Ancient Greek Architecture

In ancient Greece, towns were usually built around a hill. The hill was called an acropolis, which means "upper city." Temples and treasure houses were built on the hill for protection. The acropolis in Athens is where one of the finest and most famous Greek buildings is located.

The Parthenon was built in 400 BC. That was a time we called the "Classic Period." During the classis period, people build buildings very carefully, making sure they had simple lines, perfect balance, and perfect harmony. Harmony means all the parts of the building looked pleasing together. Today, many buildings are complex and "busy." Some architects decide to use classic designs instead, because these designs give a feeling of rest and a sense of order.

The Parthenon, which is still standing, was a temple dedicated to Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War. Temples were considered the residence or home of a God, not a place where people went to worship. The outsides of the temples were very important and were decorated with the finest sculptures. The inside, where the statue of the god or goddess stood, was poorly lit. This is because there were no windows and only one door.

Outside, the roofs of temples were supported by marble columns. The columns followed a set style or order. The oldest and simplest column was called Doric. The columns of the Prthenon are of the Doric order. They are short, heavy, and are carved with grooves to lead your eye upward. The top of the column is the capital. It is made of a round piece of marble that sticks out beyond the column and has a top made of a square slab of marble that extends a bit further.

Beneath the roof of the temple is a long, triangle-shaped space called the tympanum. Right below that is a long band of marble that separates the roof from the columns, called the frieze. On the Parthenon, both the tympanum and the frieze were filled with sculptures of people and horses.