Greek Architecture: Everything You Need to Know

Greek architecture is considered a part of classical architecture, which also encompasses Roman architecture. The Greek style was defined by its uniformity, simplicity, proportions, and harmony. Many of the most iconic designs from this time include stone edifices, though other materials such as wood and brick were also employed. “Some of the earliest Greek temples were built of mud brick and timber, but they gradually started to be built in stone during the seventh to sixth century BCE, and by the fifth century BCE almost all temples were built in stone,” Dr. Paga explains.

The Greeks built various types of public buildings, including theaters and stadiums, though perhaps the most notable structures were the multiple temples built to honor the Olympic gods. “Greek temples, though, despite how iconic and numerous they seem, were often not a necessary part of Greek worship,” Dr. Paga adds. The most important element for the ancient religion was the altar, which were located outside of the temple since offerings were burnt on them. A temple was mostly necessary if it housed a statue for a cult god. “Temples were also depositories of votives, or gifts, brought to the god as thank-you offerings and to ask for their favor. These objects, especially those made of precious materials like bronze or gold, would be stored inside the temple to protect them,” Dr. Paga explains.

Though an untrained eye may see any ancient Greek building as similar—perhaps a rectangular floor plan with a row of columns along the facade as basic characteristics—there are three distinct styles of Greek architecture known as the classical orders. Each order—the Doric, Ionian, and Corinthian—uses a different style of column, proportions, and decorative details.

“The Doric and Ionic orders, to the best of our knowledge, emerged around the same time that temples began to be built in stone, in the seventh and sixth centuries BCE,” Dr. Paga says. “The Corinthian order, on the other hand, developed later, towards the end of the fifth century BCE.”

The architectural orders are most easily identifiable based on the type of column present and the entablature, which is the superstructure of moldings and bands that lies horizontally across the columns. The entablature can be further subdivided into three parts: the architrave (a lintel or beam that lies on the columns), the frieze (a band along the middle of the entablature often used for decorative purposes), and the cornice (horizontal molding that crowns the building).

The Doric order is more easily recognizable by simple, unadorned columns that sit directly on the stylobate—the top step of a temple’s platform—without an additional base. “The Doric order is characterized by its thick columns and spreading capital, which looks a bit like a mushroom or a squished marshmallow,” Dr. Paga says. Doric columns are fluted and typically stocky. “Broadly speaking, the Doric order was used mostly in mainland Greece and areas to the west—such as Sicily and Southern Italy—where many Greek cities sent colonies in the eighth to sixth century BCE.”

The Ionic order gets its name from the place it originated, Ionia, a coastal region in what is now Turkey. The Ionic order is notable for its graceful proportions, and the buildings often have a slender and graceful profile. Ionic architecture is most easily identifiable by paired volutes on the columns—spiral, scroll-like ornaments—and a base that separates the columns from the stylobate. “The frieze course for the Ionic order is one continuous horizontal band, an area that was sometimes decorated with relief sculpture and sometimes left blank,” Dr. Paga says.

“The Corinthian order began to be favored more and more during the Hellenistic period (the period after the exploits and death of Alexander the Great), and the Romans especially loved it,” Dr. Paga explains. “So if you go to Italy now, you’ll primarily see the Corinthian order, and it is also the order most commonly seen today in Europe and the United States.” The columns of the Corinthian order are among the most ornate and sleek of the classical orders. The most identifiable feature is a decorative capital—the very top of the column—which includes carved acanthus leaves.

“Some of the most intriguing things present in ancient Greek architecture, particularly the temples, are the existence of what scholars often refer to as ‘optical refinements,’” Dr. Paga says. “These were documented and recognized even in antiquity by people like ancient Roman architect Vitruvius, but they still cause some befuddlement today. Two of the most widely used ‘refinements’ are entasis and curvature.”

Entasis was mostly frequently used in the Doric order and involved a slight convex or swelling in the middle of the shaft. “Entasis is quite noticeable in earlier temples of the sixth and early fifth century BCE, but it gradually becomes more and more subtle, to the point where you barely notice it or it is only detectable using scientific tools,” Dr. Paga adds. Curvature, on the other hand, refers to a principle by which no straight lines exist in monumental stone Greek architecture. “Every single horizontal element—like the steps, podium, frieze, and cornice—curves slightly upwards in the middle,” Dr. Paga says. “An exaggerated drawing of this would make the entire building look like it’s springing upwards from the middle.” The main vertical elements, like columns, are inclined slightly inward.

Though this may seem counter to the fact that Greek architecture is generally known for its crisp, straight lines, it’s actually these refinements that make this assumption possible. “There was a widespread idea in antiquity that, when presented with a straight horizontal line, the eye sees it as sagging in the middle, hence curvature ‘corrects’ this optical distortion,” Dr. Paga says. “Similarly, they thought that a vertical line was seen to be diminishing in diameter as it stretched upwards, so entasis was thought to help counter this problem.” Modern scholars acknowledge this explanation, while also noting that these refinements enliven the architecture.

Defining elements and characteristics of Greek architecture

To better understand Greek architecture, consider the common architectural elements that are often seen in ancient Greek buildings. Though not exhaustive, consider the following list:

• Tall columns
• Symmetry
• Square or rectangular floor plans
• Stone structures

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