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APAH: Greek Art – Architecture

Temples Evolution from to Evolution from wood/mud-brick construction to marble Availability of marble Housed cult Public ritual – not private Face outward – Altar at front of Building as sculpture Exterior more important than interior Monuments not just buildings Built without mortise – extreme precision Reflects Greek principles: symmetry, harmony, balance, order Ideal forms Contrast to other civilizations Mathematical order – Rationality Development – complexity

Temple Orders Order = Platform – Doric, Ionic, Corinthian

Platform – Podium Stylobate Stereobate

Column (2 or 3 part) – Base, Shaft, No base on Doric – vertical channels Doric-sharp Ionic-flat Entasis – Gradual curving (tapering) toward column top Drum – Column segment

Entablature – Decorated band b/w architrave and Doric , Ionic Open Used for reliefs Cornice – projecting crown of entablature – triangular space at the end of a building

Temple Forms Elevation – drawing of building profile – room Naos – room for cult – porch – walkway w/ columns Prostyle – in front Amphiprostyle – along ends Peripteral – around Dipteral – around twice

Early Architecture

Plan of Temple A (c. 625 BC) Prinias, Greece () Simple megaron Sculptural decoration

Archaic Architecture

Temple of Hera I (c. 550 BC) , Italy Unusual central column row Lack of central space Forced canonical break Odd number of columns Created 2 : 1 ratio Compressed capitals Thick columns, Tight spacing, Severe entasis

Classical Architecture

Temple of Hera II (c. 460 BC) Paestum, Italy Note differences with Temple of Hera I Six column façade – thinner columns 2 column antis 2 column rows in cella (naos)

Acropolis District of – sacred temples Pericles Persian Wars Persian sacked 480 BC Xerxes Oath of Plataea Delian League Athenian empire Confiscated treasury Building program Restore glory of Athens Propylaia Gateway to Acropolis

Parthenon (c. 438 – 432 BC) Temple of Athena Parthenos Iktinos & Kallikrates architects Pinnacle of Greek architecture Under Pericles – Golden Age of Athens Statement on Athens Rebuilt Acropolis (not reassembled) Delian League treasury Athens – Athena Cult Statue of Athena Parthenos Phidias Ivory and gold ~ 40’ high Mix of Ionic and Doric features Ionic “Pollution” Interior Ionic columns Interior Ionic frieze 2 cella (naos / treasury) Refinements (intentional departures) Beautiful proportions – harmonious ratios Formula: x = 2y + 1 where x > y (17 columns x 8 columns) 9 : 4 ratio Stylobate, cella, width b/w columns to width of column Curved platform/entablature Columns lean inward

Width b/w corner column & neighbors is closer Optical corrections ?? Aesthetic value ??

Temple of Athena Nike (victorious) Commemorated the victory over the Persians Battle of Marathon Greets visitors to Acropolis Stands over the entrance

Erechtheion (421-405 BC) Temple of Athena Polias Protector of the city Sacred laurel tree Laurel sculpture of Athena Unique among temples Built by Phidias Poseidon vs. Athena Mythical founding of Athens Irregular construction Peloponnesian War Porch of the Maidens Caryatids Maidens of Artemis Baskets on heads / hands holding offerings No pediment Weight on outer leg Facing Pantheon Watching procession

Late Classical – Hellenistic Architecture

Temple of 313 BC , Turkey Dipteral with classical column numbers No pediment, no roof – Sacred spring / Laurel trees to Apollo Stairway to elevated cella – stage for the oracle

Ideal City , Turkey Hippodamos of Miletos – father of city planning Strict grid pattern “Hippodomian plan” Courtyards for homes Agora – center of civic / economic life Stoa – covered colonnade

Stoa of Attalos II Athens

Pergamon, Turkey Powerful city of Hellenistic world Altar of Zeus (c. 175 BC) Battle of Zeus against the giants Conflict for control of the world Attalos I defeated the Gauls in Asia Minor Given to in 133 BC