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- Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens. The Temple of Olympian Zeus was dedicated to “Olympian” Zeus. It’s also known as the Olympieion or Columns of the Olympian Zeus.
- Parthenon, Acropolis. One of the most influential buildings in Greek history, the Parthenon, stands on top of the citadel of the Acropolis. It was dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and patron of the Athenians, Athena.
- Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis. Since ancient times, the theater has been a significant part of Greek culture. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus is a stone theater structure on the southwest slope of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.
- Temple of Hera, Olympia. The ancient Archaic Greek temple, dedicated to the queen of the Greek goddesses, Hera, was built in 590 BC. The temple was initially believed to have been constructed from wood which was later replaced by stone.
- The Classical Architectural Orders
- What Materials Did Greek Architects use?
- Temples, Treasuries & Stoas
- The Greek Theatre
- The Greek Stadium
- Greek Domestic Architecture
There are five orders of classical architecture - Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite - all named as such in later Roman times. Greek architects created the first three and hugely influenced the latter two which were composites rather than genuine innovations. An order, properly speaking, is a combination of a certain style of column wi...
The Greeks certainly had a preference for marble, at least for their public buildings. Initially, though, wood would have been used for not only such basic architectural elements as columns but the entire buildings themselves. Early 8th century BCE temples were so constructed and had thatch roofs. From the late 7th century BCE, temples, in particul...
The ancient Greeks are rightly famous for their magnificent Doric and Ionic temples, and the example par excellence is undoubtedly the Parthenon of Athens. Built in the mid 5th century BCE in order to house the gigantic statue of Athena and to advertise to the world the glory of Athens, it still stands majestically on the city's acropolis. Other ce...
Another distinctive contribution of Greek architecture to world culture was the amphitheatre. The oldest certain archaeological evidence of theatres dates from the late 6th century BCE but we may assume that Greeks gathered in specified public places much earlier. Indeed, Bronze Age Minoan sites such as Phaistos had large stepped-courts which are t...
Another lasting contribution of Greek architecture to world culture was the stadium. Stadiums were named after the distance (600 ancient feet or around 180 metres) of the foot-race they originally hosted - the stade or stadion. Initially constructed near natural embankments, stadia evolved into more sophisticated structures with rows of stone or ev...
Considering more modest structures, there were fountain houses (from the 6th century BCE) in many Greek cties where people could easily collect water and perhaps, as black-figure pottery scenes suggest, socialise. Regarding private homes, these were usually constructed with mud brick, had packed earth floors, and were built to no particular design....
- Mark Cartwright
Jun 14, 2023 · In this guide from AD, learn about the architectural style developed in ancient Greece, study classical orders, and discover some of the most important examples of Greek architecture,...
Ancient Greek architecture is best known for its temples, many of which are found throughout the region, with the Parthenon regarded, now as in ancient times, as the prime example. Most remains are very incomplete ruins, but a number survive substantially intact, mostly outside modern Greece.
Ancient Greek architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The formulas they invented as early as the sixth century B.C. have influenced the architecture of the past two millennia.
Learn more about ancient Greek architecture in three chapters in Reframing Art History: “Pottery, the body, and the gods in ancient Greece, c. 800–490 B.C.E., ” “War, democracy, and art in ancient Greece, c. 490–350 B.C.E.,” and “Empire and Art in the Hellenistic world (c. 350–31 B.C.E.).”
Jan 11, 2024 · Ancient Greek architecture shows a love for balance and order. Geographic features like mountains and seas greatly shaped it. The use of art, religion, and philosophy made their buildings special. Famous examples include the Acropolis of Athens and the Temple of Zeus at Olympia.
