Greek Attitude and Architecture

The Greek period was filled with scholars, intellects, researchers, and risk takers. This epidemic of learning had a huge impact on Greek Architecture. Their understanding of astrology, mathematics, proportions, visual tricks, and philosophy all contributed to the Harmonic Science that created monuments that embodied what many think of as the perfect aesthetic and mathematically correct features. The Parthenon is the perfect example. It uses the “Golden Ratio” as it’s measurements for the face of the building, entasis (a change in column diameter), intercolumnation (smaller spacing between end columns), and tilt to create what they perceived as the right dimensions. This could have been to give the appearance of straight lines from a human perspective or a meaning of cosmic relation. The architects also used astronomy to ensure the cella holding Athena’s statue would only have the sun shine on it on the morning of her birthday (Moffet).

Figure 1.1 Parthenon

The surroundings of the building, available materials, its function, and the cultural mindset are of the utmost importance when designing. Even who commissioned the project reveals information about the views of the wealthy, the artist, and the government. One result of this period that can help us understand the mindset of the Greeks are the Classical Orders of Architecture, which refers to the types of columns. As previously mentioned, a cultures beliefs have a direct influence on architecture. It is speculated that the three types of Greek columns correspond to gender views. The Doric order looks the sturdiest and is based on the proportions of a man (Figure 1.2). Metzger even describes the Doric temple of the goddess Minerva as being of “immense extent, and was manly, a simple roof supported by columns (25). The Ionic order seems lighter, more feminine and elegant, with the proportions based on a woman instead of a man (Figure 1.3 Left). The Corinthian order is the slenderest and most decorated of the orders (Figure 1.3 Right). The form and proportions suggest that of a young maiden. The Corinthian order resembles the Ionic more than Doric due to its elaborateness. It consists of many rows of acanthus leaves and small spiraling vines called helixes (Moffet). From these descriptions, many conclusions can be made about strength in the family and more from the columns use in a particular temple. 

Figure 1.2 Doric Order    

 Figure 1.3 Ionic (Left) and Corinthian Order (Right) 

There are more specific details in Greek architecture that give us insight into their mindset and their daily lives. Parisinou’s paper uses how interior domestic spaces were lit as a tool to draw conclusions about aspects of the living culture and behaviors of early Archaic Greece (tenth to seventh centuries BC) (213). The conclusions she drew were that while there was no consistent pattern, in some cases source of light influenced the social activity and how it was organized. “What we can call 'living rooms', accommodating activities of a multifunctional and mixed-gender nature, tend to be oriented towards the brighter sides - especially south and east - to ensure maximum benefit from sunlight, with the back rooms situated to the cooler north or west sides of the structure” (222). Due to access of light, womanly activities, such as weaving, seemed to be suited to the front rooms, however the contrast of this is portrayed in Homeric poems. In Greek literature, women’s space usually is associated with the back rooms. Accounting for lamps, found in these structures and written of in the Odyssey, this behavior is explained (Parisinou 222-223).

Works Cited

Metzger, Charles. "Whitman on Architecture." Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians 16.1 (1957): 25-27. JSTOR. Web. 17 Feb. 2014. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/987850>.

Moffett, Marian, Michael W. Fazio, and Lawrence Wodehouse. Buildings across Time: An Introduction to World Architecture. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2004. Print.

Parisinou, Eva. "Lighting Dark Rooms: Some Thoughts about the Use of Space in Early Greek Domestic Architecture." BUILDING COMMUNITIES: House, Settlement and Society in the Aegean and Beyond 15 (2007): 213-23. JSTOR. Web. 18 Feb. 2014. <URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/40960590>.

Figure 1.1
Parthenon (Athens, Greece): Rear Frontal. N.d. Photograph. Architecture Images Collection, Athens, Greece. Digital Media Repository. Ball State University Libraries. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.
Figure 1.2

Temple of Neptune (Paestum): Detail, Doric Order. N.d. Photograph. Architecture Images Collection, Paestum (Extinct City). Digital Media Repository. Ball State University Libraries. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.

Figure 1.3

Temple of Apollo (Bassai): Columns. N.d. Photograph. Architecture Images Collection, Bassai (Extinct City). Digital Media Repository. Ball State University Libraries. Web. 18 Feb. 2014.