Ancient Greek Architecture

In the Mycenaean Period  the Greeks erected strong defensive walls of stone, though most houses and other structures were made of wood. The skills of stoneworking were lost in the Dark Age.

Until about 650bc the Greeks built all their buildings out of wood or brick, using thatch for roofs. A few roughly shaped stones were used for foundations and around doorways.

When the Greeks began to build in stone they based their designs on that of the wooden structures that were being replaced. For instance temples had stone columns based on pillars carved from single tree trunks.

The Greeks used stone architecture at first only for temples, but later it was used for all types of public buildings. Gateways, tombs and government offices all began to be built in stone.

There were three basic types, or orders, of Greek architecture. Some buildings were built using just one order, others used two or even all three.

The Doric order was developed in mainland Greece around 650bc. The columns had no bases and a plain square capital. The space above the columns had small sculptures.

The Ionic order appeared in Ionia around 600bc. The columns stood on square bases and had capitals in the shape of rounded scrolls. The space above the columns had a toothed decoration with( ) out sculptures.

The Corinthian order developed later and was more elaborate. The columns stood on large bases and were topped by capitals carved in( )to the shape of stylised acanthus leaves. The space above the columns was carved with a long, continuous sculpture.

Sometimes a column would be carved into the shape of a woman and became known as a caryatid. This was most usual in buildings of the Doric order.

FASCINATING FACT

Most stone buildings were square because those were easier to build. However a few temples, called tholos, were round.