pieces of art to cover up “private parts”. It is Michaelangelo’s, David.