Greek Art – Architecture
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APAH: Greek Art – Architecture Temples Evolution from shrines to temples Evolution from wood/mud-brick construction to marble Availability of marble Housed cult statues Public ritual – not private Face outward – Altar at front of temple 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 – Column – Entablature Doric, Ionic, Corinthian Platform – Podium Stylobate Stereobate Column (2 or 3 part) – Base, Shaft, Capital No base on Doric columns Fluting – vertical channels Doric-sharp Ionic-flat Entasis – Gradual curving (tapering) toward column top Drum – Column segment Entablature Architrave Frieze – Decorated band b/w architrave and cornice Doric Triglyphs, Metopes Ionic Open Used for reliefs Cornice – projecting crown of entablature Pediment – triangular space at the end of a building Temple Forms Elevation – drawing of building profile Cella – room Naos – room for cult statue Portico – porch Colonnade – 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 (Crete) Simple megaron Sculptural decoration Archaic Architecture Temple of Hera I (c. 550 BC) Paestum, Italy Doric order 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 Athena – sacred temples Pericles Persian Wars Persian sacked Athens 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 Ionic order 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 Apollo 313 BC Didyma, Turkey Dipteral with classical column numbers No pediment, no roof – hypaethral Sacred spring / Laurel trees to Apollo Stairway to elevated cella – stage for the oracle Ideal City Priene, 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 Rome in 133 BC .