09-09-2022

Location
Greek civilization occurred in the
area around the Greek mainland, on a
peninsula that extends into the
Mediterranean Sea

History of Architecture - I It started in cities on the Greek

mainland and on islands in the
Aegean Sea
Lecture : Greek Architecture Towards the later or Hellenistic
period, Greek civilization spread to
other far away places including Asia
Ar. Manavvi Minor and Northern Africa
Assistant Professor
Department of Architecture and Planning
[email protected]

Location Climate

Most of the Greek mainland was rocky and

barren and therefore bad for agriculture. The climate of Greece is remarkable for the hot sun and the heavy rains, factors
Most Greeks therefore lived along the probably answerable for the porticos which were important features of the
coastline or on islands where the soil was
good for farming. temples.
The Aegean and Mediterranean Seas The agreeable climate of Greece favored open air community oriented life that
provided a means of communication and
trade with other places. favored Greek democracy.
People led an open-air life, for the public ceremonies and in many cases the
administration of justice were carried on in the open air

Period

The period of ancient Greek history can be divided into four as follows:
◦ 1100 B.C. – 750 B. C. Greek Dark Ages

◦ 750 B.C. – 500 B. C. Archaic Period

◦ 5000 B.C. – 323 B.C. Classical Period

◦ 323 B.C. – 147 B. C. Hellenistic Period

The classical and archaic period are sometimes collectively referred to as Hellenic period.

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Period Period
Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC) Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC)
◦ The Mycenaean people were Greek in Origin. ◦ As Greek people migrated from the mainland, other people from other less prosperous

◦ Greek civilization is therefore usually viewed as a continuation of the Mycenaean mountain regions of the north migrated to the more fertile coastline regions.

civilization. ◦ They invade the Greek mainland villages and established their rule.

◦ The start of the Greek civilization is therefore dated to the end of the Mycenaean ◦ The northerners brought with them a Greek dialect called Dorian, as opposed to the Ionic
civilization in 1100BC. Greek spoken by the main settlers.

◦ Following the decline of Mycenae, the area around the Greek mainland went into ◦ The two dialects and cultures later mixed together to create a Hellenic culture, which is at

a period of decline that is referred to as the Greek Dark ages. the root of ancient Greek civilization.

Period Period
Greek Dark Ages (1100-750 BC) Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC)
◦ These two dialects became equated with characteristic architectural forms that
evolved in them. The revival of Greece from the dark ages started during the eight century
BC
◦ In the period following the invasion by the Dorians, there was a shift in lifestyle
The Greeks developed a new political form called city states
that produced a sedentary agricultural lifestyle and society.
City states are cities which are ruled as independent nations
◦ Sedentary lifestyle allowed the Greeks to rediscover urbanized culture that
The archaic period saw the renewal interest in overseas trading contact
ultimately led to evolution of classical Greek culture

Period Period
Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC) Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC)

◦ The archaic period marked the rise of the aristocratic families; families that were
◦ Greek societies that were engaged in trade became rich and by joining with
considered noble or of higher status
other their neighbors, sometimes forcefully, formed large states.
◦ The archaic period was dominated politically by the leading aristocratic families in
◦ The polis or city state emerged as the natural and desirable political entity. each city state acting in concert or squabbling amongst themselves for supremacy
◦ Early examples of these city states include Athens, Corinth, Argos, and ◦ At times individual aristocrats were able to take advantage of popular
Sparta on the mainland, and in the Eastern Aegean, Samos, Chios, Smyrna, dissatisfaction to seize authoritarian power
Ephesus and Miletus. ◦ Such rulers were called tyrants

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Period Period
Archaic Period (750 - 500 BC) Classical period (500 - 323 BC)
◦ The Classical period of ancient Greek history occurred between 500 BC
◦ Such tyrants stimulated the development of the arts through their
patronage - 323 BC.
◦ The archaic period marked the beginnings of Greek monumental stone ◦ The period started with the Greek city states coming into conflict with
sculpture and architecture.
◦ Around 546 BC, the rising Persian Empire conquered some Greek city the rising Persian Empire
states
◦ The free Greek cities saw the threat that was developing from the
◦ The rising threat of the Persian Empire marked the end of the Greek
archaic period and of classical Greek culture Persian Empire and prepared for resistance

Period Period
Classical period (500 - 323 BC) Classical period (500 - 323 BC)
◦ Under the Persian King Xerxes, Persia attempted a retribution in 479 BC and was ◦ Athens reached its greatest political and cultural heights during the classical period
defeated by an alliance of the Greek states headed by Sparta ◦ The full development of the democratic system of government occurred under Pericles
◦ The Greek alliance soon transformed into an Empire under the leadership of ◦ The Parthenon on the Acropolis at Athens was built
Athens ◦ Philosophical schools such as those of Socrates and Plato were founded
◦ Pericles, the ruler of Athens between 444 and 429 BC became a driving force for ◦ Between 431 and 404, Athens entered into a series of wars with Sparta which left it in
the development of temple architecture ruins
◦ Pericles used the defense revenue from the alliance for temple building in Athens ◦ The fall of Athens gradually led to political chaos in the whole of Greece
to thank the Gods
◦ The 4th century saw the rise of Macedonia as a power in the region

Period Period

Hellenistic period (323 - 147 BC) Hellenistic period (323 - 147 BC)

◦ The period saw the transplanting of Greek art, civic life and culture to newly conquered ◦ The period saw the transplanting of Greek art, civic life and culture to newly conquered

areas. areas.

◦ The period also saw a marked increase in interest in civic buildings. ◦ The period also saw a marked increase in interest in civic buildings.

◦ The Hellenistic period ended in 147 BC, when the Roman Empire conquered Greece and ◦ The Hellenistic period ended in 147 BC, when the Roman Empire conquered Greece and

incorporated the city states into it. incorporated the city states into it.

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Social belief Social belief

◦ Greek civilization is the first major civilization in Europe ◦ Greek civilization is the first major civilization in Europe

◦ Greek civilization along with the Roman civilization are said to be at the root of current ◦ Greek civilization along with the Roman civilization are said to be at the root of current
western civilization western civilization

◦ They two are referred to as “classical” cultures because of their recognition as the root of ◦ They two are referred to as “classical” cultures because of their recognition as the root of
western civilization western civilization

◦ Greek and Roman architecture are also referred to as classical architecture ◦ Greek and Roman architecture are also referred to as classical architecture

◦ Greek civilization started with the mingling of two Greek cultures, the Dorian and the Ionian to ◦ Greek civilization started with the mingling of two Greek cultures, the Dorian and the Ionian to
create a single Hellenic culture create a single Hellenic culture

◦ The two developed a sedentary agricultural and commercial society that ultimately gave birth ◦ The two developed a sedentary agricultural and commercial society that ultimately gave birth
to the concept of the city state to the concept of the city state

Social belief Social organization

Societal Organization- The city state ◦ The ideal size of a city state was fixed at 5040 males by Plato
◦ The ancient Greeks lived in self governing city-states called "polis." ◦ Citizens in any polis were related by blood and so family ties were very strong.
◦ City-states were small, independent communities which were male-dominated and ◦ Membership of the polis was hereditary and could not be passed to persons outside
bound together by race. the family
◦ The polis started as a defensible area to which farmers of an area could retreat in the
event of an attack as in the Mycenaean citadels

◦ Over time, towns grew around these defensible areas.

Social organization Religious belief

◦ Public life was for male citizens while women were secluded in the house ◦ The ancient Greeks were polytheistic, believing in many different gods and goddesses.

◦ Greek citizens did not have rights but duties ◦ The God were regarded as all powerful but similar to human beings in their passions, desires
and appetite
◦ All citizens were directly involved in politics, justice, military service, religious
ceremonies, intellectual discussion, athletics and artistic pursuits. ◦ All aspect of life was under the protection of the gods, and they controlled everything, from
the waves in the ocean to the winner of a race.
◦ It was not acceptable for Greek citizens to refuse to carryout their responsibilities
◦ All the gods and goddesses had specific roles, controlling one or two major aspects of life

◦ Zeus was, for example, the supreme leader of the gods, Hermes was the messenger of the
gods, and Poseidon was the god of the sea

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Religious belief
◦ Essential concept in religious practice was that of contract, of obligation and the
paying of obligation

◦ Humans call on the gods for protection and make offerings to the gods to secure this

◦ Ancient Greeks believed that religion would make their lives better while they were
living.

◦ They also believed that the gods would take care of them when they died.

Place of Worship Architecture as service to Religion

◦ Temples were the focus of Greek religious worships
◦ Architecture in Greece started in the Service of Religions
◦ Temples were usually built in the cities of the Gods called “Acropolis”
◦ The Greeks regarded beauty as an attribute of the gods and the conscious pursuit of
◦ Temples were built in every town and city for one or more god or goddess beauty as a religious exercise.
◦ The temples were considered as offerings to the gods ◦ The most important task for architects was how to make the temple beautiful
◦ Each community was therefore under pressure to make them beautiful as possible ◦ The search for ways to express architectural beauty made the Greek civilization
among the first to have established ideals of beauty.

Architecture as service to Religion

Materials
◦ The Greeks convinced themselves that the secrets of beauty lie in proportion.

◦ Man was viewed by the Greeks as having the most ideal proportions and is the ◦ The principal building material of the ancient Greeks was stone
measure of all things. ◦ Clay and timber were also used
◦ Greek developed a system of building proportion that reflected those of the human ◦ Timber was used mostly for roofing and its scarcity coupled with limitations in its
body. length imposed restrictions on the width of buildings
◦ With time, they refined their system of building proportion, and developed the
classical Greek orders.

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Key building types

◦ Greek society also made buildings other than temples
◦ These evolved in response to changes in need with time
◦ The most common buildings are amphitheaters, council halls, public fountains and theatres,
gymnasia, schools and libraries, public baths and lavatories.
◦ As these civic buildings emerge, treatment once reserved for temple was extended to them
even though on a less grander scale than in the temples.

Architecture

• The Mycenaean Period is been defined as extending to shortly after the war with
Troy, though in the Islands (e.g., Cyprus, Crete, and Delos), it lasted on till the eighth
century B.C. ; but remains of a pre- Mycenaean period called Minoan have been
found.
• The architectural remains of these periods include town-walls, palaces, and tombs.

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The palace of Knossos eventually became the

ceremonial and political center of the Minoan
civilization and culture.

• It had a monumental staircase leading to

state rooms on an upper floor.
• A ritual cult center was on the ground floor.
• The palace stores occupied sixteen rooms,
the main feature in these being large
storage jars up to five feet tall.
• The palace had bathrooms, toilets, and a
drainage system.

https://youtu.be/I6JJdzsE3_A

The walls are of three kinds of masonry:

• "Cyclopean" i.e., masses of rock roughly quarried and piled on each other, without cramp-irons, but
with clay mortar, the interstices between the larger being filled with smaller blocks. Examples at
Argos, Tiryns, Mycenae, Knossos in Crete, and Athens.
• Rectangular, i.e., carefully hewn rectangular blocks arranged in regular courses, but the/ joints
between stones in the same course are not always vertical. Examples at Mycenae in the entrances
and towers, and the entrance passage in "tholos" or beehive-tombs.
• Polygonal, i.e., many sided blocks accurately worked so as to fit together. Examples at Mycenae, wall
of Acropolis at Athens, and Cnidus.

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https://youtu.be/tu5mKn3_h7Y

Megaron
Megaron, is an architectural form consisting of an open
porch, a vestibule, and a large hall with a central hearth
and a throne.
The megaron was found in all Mycenaean palaces and was
also built as part of houses.

https://youtu.be/S7HJB0PtiW0
https://youtu.be/Cc9cLmgXp_A

Hellenic Period – 800 to 323 B.C.

Commenced circa 900 BC, (with substantial works of architecture appearing from about
600 BC) and ended with the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC.

Hellenistic Period – 323 to 30 B.C.

Hellenic culture was spread widely, throughout lands conquered by Alexander, and
then by the Roman Empire which absorbed much of Greek culture.

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Defining characteristics of Hellenic period Defining characteristics of Hellenic period

• The general architectural character of the early works of the Hellenic period is heavy and
• Vitruvius defined column styles and entablature
severe, the influence of the Mycenaean period being apparent ;
• Order of Architecture : A set or rules or principles for designing buildings.
• Gradual change towards refinement and beauty took place, and in the later periods the
• Vitruvius (De Architectura, or Ten Books on Architecture) believed Builders used
proportions of the columns were more slender, and the moldings more refined.
• Unity of effect in the larger temples was obtained by the colonnade surrounding the shrine- mathematical principles when constructing temples Without symmetry and

cell, forming a contrast with the number of courts, halls, and chambers, decreasing in size proportion, no temple can have a regular plan
from the entrance pylons, comprised in a typical Egyptian temple.

Entablature, is the assemblage of horizontal moldings and bands supported by

and located immediately above the columns of Classical buildings or similar
structural supports in non-Classical buildings.
The entablature is usually divided into three main sections:
the lowest band, or architrave, which originally took the form of a simple beam
running from support to support;
the central band, or frieze, consisting of an unmolded strip with or without
ornament;
the top band, or cornice, constructed from a series of moldings that project
from the edge of the frieze.

Order Order
• Refer to the entire set of form that makes up the Greeks are credited with originating the three
principal elevation of a temple. orders of the classical language of architecture,
• Composed of a base, an upright column or support Doric, Ionic and Corinthian.
with its capital, and the horizontal entablature.
Columns were understood by the Greeks to be
• All the parts of an order are proportionally derived
anthropomorphic or representative of the body
from the size of the base of the column.
of a human
• It determines all aspects of the elevation of a
The base suggests the feet, the shaft the torso
building including its shape and the arrangement
and proportion of its parts. and the capital the head.

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The Orders
Doric Order
Doric Order
The Doric order was the earliest to be developed
The Doric order is characterized by a plain,
By the 6th century, a set of universal proportions
unadorned column capital and a column that rests for the Doric temple had been developed.
directly on the stylobate of the temple without a The Doric order is made up of three elements;
base. stylobate, Column and entablature
The stylobate is a podium raised three steps on
which the temple sits
The Doric entablature includes a frieze composed
The Doric column is further divided into the shaft
of trigylphs—vertical plaques with three and a square capital
divisions—and metopes—square spaces for either
painted or sculpted decoration.

Doric Order
Entasis

A characteristic of the Doric order is the use of entasis

Entasis refers to the practice of optical correction in

Greek Doric temples

All buildings are arranged with a slight curve to correct

for optical illusion when they are viewed

This is done to counteract the concave appearance

produced by straight edges in perspective

The shaft of the column is built to be slightly convex in

shape for optical correction

Columns were also built with a slight tilt

https://youtu.be/7AIXvZRsiq4

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Ionic Order Ionic Order

The Ionic order evolved and took its name from Ionia in The Ionic order had a capital developed from a pair of
modern day Turkey volute about two-thirds the diameter of the column in
height
The ionic column including the capital and base had a
height of 9 to 10times its diameter Ornaments are used to decorate the area between the
capital and the volute
It had 24 flutes, which is more than that of the Doric
column, even though it is smaller in diameter. The Ionic column has a base

The flutes were rounded at the top and bottom. One of the limitations of the Ionic order is that it is
designed to be seen from the front only

Ionic Order

At the corner of rectangular buildings, an

angular volute had to be used.

Entasis was not applied to the ionic

column

The Ionic column is said to represent the

shape of a women with its delicacy and
feminine slenderness.

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Ionic order is notable for its

graceful proportions, which produce
a more slender and elegant profile
than the Doric order.

The ancient Roman architect

Vitruvius compared the Doric
module to a sturdy, male body,
while the Ionic was possessed of
more graceful, feminine
proportions.

The Ionic order incorporates a

running frieze of continuous
sculptural relief, as opposed to the
Doric frieze composed of triglyphs
and metopes.

Corinthian Order
The Corinthian order takes its name from
the city of Corinth in Greece
It however appeared to have been
developed in Athens in the 5th century BC
This order is similar in its proportions to
the Ionic order but has a different capital
The core of the capital is shaped like an
inverted bel.
The bell-like capital is decorated with rows
of carved acanthus leaves

Corinthian Order
Corinthian Order
The rich decorative effect of the Corinthian capital
made it attractive.
Because of its symmetry, the Corinthian capital
unlike the ionic capital is designed to be seen from
all directions
The Corinthian column, the most beautifully ornate
of the three orders represents the figure of a
maiden
This order was not extensively used during the
Greek period
It became popular during the ancient Roman period
https://youtu.be/BEXZgX9Em2w
https://youtu.be/sgyMZApnwSE

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Temple Architecture
The most important Greek building was
the temple
The temple had the finest building
materials and the richest decoration.
It was also the most complex of
architectural form.
It was designed not to hold worshippers,
but as symbolic dwelling of the gods
The temple is usually rectangular in plan
It is lifted on a podium, and in plan has
colonnades on all its external sides

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Temple Architecture Temple Architecture

The temple always faced east so that the rising
Colonnades define a portico around the temple sun would light the statues inside
The temple building is made up of four walls enclosing a rectangular space called the naos or Temples were designed to be admired from the
outside rather than used.
sanctuary
The Greek temple is believed to originate from the
This was the house of the god to whom the temple is dedicated Mycenaean megaron
The interior rectangular space of the naos is framed by a pair of colonnades on the long side From the megaron, it went through several stages
of evolution as shown in the diagram
creating a central processional space
By 500 BC, the final form of the Greek temple had
At the head of the processional space is the statue of the god to whom the temple is dedicated emerged
The temple interior was generally dark, with only the entrance as a source of light

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Temple Architecture
Categorized based on their ground plan and the way in
which the columns are arranged.
Temples can be classified based on:
1.Prostyle temple is a temple that has columns only at

-the number of columns on the the front

2.Amphiprostyle temple has columns at the front and
entrance
the rear.

front 3.Tholos - a temple with a circular ground plan

4. Temples with a peripteral arrangement have a
-Type of colonnade surrounding the single line of columns arranged all
around the exterior of the temple building.
naos
5. Dipteral temples simply have a double row of

-Type of Portico columns surrounding the building

Temple Architecture

The number of columns is always even to allow the location of the entrance in the
center; temples with odd number of columns are uncommon

Temples with 2 columns in front are dia-style, 4-tetrastyle, 6-hexastyle, 8-

octastyle and 10-decastyle

Greek temples usually have twice the number of columns in front plus one by the
side; A hexa-style temple = six columns in front & thirteen on side

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Temple Architecture Temple Architecture

The Doric temple is based on the Doric

order
Both the Doric order and temple went
through a simultaneous process of
evolution
The Basilica at Paestum 550 BC is an
example of early Doric temple
It was built during the archaic period of
Greek civilization

Temple Approach Ramp

Temple of Aphaia at Aegina

Temple Architecture
Temple of Aphaia at Aegina
The Temple of Aphaia at Aegina 490
BC is a later temple than the This temple has flanking columns- early
Basilica at Paestum temple
Temple of Aphaia is much less The interior columns are divided into a
heavy than Paestum row of two columns separated by an
architrave
The entablature is less thick
This allowed the designers to avoid
The columns are slimmer with less using columns with a large diameter
entasis or bulge
The temple has triangular pediment on n
The capitals are also smaller
the Eastern and Western sides
decorated with stories from Greek
myths

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Doric frieze and

horizontal geisa of
the Temple of
Aphaia II showing
slotted triglyphs.

Reconstructed entablature and

pediment of the Temple of Aphaia
I in the on-site museum

A
View east from the opisthodomos of
the Temple of Aphaia II showing the
colonnades of the cella.

Temple of Hera Argiva

The Temple of Hera Argiva (or Neptune)
at Paestum 460 BC was built later than
the Temple of Aphaia
It is one of the best preserved of all
Greek temples
It is more mature in its proportions than
all the others examined
The columns are 8.8 meters high and
about 4.3 times their lower diameter

Temple of Hera Argiva

The temple is hexa style but with 24
columns on its flank
It also has a double row of columns in
the interior, and divided into two
separated by a stone architrave
The most perfect of the Doric temples is
the Parthenon.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

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Temple of Artemis at Ephesus Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

Ionic temples were built using the Ionic Ionic temples were built using the Ionic
order order

The most famous of the Ionic temples is The most famous of the Ionic temples is
the temple of Artemis at Ephesus the temple of Artemis at Ephesus

It was considered one of the seven It was considered one of the seven
wonders of the ancient World wonders of the ancient World

It was commissioned by Alexander the It was commissioned by Alexander the

Great and was believed to have been built Great and was believed to have been built
and destroyed several times. and destroyed several times.

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus

The temple stands on a platform 2.7

meters high.

It had 36 columns in its front and they

had an additional relief sculpture at the
base

The best surviving Ionic temples is the

Temple of Athena located at the
Acropolis at Athens

Photograph of architectural remains

of the structure showing the ionic
capital

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Temple of Olympian Zeus

The Corinthian order was not widely

used during the Greek period
Earliest known example is inside the
5th century Temple of Apollo at
Bassae.
The temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens
was in the Corinthian order
The column was constructed in 131 A.D.
well after the Roman conquest of
Greece
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Temple_of_Olympia
The Corinthian order became very n_Zeus_(Dec._2016).JPG
popular during the Roman period.

The Parthenon The Parthenon

• Parthenon, temple dominates the
hill of the Acropolis at Athens. It
was built in the mid-5th century
BCE and dedicated to the Greek
goddess Athena Parthenos.
• The temple is generally considered
to be the culmination of the
development of the Doric order, the
simplest of the three Classical
Greek architectural orders.
https://youtu.be/tWDflkBZC6U

East Facade

The Parthenon

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“The Parthenon is classified as a

peripteral temple, that is, the
perimeter of the structure is defined
by columns, in this case by eight on
the narrow ends and seventeen on the
long sides, for a total of 46 columns.
Sitting inside the exterior columns is a
raised stone platform. This supports
the floor-to-ceiling walls of a
shoebox-like room called the Cella or
Naos.

https://youtu.be/3ebYvMC12HI

The Erechtheion

East Facade West Facade

North Portico (Focus on the door)

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Greek City Planning and Design

Planning and Design Principles Greek City State
Greeks had a clearly defined territorial organization.
The ancient Greek civilization had established principles for planning and Cities emerged as separate city states, instead of a single unified nation.
designing cities
The disperse nature of fertile area was only available in form of isolated valley,
City form were of two types
plains and plateau.
Old cities such as Athens had irregular street plans reflecting their
gradual organic development These conditions favored the arrangement of :

New cities, especially cities established during the Hellenistic period, 1. Urban nucleus
had a grid-iron street plan 2. Surrounded by country side
3. Surrounded by subordinated agricultural village community.

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THE TOWN PLANNING

Greek City States The ancient Greek towns were divided into
three parts:

“City State” and “Polis”- “Urban” and “Rural”  Places for Gods
 Administration
• Polis is more than a city state/ urban / the nucleus
 Dwelling Houses
•City state is the Greek City ( the Urban Nucleus) with
The Town had to justify the
its clearly defined limits, compact urban form and requirements of :

superficially at least- integrated social life.  Hygiene

 Defense
•Greek city states were founded upon
 Circulation
agriculture and remained independent on The heart of the city: Or the central place was to occupy
Three Classes of people
it. 5 % of the city area and comprise of the temple, the
 Craftsmen assembly hall , the council chambers, council hall, the
•During warfare notably against Persia city states  Soldiers Agora and the Agora square.
 Workers
joined together to face the common enemy. All major roads were to meet the Agora Square.

Greek City Planning and Design Greek City Planning and Design
Planning and Design Principles Planning and Design Principles
The Acropolis was the city of temples
Towns had fixed boundaries and some were protected by fortifications
It is the location where all the major temples of a city are located
Much of the town was devoted to public use.
It was built to glorify the gods
The Greek City was usually divided into three parts; the acropolis, the
Greeks considered high places to be important & sacred
agora and the town
The Acropolis were usually located on the highest ground
Site planning and design was centered on the appreciation of buildings
from the outside. Other public buildings such as gymnasia, stadia, and theaters were
generally regarded as part of religious rituals
The location of buildings was therefore such that it could command a
They are normally found attached on lower ground to the hills of the
good view to it Acropolis

Greek City Planning and Design Greek City Planning and Design
Planning and Design Principles Town
The Agora was the most important gathering place in a Greek city
It started as an open area where the council of the city met to take decisions • The town was where the people lived
With time buildings were constructed to define and enclose the space • Early Greek towns had an irregular street pattern, resulting
It also transformed into a place for combined social, commercial and political
from its organic growth
activities • Later Hellenistic towns such as Prienne had a formal
It emerged as the heart of Greek intellectual life and discourse. rectilinear pattern
It was usually located on a flat ground for ease of communication • The town was made up of only residential houses
It was placed to be easily accessible from all directions
In many cities, it is also located close to the Acropolis

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The acropolis is the general term for the original defensive hilltop nucleus of the older Greek cities and the fortified
citadel of many of the colonial foundation.
•Possibly the religious sanctuary of the city like Athens or left deserted and left outside the city limit, as the Miletus.
• If the acropolis is at the centre then, there were no need of city wall.

Streets were paved and there were underground drains

beneath the streets.
Maintained reservoirs, but no water distribution system.
Orientation with respect to the climate, Principal rooms
faced the south and opened on private courtyard.

Determinants for Ancient Greek

city development

• Regional topography
• Climate
• Construction Material

Urban form component

Priene: Port and Industrial District

Miletus: Acropolis were
sometimes situated outside the
city limits.

City walls were more demanded.

There was a policy of limiting population
by founding new cities.

The agora, shrines, the theatres,

gymnasia are occupied site determined
by traditional sanctity and houses
filled the rest of the space. https://youtu.be/WGHJv9lKoyc

Athens
The Organic Growth
The City Wall Athens was never planned as a whole;
• Destroyed and reconstructed again over the old city;
In Athens, Priene and Miletus, the walls are loosely
spread around both unplanned and planned urban • Two main groups of civic building 1) Acropolis, 2)Agora;
areas, in order to take maximum advantage of the
terrain.
It is considered as the best natural fortress of the ancient world;
Athens
It rises some 300 feet above the general level of the plain, irregularly shaped roughly 350 yards by
140 yards and the long dimension oriented east-west.

The Athenian Acropolis started as Neolithic Village Nucleus;

Humans have been attracted to the area by the presence of natural spring and in 1581 BC worship of
Athena was established on Acropolis.
Agora area developed from a market and meeting place.

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Represented the sacred precinct of the city of Athens.

•The building of the Acropolis did not have a geometrical/axial relationship with one
another but had a definite visual relation with one another as well as the natural
setting of the surrounding to be experienced by the human eye and people on foot.
•The natural Panorama was dramatically accented by the foreground of man
made temple- adding man’s world to nature’s.
The Acropolis

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The Erechtheion The Parthenon The Propylaea

Erechtheion

The Parthenon

Greek Architecture in Athens Greek Architecture in Athens

The Acropolis in Athens The Acropolis in Athens

The acropolis in Athens was a religious

precinct located on one of the hills of the The acropolis in Athens was a religious precinct located on one of the hills of the
city. city.
The Earliest versions of the Buildings in the The Earliest versions of the Buildings in the Acropolis existed until 480 BC
Acropolis existed until 480 BC In 480 BC, the Persians under Xerxes burnt Athens and the Acropolis to the ground
In 480 BC, the Persians under Xerxes burnt Not long after that the Greeks defeated the Persians
Athens and the Acropolis to the ground
Not long after that the Greeks defeated the
Persians

Greek Architecture in Athens Greek Architecture in Athens

The Acropolis in Athens The Acropolis in Athens

The Acropolis in Athens was rebuilt in about

450 BC The best example of Greek emphasis on
The rebuilding of the Acropolis was begun by visualization in design and site planning is
Pericles, the wise statesman who ruled from seen at the Acropolis at Athens
460 BC to 429 BC All the buildings on the Acropolis are
Pericles commissioned artist and architects to designed to be seen than use
build a new city of temples to glorify the gods All the temples on the Acropolis are place
The acropolis combined Doric orders and ionic at an angle that enables them to be seen on
orders in a perfect composition in four two sides
buildings; the Propylea, the Parthenon, the If a building cannot see be from two sides,
Erechtheumn, and the temple of Nike. it is completely hidden.

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From the entry at the

Propylae, a visitor has a view
of all the prominent
buildings in the Acropolis
Buildings are also position at
a distance that ensures the
appreciation of their details
The central axis of view from
the propylae is left free of
building for a view into the
country side
https://youtu.be/xP-FsX0QW88

Greek Architecture in Athens

Propylaea Propylae
The propylae is the entrance to the Acropolis
It was built around 437 B.C by Mnesicles
Propylaea is the monumental gate or entranceway to a specific space,
usually to a temple or religious complex and as such they acted as a
The image highlights what is currently left of the
propylae
symbolic partition between the secular and religious parts of a city.
To reach the acropolis, people had to enter through the
center section of the propylae
The span of the horizontal beams of the Propylaea roof is particularly impressive and much longer than the The two wings on either side were never finished
contemporary norm. The columns on the outside of the propylae were Doric
To assist the tensile strength and therefore the weight bearing capacity of the marble girders which supported the The columns in the interior were however Ionic
roof beams, curved short iron bars were inserted into troughs in the marble which when pressed flat by the weight
of the covering beams reduced the possibility of the stone displacing when the roof was assembled.

Greek Architecture in Athens Greek Architecture in Athens

Propylae The Agora

Explanation for this is found in the proportions of the

Doric and Ionic columns The Agora in Athens was a space used for
If the Doric order were used in the interior, the height social, commercial and political activities
of the roof would make its diameter very large
To overcome this difficult, the designers used the Ionic
The Agora at Athens was located at the base
column which is much slender than the Doric column of the hill of the Acropolis
Inside the propylae was a library and picture gallery Civic and religious buildings were
with a place for people to read and rest progressively erected around the perimeter
In times of peace, the gates of the propylae were of the Agora space
usually left wide open
When an enemy threatened, the wooden doors of the
propylae were closed and there was no other access
to the acropolis

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Agora
Agora is a public space in Greek cities contained sustained or intense concentration of varied activities.
Greek Architecture in Athens • The Agora was in fact not only a public place, but the central zone of the city- its living heart.
• A ground for social life, business and politics.
• Being ideally positioned between the main gate and entrance to the acropolis serves as a
focal point of a planned city.
The Agora at Athens contains other
administrative buildings
There was the bouleterion for the
meeting of the council
There was also a tholos, a circular
building where the standing committee
of the council when in office dined at
state expense
There were also two buildings for the
meeting of the jury court.

The Agora
Civic Architecture

The Agora was the political and commercial

heart. It was the CBD which developed at During the Hellenistic period Greeks became very fascinated by civic buildings
the foot of the Acropolis.
There was a stress on a finite size for all Treatments once reserved for temples and the gods, were gradually extended
things. to civic and government buildings.
Ideal size of a city-polis: 1 0 0 0 0- 20 000 The Agora or market place also became very important in Greek cities.
The Greek towns attempted to fit in as The theater and council chamber are examples of civic buildings found in every
another component of nature.
Greek city
Architectural massing and detailing of
building always gave a sense of human
measure.

Civic Architecture Civic Architecture

Theaters – Theater Epidarus Theaters – Theater Epidarus

The theater had a bank of seats steps

The Greeks invented the theater created from the landscape
design that is still used in movies and It would usually commands a view to
auditoriums today the landscape
Every important Greek city had a This was the largest theater in ancient
theater Greece
Their theater was built into a hilly It is still in use today
landscape

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Civic Architecture Civic Architecture

Theaters Council Chamber – Bouleterion

The Greek theater is composed of the seating area (theatron), a The Bouleuterion (βουλευτήριον) was an important civic

circular space for the chorus to perform (orchestra), and the building in a Greek city, as it was the meeting place of the
boule (citizen council) of the city.
stage (skene).
These select representatives assembled to handle public
Tiered seats in the theatron provided space for spectators. Two affairs and represent the citizenry of the polis (in ancient
side aisles (parados) provided access to the orchestra. Athens the boule comprised of 500 members).
The bouleuterion generally was a covered, rectilinear
building with stepped seating surrounding a central
speaker’s well in which an altar was placed.
https://youtu.be/2CVO9Vd067U

Civic Architecture Stoas

Council Chamber – Bouleterion, Miletus A stoa, is a covered walkway or portico, commonly
for public use.
Early Stoas comprised of the Doric order, lining the

It was a covered chamber fitted with banks side of the building; they created a safe, enveloping,
of seats like a theater protective atmosphere.

The example shown is from the city of

Miletus
Similar buildings were found in every Greek
or Hellenistic city

Stoa of Attalos

Civic Architecture
Stadium, Gymnasium, and Palaestra Residential Districts
The Greek stadium (derived from stadion, a Greek measurement equivalent to c. 578 feet or 176
meters) was the location of foot races held as part of sacred games; Residences were either grouped together, in organic growth districts or
these structures are often found in the context of sanctuaries, as in the case of the Panhellenic rigidly organized along basic grid-iron lines.
sanctuaries at Olympia and Epidauros.
Long and narrow, with a horseshoe shape, the stadium occupied reasonably flat terrain. There was a contrast between the splendor of civic areas and
squalor of housing.
The gymnasium (from the Greek term gymnós meaning "naked") was a training center for athletes
who participated in public games. This facility tended to include areas for both training and storage. Communal activities were more important than Home life.

The palaestra (παλαίστρα) was an exercise facility originally connected with the training of wrestlers. Individual dwellings within the same grid block were of different
These complexes were generally rectilinear in plan, with a colonnade framing a central, open space. sizes and plans.

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House
Houses were usually constructed of mud
The ground floor rooms would have included kitchen and
storage rooms, perhaps an animal pen and a latrine; the chief bricks
room was the andron— site of the male-dominated drinking Houses were of the courtyard type.
party (symposion).
Houses vary according to standing in the
The quarters for women and children (gynaikeion) could be
society
located on the second level (if present) and were, in any case,
segregated from the men's area.
Houses of poor people were very simple
compared to the house of the rich, which
had more rooms and better finishing

Summarizing the learnings

Ancient Athens Priene City Block

Ancient Athens Houses

Three orders of architecture were invented by Greeks; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Temples were design to be seen and appreciated rather than used
Doric was the earliest and has a square capital and the stoutest proportion, resembling the The evolution of the orders led to standard temple forms based on them
power of a man
Towards the later part of the Greek civilization, there was also a focus on
Ionic was taller in its proportion, has a volute capital and resembles the proportion of a maiden civic construction
Corinthian has the same characteristics with the Ionic except that its capital is decorated with The Greeks needed civic buildings to support their democratic institutions
the Acanthus leaf and also satisfy their social and recreational needs
Temples were the principal building types of the Greeks
Council chambers, theaters, Stoas, were among the civic buildings that
Temples were considered as house of the Gods and efforts to beautify them pushed became popular with the city states
architectural development

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Materials, Construction & Tech.

Building Types Construction and Technology
The major architectural element of the Greek civilization is the order and their principal
building type is the temple The principal Building Material of ancient Greece was stone
Greek buildings also feature civic buildings such as theater, council chamber, stoa, etc. The principal construction system was trabeated or column and beam
Greeks invented the classical orders of architecture construction
Their invention of the orders was a result of the search for rational methods of Finishing work involved creating the fluting, base and capital decoration
expressing beauty on columns
The orders embody a system of proportion that determines how the whole building The Frieze and cornices of buildings were also decorated with
looks appropriate relief carving
An order consist of a column shaft with its base and capital, and an entablature
Elements placed in position would be been sized to the right proportion
All its dimensions were derived from the diameter of the column
The entablature is further divided into architrave, frieze and cornice

Pediments were also finished with relief carvings, which in temples The Greeks believed that mathematical proportion is at the root of beauty
depict stories of the gods
They also believed that the human body has the best of proportions
Full statues of gods were also carved and placed on strategic places on
the outside of the temple and also as the major element in the interior Greeks also valued harmony, balance and symmetry in design
The Greeks essentially formalized architectural sculpture and decoration Greeks developed principles based on their believes about aesthetics
They were able to effectively translate their ideas of beauty into tangible These principles were refined over time as they are applied in building
buildings

The Greek ideals of mathematical proportion was applied in architecture through the Ancient Greeks not only develop ideals of architectural aesthetics, but they also developed
use of the orders. principles for the design and planning of cities as location for architecture
The orders provide a means to codify mathematical proportioning, by linking all the The ancient Greek city states developed a standard plan of the city
elements of the building with the diameter of the column.
The city consisted of three defined elements; the town, acropolis and Agora
The orders were also viewed as anthropomorphic, representing the human body.
Principles were developed for organizing each element of the city based on activities and its
The Doric represents a man and the Ionic and Corinthian represent a woman symbolism
The use of the orders also provided a means for the Greeks to design buildings to The town was a place to retire for the day
meet their ideals of harmony, balance and symmetry
It was composed of simple courtyard houses separated by streets
The use of optical correction, entasis, is a pointer to the desire of the Greeks to
achieve their ideals of beauty in architecture It could either be organic or grid-iron

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References
The Acropolis was the city of the gods
This is where buildings reflecting the highest ideals of beauty were placed to be seen • Fletcher, B., & Palmes, J. C. (1975). Sir Banister Fletcher's A history of architecture. 18th ed. /
rather than used New York: Scribner.
The principle of its design is that of isolated objects arranged in open space • Kostof, S., & Tobias, R. (2012). The city shaped. New York: Bulfinch Press.
The objects are arranged to be seen in three-dimension • Conway, H., & Roenisch, R. (2006). Understanding architecture. London: Routledge.
The Agora was a mundane place for social, commercial and political activities • Farrelly, L. (2007). The fundamentals of architecture. Lausanne, Switzerland: AVA Pub.
The principle of its design centers on creating boundaries to contain space for
activities
In practice, stoas and other civic buildings are used to loosely define the space
These are usually treated with continuous colonnades or porticoes along the side of
the court with occasional penetrations by footpaths

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