Greek Architecture

Greek architecture that survives from as early as 1,200 BC is still being studied by architects for its ingenuity and genius.  Most of what we know comes from the late archaic period around 500 BC. Typically, in the early Classical period, Greek architecture was more about function than design, but few will contest the inherent beauty of a well-designed building that has lasted thousands of years.

Temples

Most of our knowledge around Greek architecture comes from temples, the most common and perseverant breed of buildings that we have access to today. Temples were essentially storage places for the artifacts (statues, helmets, candles) and symbolic treasures that people associated with and dedicated to the patron god or goddess of the temple.  Temples were either structured as a rectangle lined with two rows of columns, of which there were three kinds: Ionic, Doric and Corinthian.  Doric architecture was traditionally austere and formal, Ionic was more relaxed and ornamental, and Corinthian was rare but by far the most decorative.  We can learn the most by studying the iconic columns that characterize each order.

Doric

Of the architectural varieties found in Greece, Doric is traditionally the most austere and formal.  Doric columns are simplest of the columns, topped by a circular disk beneath a square. The sides, or shaft, of the column are plain and consist of 20 panels. There is no ornate or special base that defines the Doric column: It is very plain, simple, and strong.  The Parthenon, perhaps the most famous building of ancient Greece, was built in the Doric order.  Other characteristic include simple friezes, and thicker shaft-to-base ratios. The Doric order was popular in mainland Greece as well as colonies in Sicily and southern Italy.

Ionic

Ionic columns are more complex and delicate than their brother Doric columns. Featuring taller and thinner shafts than Doric columns, slender and fluted, the Ionic order produces a more feminine aesthetic in comparison to the other orders. Ionic columns also featured something called an entasis, a slight bulging towards the top that makes them look straight from eye level to rectify the narrowing effect of perspective. Friezes were plain, and the tops, or capitals, were shaped like scrolls.  Ionic architecture is less straight and stout than Doric, with more room for curved lines and softness. Typically, Ionic buildings have slanted roofs as well. The Ionic order was most common in eastern Greece and the coastal islands.

Famous Examples of the Ionic Order

Corinthian

Corinthian architecture is the most decorative of the orders, Corinthian columns also use entasis to make them appear straight to the eye, the shafts are fluted and the roofs of Corinthian-style buildings are flat. The capital, of the top of the column is notoriously decorative.  The Corinthian order is the least common in Greece, found more often in Roman temples.

Comparing Columns

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