What is the name of a building with columns in Greece. Architecture of Ancient Greece

Ancient Greece has influenced many of the world's architectural styles over the centuries - for example, neoclassicism, so popular in the 19th century, was actually a revival of ancient Greek architecture. A significant number of the world's masterpieces were inspired by the architecture of Greece, in particular the ancient Greek style of the Doric, Ionic or Corinthian order.

The Minoan civilization flourished on the Greek island of Crete from the 27th to the 15th century BC. e. The most famous architectural structure of this period is the impressive palace city of Knossos, located on a hill and surrounded by pine forests. It was divided into two courtyards: the Western wing, where religious and official premises were located, and the Eastern wing, which was used for internal needs.

Archaeologists have discovered the beautiful frescoes of Knossos almost untouched under layers of ash, suggesting the powerful eruption of the Santorini volcano around 1450 BC as the cause of the destruction of the Minoan city. The frescoes have bright colors and depict peaceful scenes from everyday life or illustrations of festivals. These paintings, coupled with the fact that Minoan cities did not have fortress walls, prove that the Minoans apparently had good neighborly relations with other cultures and did not get involved in wars.

Other significant Minoan monuments in Crete are the palace cities of Phaestos and Zakros.

Mycenaean architecture

Mycenaean architecture, which flourished from 1600 to 1200 BC, is very different from Minoan architecture. Unlike the Minoans, who chose trade as a vector of development, Mycenaean society progressed thanks to the cult of war. The Mycenaeans were often involved in armed conflicts, so their cities had solid and high fortress walls, called Cyclopian, since it was generally believed that only the Cyclopes could lift the huge stones used for their construction.

The defensive enclosures of Mycenae and Tirinths have characteristic cyclopean walls. Also typical of the architecture of the Mycenaean period are vaulted tombs, where the king and high priests were usually buried. The most famous vaulted tomb is the Treasury of Atreus in Mycenae, which is considered to be the tomb of King Agamemnon.

Classical architecture

The ancient Greek civilization, now known as classical Greece, reached its peak around 500 BC. Greek builders developed three architectural orders, using three different styles of columns.

Ionic order

The earliest known stone column is of the Doric order, and somewhat later builders in eastern Ionia developed their own style, called Ionic. Classic orders are not unique to each region, but are named after the part of the country where they were first discovered. The most elegant and latest style of ancient Greek architecture - Corinthian - was a mixture of Doric and Ionic.

Temples

Ancient Greek classical architecture is characterized by unique marble temples. Throughout mainland Greece and the islands there are many ancient temples dedicated to various gods, including the Temple of Apollo at Delphi, the Temple of Hephaestus at Athens, the Temple of Athena Aphaia at Aegina, and others.

The temple is the most common and famous form of Greek public architecture. It did not serve the same function as a modern church, since the altar stood in the open air in the temenos, often directly in front of the structure. Temples rather served as places to store treasures associated with the cult and as a place for worshipers of the deity to leave their offerings, such as statues, armor or weapons.

The most significant Greek temple monument is the Parthenon, built on the sacred site of the Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC. e., represents a striking example of the Doric and Ionic styles of architecture. This building was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the protector of the city: inside was a giant statue of Athena, the Parthenon, made by Phidias.

The Corinthian style was not so popular in classical architecture, but still in Athens there is a very significant monument built in the Corinthian style - in the center of the city.

Public buildings

Other architectural forms erected by the Greeks:

• the tholos (or circular temple), the best example of which is the Tholos of Theodora at Delphi, dedicated to Athena Pronia;
• propylon (porch), which forms the entrance to temple sanctuaries (for example, the propylaea of ​​the Athenian Acropolis);
• public fountains - buildings where women filled their jugs with water;
• stoa (or standing) - a long narrow gallery with an open colonnade on one side, there were rows of shops in the agoras (shopping centers) of Greek cities (the fully restored gallery of the Stoa of Attalus can be seen in Athens).

In addition, palaestras or gymnasiums, sort of social centers for men, were built in large Greek cities. These enclosed open-air spaces were used for athletic competitions and exercise.

Cities had bouleiterions, public buildings that served as meeting places for the city council (boule). Since the Greeks did not use arches or domes, they could not build buildings with large interior spaces. Thus, the bouleiterion had rows of internal columns supporting the roof (hypostyle). To date, no examples of such buildings have survived.

Theaters

Finally, each city had a theater, used for both public meetings and dramatic performances. At first, these buildings were actually gathering places for people who wanted to take part in the ritual. For example, during festivals dedicated to the deity, people gathered in the theater to participate in offerings led by priests. With the invention of theater as an art form, dramatic performances became part of such religious festivals.

The theater was usually located on a hillside outside the city and consisted of tiered rows of seats arranged in a semicircle around a central performance area, the orchestra. Behind the orchestra there was a low building called a skena, which served as a storeroom and dressing room.

A number of Greek theaters have survived virtually untouched to this day. The most famous of them is Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BC. e., characterized by perfect symmetry and amazing acoustics. Other famous buildings are the Theater of Dionysus, considered the first theater in the world, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Both of them are located at the foot of the Acropolis.

Roman architecture

In the second century BC, the Romans conquered Greece and ushered in a new era in Greek architecture. Roman architecture became a mixture of ancient Greek, Phoenician and Etruscan styles, with minor influences from other cultures of the Roman Empire. Athens has many buildings from the Roman period with characteristic arches and stone carvings. For example, Hadrian's Arch, built in 132 AD to mark the boundaries between old (classical) Athens and the new (Roman) part of the city.

Greek temples

Starting from the early period of ancient Greek history, from the 8th century. BC e., the primary task of the art of construction became the construction of temples. All the achievements of Greek architecture of that time; constructive and decorative, associated with the construction of various religious buildings. The planning structure of the temples was based on a residential building of the Mycenaean megaron type. The layout of the temple that was formed in the early period formed the basis for the subsequent architecture of Greek temples, which is characterized by surrounding the main volume of the temple with a colonnade. Temples in the early period of ancient Greek history were usually built from adobe.

The simplest type of temple is an ant temple. It consisted of a rectangular hall - cella or naos, where stood a cult statue, illuminated by the rays of the rising sun through the entrance opening on the eastern facade and an entrance portico in two columns located between the projections of the longitudinal walls - anta. An altar for sacrifices was placed in front of the entrance. The entrance to the heroons - temples dedicated to deified heroes - was facing west - towards the “kingdom of shadows”.

Later temple buildings were simple buildings that had a longitudinal rectangular plan, with an internal space - the sanctuary (naos) and the front part (pronaos), bounded by walls and columns located:

In front of one of the facades (prostyle) there is a four-column portico extended in relation to the antas,

On two opposite facades (amphiprostyle) there are two end porticoes on opposite sides,

Or surrounding the building on all sides (peripter).

The types of temples were varied: with 4-, 6-, 8-column porticoes pushed forward on one or two opposite end facades; during the Archaic period, a peripterus was formed, with a row of columns on four sides, or two (diptera) rows of columns.

An ancient Greek temple was always built on a powerful stepped foundation and covered with a wooden flat gable roof.

Temples become centers of political, cultural, and economic relations. Thus, at the Temple of Zeus in Olympia from 766 BC. e. Olympic Games were held every four years.

The interior of the temple of later periods of ancient Greek history, considered the seat of the god, was not used for the meeting of believers; the latter gathered only in front of the temple. The interior of large temples had three aisles, with a large statue of a deity placed in the middle of them. The scale of the interior was smaller than the scale of the facade, which emphasized the size of the statue. In the depths of the large temples there was a smaller hall, a treasury. In addition to the large number of rectangular ones, round temples were sometimes built, for example round periptera.

Temples were usually grouped within a fenced area, with monumental entrance gates leading into them. The complex of these buildings was gradually supplemented with more and more sculptures and sacrificial altars. Athens, Olympia - the sanctuary of Zeus, Delphi - the sanctuary of Apollo, Priene, Selinunte, Poseidonia and all other cities had their own temple complexes, built in the archaic and classical periods.

Types of Greek temples. 1 - peripter, 2 - pseudoperipter, 3 - pseudodipter, 4 - amphiprostyle, 5 - prostyle, 6 - temple in anta, 7 - tholos, 8 - monopter, 9 - dipter.

The architectural construction of the ancient Greeks is associated with religion and cult. The main object for the architects was the temple. The peculiarities of the construction and artistic form of temples were transferred to the creation of other buildings. Over many years of history, the type of ancient Greek temple has not changed. The tradition of constructing temple buildings was inherited by Ancient Rome.

Ancient Greek temples were noticeably different from ancient Egyptian religious buildings. They were more down to earth. Gods with human appearance lived here. The place itself was rich and ornate.

At first, the buildings of the gods were built of wood. When they began to use stone, wooden structures and techniques for their creation were preserved.

The Greeks did not build grandiose structures. The temple, of moderate size, stood on a foundation with several steps within a consecrated enclosure. It was simple and resembled a rectangular house made of two squares. The temple was covered with a gable roof with a gentle slope.

One of the sides faced the outside, but not as a wall, but as a specially created porch or entryway. They were represented by 2 pilasters along the edges and columns standing between them. The number of columns was always even. The resulting space (1/3 of a square) was partitioned off by a wall, where a door leading to the sanctuary was built.

The sanctuary was a space without windows or doors with a single entrance, in the middle of which stood a statue of a deity. It was inaccessible to ordinary mortals; only priests could enter here.

Types of Ancient Greek Temples

Ancient Greek temples, built using the same technology, differed in type.

1) A “prostyle” temple with a portico: a portico with columns was built in front of the front door.

2) An “amphiprostyle” temple with 2 porticos: a portico was added to the temple with two porches.

3) The “round-winged” (“peripteric”) temple consisted of a temple built on a platform and surrounded on 4 sides by a colonnade.

4) The temple is “double-circular” (“dipteric”): the columns surrounding the main building are installed in 2 circles.

5) The temple is “false round”: instead of columns, there are half-columns protruding from the walls.

6) The temple is “complex double-circular”: columns in one circle were combined with half-columns in the next.

Thus, columns played a major role in the architecture of ancient Greek temples. The column, with its shape, proportions, and decorative decoration, determined the style of the entire building. It was the difference in ideas about the creation of columns that caused the emergence of 2 directions in ancient Greek architecture: the architecture of the Doric order and the Ionic order.

Greece is the cradle of one of the most ancient civilizations, which organically combines ancient monuments of culture, architecture and literature. Even after thousands of years, Hellas is considered a model of creativity and culture in Europe and Asia. The temples of ancient Greece are a heritage of the whole world's history and cultural value.

The buildings, which were built many centuries ago, amaze with their beauty and grandeur. According to myths, they were built by Cyclopes, which is why the name “Cyclopean” architectural style of buildings stuck. The Mycenaean era left its mark, embodied in amazing tombs and buildings. The classical style, clearly manifested in the form of the amazing Acropolis, is rightfully considered the “golden” period.

In Greece, the concepts of temple and sanctuary are clearly distinguished. The temple itself was considered to be the religious building itself, and the sanctuary was the central part of the temple, where sacred objects were kept and protected by the oracle.

Hellenic ancient temples

Initially, the first Temples of ancient Greece did not differ much in architecture from an ordinary home, but soon their significance began to be manifested in the luxurious lines and refinements of the buildings. The spacious halls were windowless, and a statue of the revered deity was erected in the center.

The classical period brought some changes to the exterior, thanks to an extraordinary combination of power and grace, which caused inner awe when contemplating the structure. reflect ancient history.

Changing architectural styles. The temples of ancient Greece are most clearly expressed precisely in the modification of the columns of buildings, which were carried out in an ascetic form without frills, or were decorated with capitals and ornaments. Columns brought additional stability to buildings, allowing them to significantly increase the volume of premises, and imparted significant solidity.

There was no luxury in the temples; matte monochromatic colors with strict ornaments were selected. Sometimes gold was used to decorate the interior. The statues of the deity were painted and decorated with jewelry, but, unfortunately, not a single statue has survived to this day in its original form. Every resident of the city took part in the construction of the temple, which took decades. In the article you will learn even more interesting facts.

Famous temples of Greece

A huge number of temples have been preserved in Athens. The Acropolis is home to the Parthenon, a structure built in honor of the city's patron goddess, Athena. The temple of Erechtheinon was considered the site of the battle between Poseidon and Athena.

The inhabitants of Athens firmly believed in the existence of the goddess of victory, Nike, which is confirmed by a temple with a statue of the deity, whose wings were cut off so that victory would never leave them. According to legend, it was in this temple that the king of Athens waited for his son after defeating the minotaur. Theseus forgot to give the conventional sign of victory, as a result of which King Aegean threw himself into the sea, which eventually received the name Aegean. Hiking, traveling and walking can tell you a lot about culture, history and architecture, for example, beautiful ones that amaze with their splendor.

Temple of Hephaestus

The temple of the fire god Hephaestus rises at the very top of a mountain called Agora. The building has been perfectly preserved to this day. The sea coast near the mountain is decorated with the ruins of a temple built in honor of Poseidon, which are sung in the works of many writers, leaving an indelible mark on the memory and a lot of impressions.

Temple of Zeus

The unusually majestic temple of Zeus, the supreme Greek deity, is called Olympion, despite the fact that only columns and ruins remain from it, it is still impressive in its scope and size.

Each Greek city has its own Acropolis, which is a powerful fortress located in the very center, the purpose of which was to protect the temples. Today, many fortresses have been destroyed, showing only ruins, but even they carry history and convey the unique grandeur of the history of Greece.

Parthenon Temple

Geographically located in the “heart” of Athens. The temple was solemnly erected for the beautiful and majestic goddess of Athens - the Parthenon. Built from unique Pentelic light marble. Currently, this temple is the most popular among the ancient buildings in all of Greece. Finishing work dragged on until 432 BC.

The construction was carried out by the ancient architect Calliktat, which took place in 447 BC. construction lasted 9 years. The temple is made in a palace style with many columns (48 pieces). The pediment and cornices are decorated with sculptures. Now there are very few of them left, only fragments. All of them were plundered over many years of wars. Now the temple has a white or cream tint, but in ancient times it was painted in different colors. For such a long existence, the Parthenon Temple had different purposes: it served as a refuge for Catholics, was an Orthodox place, and was even a secret warehouse for gunpowder.

Temple of Hera

It has its location closer to the Northwestern corner of Grand Olympia. The temple is located on a slope, shaded, as if hidden from human view, by growing terraces. As is known from scientific chronicles, the temple was built in 1096-1095 BC. But according to archaeologists, the temple was built in 600 AD. The Temple of Hera was rebuilt many times and converted into a museum building. The temple was partially destroyed by a strong earthquake in the middle of the 4th century. And from that time on it was never restored. The majestic architectural structure has survived very poorly to this day. The temple - the personification of hope, continuation of the family, preservation of marriage - is the main historical center in Paestum.

Temple of Niki Anperos

This temple was the first structure of such an antique nature on the Acropolis. The temple has another, more gentle name - “wingless victory”. Construction of the structure began in 427 BC. The walls of the great Niki Anperos are made of bleached marble block. In the center of the temple stood a statue of Athena. It was symbolic, and she had a helmet in one hand and a pomegranate in the other. This indicated that it carried a symbol of fertility and victory. Throughout history, the temple was constantly attacked, each time disturbing its beauty. In 1686, the temple was attacked by Turkish troops, who dismantled the main buildings, and in 1936, the central platform collapsed. Now this miniature temple, the wall, is the only thing that reminds us of that ancient life.

In the history of the development of all European culture, the most important place is occupied by the art and culture of ancient Greece. On its basis, the classical canons of antiquity were formed.

In general, its cultural traditions were full of contradictions, because they were created in a society of slave-owning democracy. However, the works of ancient masters became the standard for the creators of many subsequent generations.

The first archaeological excavations at the beginning of the 18th century were carried out in the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, buried under the volcanic lava of Vesuvius. As a result of research, many unique examples of various works by masters of that era were discovered.

These are sculptures and relief images, dishes and household items, weapons and ancient tools. Among all the valuable specimens found, the surviving fragments of buildings attract special attention. They are of great interest to scientists in the process of studying the architectural appearance of the cities of ancient Greece.

Periods of development of ancient Greek architecture

The entire history of the development of architecture in ancient Greece can be divided into several periods:

• Homeric era(from the 12th to the middle of the 8th centuries BC) - the period of the origin and development of Hellenic architecture, a time of gradual decomposition of the clan system and the emergence of new class relations. Hellenic architecture was initially based on the traditions of Aegean culture, but later new, original features also emerged.

In the Bronze Age, temples were not yet built. And only at the beginning of the 8th century a temple appears, the design features of which are reminiscent of the megaron that arose earlier in. The main building material for the temple was unbaked brick, and the gable roof was made of wood.

Scientists gleaned most of the information about the appearance of buildings of that period from the works of Homer. In those days, houses were built from wood, which were fastened with metal sheathing for greater strength.

Another common type of building material was raw brick. Towards the end of the period, builders began to use fired tiles. This time was characterized by the construction of not only ordinary residential buildings, but also the first churches.

This period is notable for the formation of a special planning system, in which an important place is occupied by the colonnade surrounding the building on all sides. One of the earliest buildings of that period is considered temple of the goddess Hera on the island of Samos.

• Archaic period(from the 8th to the beginning of the 5th centuries BC) - characterized by the final formation of a slave state and the emergence of a city - a polis.

At the beginning of the Archaic period, the construction technique of wood and mud brick was also common. The only difference was in the use of terracotta cladding for finishing the temples. Subsequently, the most important and large-scale structures begin to be built from soft and easy-to-process limestone. At the end of the period, the most common material becomes .

During the 7th century BC, ancient Greek building art developed in several directions at once, which had significant differences.

During the archaic period, the first examples of monumental structures appeared, and various types of temples and other public buildings were formed.

The emergence and development of orders takes place, which subsequently become the basic and most recognizable elements of ancient Greek architecture.

• Classical period(from 480 to 400 BC) - the reign of Pericles, which is characterized by a high level of development of architecture and all spheres of art.

An order system perfected to perfection is widely used. The appearance of buildings becomes more sophisticated, and the style of the architects becomes recognizable.

Athens becomes the main city with a proper street layout. In other cities, new residential areas are also being built according to a single plan.

During this period, the architectural appearance of a typical Greek house was formed, which consists of a courtyard surrounded by porticoes, the prototype of which was the megaron.

The classical period was characterized by the appearance of open stone theaters and halls for music - odeions. Public buildings for gathering large numbers of people are taking on new forms.

• The era of the decomposition of policies(IV century BC) - during this period, temples lose their advanced significance, however, secular architecture develops with greater intensity and the layout of residential buildings is improved.

The buildings acquire greater sophistication and grace thanks to the use of the Ionic and Corinthian orders.

• Hellenistic era(330s - 1st century BC) - the period of the emergence of the Greco-Eastern monarchies and the penetration of ancient Greek culture into Asia Minor and Egypt.

The Hellenistic era was characterized by a mixture of different styles and orders for purely decorative purposes. But at the same time, the former brevity, monumentality and recognition of the order system are lost.

However, this fact does not at all prevent the creation of large-scale urban ensembles, in the architecture of which peristyle is widely used - rows of columns surrounding courtyards and squares.

Order system

An order in architecture is a system for displaying the structure of a structure in a certain form. With the development and establishment of the stylistics of various orders, the proportionality of the whole structure and its individual parts, composition and corresponding proportions are established. The forms of buildings are gradually improved, and Greek classics reaches the pinnacle of its development.

There were three main orders used in the architecture of ancient Greece:

• Doric
• Ionic
• Corinthian

The main difference between the architectural orders was primarily in the shapes of the columns and entablature, as well as in various decorative details and proportions.

At the same time, the layout of the building space was the same for all order systems. Both the Doric and Ionic orders were used in the construction of not only religious, but also secular buildings, as well as places of public visitation.

Each building is a single whole, created from individual architectural elements, among which are the following:

• Crepida- this is the foot of any building, a kind of foundation of the structure.
• Walls
• Columns various orders
• Entablature
• Roof
• Triangular pediment

Ancient Greek architecture used a system of columns and entablatures, or, as it is also called, a post-beam system. The best examples of buildings were temples, which were initially built from, and later from natural stone.

Doric order

The Doric order is the most massive of all, but at the same time it is distinguished by the simplicity of decorative details and the severity of finishing elements. The Doric order was formed in the 6th century BC. A striking example can be considered Temple of Hera at Olympia.

The dimensions of the individual parts of the structure and their proportional relationship are related to the length of the radius of the column at its base. This radius is called the module, and on its basis all subsequent proportions are calculated.

Later, with the development of construction technology, the columns became thinner, more elegant and taller. Accordingly, the distance between them increased, and the height of the entablature decreased.

A Doric temple was usually built on a three-stage high base. The steps of the crepida were not intended for people to climb. It was one of the characteristic elements of ancient Greek architecture. The height of the base steps was determined based on the overall proportions of the structure.

Columns without a base were installed on a three-stage base. They consisted of a three-part capital (hypotrachelia, echinus, abacus) and a fluted trunk, which had a slight thickening - entachis. The height of the column trunk was approximately 11 modules, that is, it was 11 times longer than the radius of the column at the base.

The entablature of the Doric order was also tripartite. The columns contained an architrave with a frieze, which consisted of triglyphs and metopes. It also supported a slightly projecting cornice. The roof was gable with a slight slope. The triangular pediment was usually decorated with sculptures.

For the compositional completeness of the Doric temple, the color of the structure was of great importance, which further emphasized its structural features.

The most famous surviving example of Doric buildings is Temple of Poseidon in Paestum in southern Italy and Temple of Hephaestus in Athens.

In terms of its architectural merits, the most significant structure is considered to be on the Acropolis of Athens.

Ionic order

The buildings of the Ionic order are characterized by greater lightness and grace. This is especially noticeable in comparison with the massive elements of the Doric order.

The Ionic temples of the early period were larger and more luxuriously decorated than the ponderous and austere Doric temples.

But the main distinguishing feature can be considered the appearance of the columns: they are much slimmer and thinner. In addition, they have a base, trunk and capital. The most luxurious form is characterized by a capital with volutes.

In this case, the columns are not connected by rhythmic elements, as in the Doric order. Instead of a frieze, the Ionic entablature was trimmed with a belt decorated with bas-relief. All details of the Ionic order had a complex profile.

The Ionic order reaches its greatest flowering in Asia Minor, where examples of structures are of considerable size. A striking example is Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, which reached a length of 126 meters and had columns 18 meters high.

In Greece itself, buildings of the Ionic order are represented by small, elegant buildings. Among the surviving samples we can name Temple of Niki-Apteros and in the ensemble of the Acropolis in Athens.

Corinthian order

The Corinthian order developed on the basis of the Ionic order and was finally formed only in Roman architecture. The main difference between the Corinthian order and the Ionic order was the presence of a capital with four sides decorated with a sculptural image of acanthus leaves.

Among the most significant examples of the Corinthian order in Greece is the capital Monument to Lysicrates in Athens. Another example of the use of the Corinthian order is the unfinished Athens Olympion.

Construction equipment

In the architecture of ancient Greece, the main building material was natural stone of various types. Thus, in the early period, soft limestone was used, which was easy to process. Limestone was used during construction in the 6th century BC. But in the ensemble of the New Acropolis, built by Pericles, there are already structures made of Pentelic marble.

It should be emphasized that, first of all, temples and public buildings were erected from stone. But residential buildings were usually built of brick - raw or baked brick.

In the process of laying walls of public buildings, it was also sometimes used, but later the outer side was lined with stone slabs.

Wood was usually used to construct roofs and ceilings. In the early period, temple columns were also made of wood. This could be observed in the example of the Temple of Hera at Olympia, where wooden columns were subsequently replaced by stone ones.

The stonework was done using a dry method without the use of mortar. In this case, spikes or wooden dowels were used to strengthen the structure. The structure had to withstand tremors in the event of an earthquake, so the stone blocks were fastened together using many metal clamps.

The process of installing complex architectural elements was very labor-intensive. Some parts were made immediately solid - for example, capitals and slabs with sculptural elements. The remaining parts were processed only after they were installed. In this case, the final processing was carried out in the direction from top to bottom as the height of the construction scaffolding decreased.

However, from the point of view of professional architects, ancient Greek architecture, striking with the nobility and perfection of its forms, was very simple in its design. This system consisted of load-bearing elements of the building (walls and columns) that supported the load and supporting parts - beams, slabs and lintels.