Greek Architecture

Architecture in ancient Greece was usually made from wood or adobe, so their ground floors are the only evidence of their existence. Greeks established the most enduring themes, attitudes and forms of Western culture. Architecture is one of the Greek heritage that Western civilization has inherited, as Greece established many of the structural elements, decorative motifs, and building types still used in architecture today.

The two main styles of Greek architecture are Doric and Ionic. The Doric style is much more disciplined and austere, while the Ionic style is more relaxed and decorative. There was a strong emphasis in the construction of temples for the gods and goddesses of Greek mythology. But there were also well-known public buildings like the Parthenon.

Building materials used were limestone and some native stones. Very expensive marble was used mainly for sculptural decoration found in large buildings of the Classical period. The roofs of their buildings were made of wooden beams covered with overlapping terra cotta or, more rarely of marble tiles.

The structure of ancient Greek architecture consists of a base cube or rectangle, flanked by arcades, and a long sequence of columns. Building will have a porch or patio that opens up a large peristyle court. Greeks used very little of the principles masonary arch, individual blocks held together with mortar. The front end of the roof structure has flat triangular shape, the gable which is usually filled with decorations scultural.

The temples are the best known form of Greek architecture. The altar of the temple was usually found in the sacred temple, a fence, in front of the temple. The internal construction of the temple, cell, served mainly as storage. Other versions of Greek architecture are common public gyms, fitness, and theaters.

In ancient Greece, the architects were not treated as craftsmen in value, unlike today where architects are closely associated with the work they produce. And also, the architecture was not seen as an art form, as in modern times .......