Greek Architecture

“Gods and temples are not easily instituted, and to establish them rightly is the work of a mighty intellect.” -Plato

“The site should be a spot seen far and wide, which gives due elevation to virtue and towers over the neighborhood.” -Aristotle

Ground Plan

Elevation

Temple of Hera II, Paestum

Section

Architectural Diagrams

Temple of Aphaia,

Aegina, 490 BCE

Post and Lintel

Corbel

Arch

Architectural Systems

Mortuary precinct of Djoser, Saqqara, Egypt, Old Kingdom,

c. 2775 BCE

engaged columnsfluting

Evolution of the Greek Temple

peripertal

Naos (Cella)

Pronaos (Porch)

Colonnade (Peristyle)

(opisthodomos)

Part of a Greek Temple

Elevation of a Greek Temple – Orders of Classical Architecture

Pediment

Frieze

Capital

Metope Triglyph

Early Classical Temple of Aphaia, Aegina, 490 BCE

Archaic Temple of Hera I, Paestum, 550 BCE

Evolution of Peripertal Temple

Temple of Hera II, Paestum, 460 BCE

Temple of Hera I, Paestum, 550 BCE

Parthenon, Athens, 448-432 BCE

Temple of Aphaia,

Aegina, 490 BCE

Archaic

Early Classical

High Classical

6:16

~1:3

6:12

1:2

10:21

Parthenon8:17

(6:13)(7:15)

X = 2y + 1

Evolution of Ratios in Ground Plan

ParthenonTemple of Hera I Temple of Hera II

Evolution of Ratios in Elevation