History of Architecture, Greek Architecture .ppsx
- 1. Greek Architecture Presented by Jyotimani Das (Architect & Asst. Professor)
- 2. Origins • Our word “architecture” comes from the Greek architecton, which means “master carpenter.” • Early Greek architecture therefore employed wood, not stone. • These early structures, as well as those of mud- brick, have not survived.
- 3. Origins • In moving from wood to stone, builders had to adapt to the differing properties of their building materials. • Stone has greater compressive (resistance to crushing) strength than wood, but lacks tensile strength (resistance to bending or twisting). Therefore, while columns/posts might be relatively thin, the entablature/beams, must be quite thick.
- 5. • Greek Architecture is divided into 2 main periods. • The Hellenic period and Hellenistic Period. Hellenic Period (650-323 B.C.) Characteristic features • The term Hellenic is used to describe the early Greek’s civilization. The combined influence of Egypt and Assyria is traceable in the early development of Greek style. • Greek architecture is essentially a columnar & trabeated style & is considered to have evolved from wooden hut of upright posts & supporting beam & sloping rafters. • Spans were limited because of trabeated style where the architraves were composed of single blocks of stones or marbles. • Arches, domes, vaults were not used by the Greeks.
- 6. • The walls were constructed with all kinds of masonry from coursed rubble to fine ashlar. But no mortar was used. • They minimized the joints by using large sized stones. • For good work, the stones or marble blocks were jointed by metal cramps and dowels. • The doorways were square and rectangular. • Windows were rarely used. • The other important refinement adopted in Greek style was to correct the optical illusion. • The long horizontal feature such as entablature which if built straight would have appeared to sag in the middle. This has been corrected by forming facade with slight convex outlines in the centre.
- 7. • Also the vertical columns if built straight would have appeared curved inward. Hence to correct this defect the sides of the column were curved in a convex manner i.e were made to bulge in the centre slightly known as ‘entasis’.
- 8. Hellenistic Period (323-30 B.C.) Characteristic features • The term is used to describe the Greek Civilization when it was partly influenced by middle eastern culture. • The architecture had a religious character. • The usual trabeated style was in practice but arches started appearing on wall openings. Meaning of Order • An Order in classic architecture consists of upright column or support and the horizontal entablature or part supported. • The column consists of base, the bottom part, shaft, the middle part and capital the top part, while entablature consists of architrave, the lower part, frieze, the middle part and cornice the upper most part.
- 9. Columns are part of Post and Lintel type construction The Greeks adopted post and lintel from the Egyptians modifying and developing their own style of column or order decoration There are three types of Greek columns--which are still used today. Columns or Orders
- 10. Name of Greek Order Height of Column in terms of lower diameter Height of Entablature in terms of lower diameter Doric 7 2 Ionic 9 2 Corinthian 10 2½ Proportioning of Greek Classic Orders
- 12. The Doric Order • The first of the Greek order (the oldest) • Doric columns are the heaviest in appearance • The capital, or top of the column is plain. • The shaft is thick – though it loses some of its mass over time. • There is no base.
- 13. The Ionic Order • The second Greek order (the middle) • This order has greater elegance. • The capital has distinctive volutes, or curled scroll designs. • The column is thinner than in the Doric order. • There is a base.
- 14. The Corinthian Order • The third type of the Greek order • This is also a tall, elegant form. • The capital has distinctive acanthus leaf decoration. • It has a base.
- 15. Examples of these types of columns can be found in buildings today all throughout the world. The New York Stock Exchange in Manhattan has Corinthian columns.
- 16. • Columns are the post part in construction; the Greeks also modified the Lintel part
- 17. • Pediment (Lintel): • Frieze: statues; usually of the Gods
- 18. Typical Examples 1. Temples • The temples were main types of buildings in the Hellenic period. • They were to worship the deities to whom the temple was dedicated. • The Greek temples are oriented to face east so that the statue of the deity would be lit by the glory of the rising sun. • The plan of the temples were mainly rectangular. • The temple stood on crepidoma of three or more steps. • The temple is usually surrounded by open colonnades which is character of the Greek architecture.
- 19. • The ‘naos’ which was core of the temple contained the statue of the god or goddess with treasury chambers in front and rear known as pronaos and epinaos (opisthodomos) which were provided with metal grills for safety.
- 20. The Temple of Parthenon at Athens • The temple is built entirely in pentelic marble on the high ground of Acropolis and dedicated to Athena Parthenos the virgin Athena. • It is constructed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates under the supervision of master sculptor Pheidias. • The temple is built on rectangular plan 71m long and 32m wide.
- 21. Temple plan, section & elevation 32 m 71 m
- 22. • It stands on crepidoma, a platform of three steps with tread 70cm and rise 50cm. • These being difficult to climb, smaller steps are also provided at centre of east and west ends. • The temple is designed in octa-style i.e eight columns in front and back, which lean inward. • There are seventeen columns on either side. • All columns are 10.4m high and of Doric Order. • The statue of Athena in gold and ivory with eyes of precious stones was the finest sculptural achievement of master artist Pheidias.
- 23. shaft crepidoma Parts of the temple
- 24. Sectional view of the temple
- 25. Other Examples 2. The tower of Winds • This tower was built to know the weather and also the time. • This is Hellenistic building, octagonal in plan designed in marble by architect Andronicus of Athens. • It measures about 7m wide internally and 12.5m high with entrance on north east and north west sides. 3. Theatres • These are the open air structures containing orchestra, auditorium and ‘skene’ or the scene building. • Theatres were usually constructed from slope of hillside near the city.
- 26. Plan of theatre, Epidauros
- 27. 4. Stadiums • All the Greek’s games were celebrated at stadiums. • The stadiums had a length of 183m with hemi-spherical ends, rows of seats were raised on either side for spectators. • The oldest one is at Olympia.