Friday, October 29, 2010

Greek Architecture

           The Greek’s accomplishment of constructing numerous structures has resulted in the foundation to modern architecture. The beauties of the configured buildings were not only exquisitely done but also revealed stories of Greeks culture. The classic beauty of Greece is derived from the symbolic designs of Greek columns, pediments, and friezes (Silverman, Schulman).           
          Throughout the cities of Greece three prominent columns stand to this day that represent the wealth of Athena, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The Doric is the simplest of the three columns and consisted of a capital (the crown of the column), no base but rather sits directly on the floor, and carved with twenty sides located along the shaft (the vertical component of the column). The Doric style is found in the earliest temples. It was first carved out of wood but soon changed to limestone in the fifth century. Such locations where the Doric columns are found would be at the Pantheon and at the Hephaistion.
        Around 500 B.C. the more slender and taller of the three columns was crafted, the     Ionic column. The Ionic column was more elegantly done then the Doric with having a base and decorated capital. The capital was designed with scrolls carved out and as a result, a graceful look was added to Greek columns. The temple of Athena is known for being one of the greatest temples constructed with Ironic columns.The final column that the Greeks used was the Corinthian, the most detailed but least used. The Corinthian column was used around 600 B.C. and was named after the city Corinth. It was detailed with stone carvings of acanthus leaves above a small scroll. The Corinthian columns are found at the Pantheon. The columns produced a foundation that was sturdy but the pediments embodied the design with beauty (Schulman,Carr, Silverman, Greek).
          
The Greeks invention of the triangular pediment added a classical architectural design.  Pediments symbolized their religious Deities. The temple consisted of two pediments, one placed in the front and another in the back. The designs on the Pediments were frequently famous legends. The pediments at the Parthenon retell the birth of Athena from Zeus’ head, and the battle between Athena and Poseidon to see who should be the protector of Athens. Along with the pediments exquisite beauty, the friezes accentuated the temples structure (Carr, Swenson, Anje, Silverman).

           The friezes were sculpted with the design to retell myths which held symbolic meanings through the pictures. The friezes are commonly seen along a strip of the upper walls of a temple. The friezes focus on one subject with great detail while decorating the four walls of the temple. The Pantheon has some of the greatest intake and descriptive friezes. The frieze at the pantheon includes several young ladies bringing beautiful garments to Athena, the goddess of wisdom. These figures appear graceful with transparent clothing. (Carr,Silverman)
            The Greeks constructing columns, pediments, and freezers have uplifted Greece’s beauty as a nation and its symbol as a power. Reaching this architectural stature is something that one might try to accomplish and fail. Presently the Greeks architectural designs are used to this day, the White House stands as a model to the awestricken beauty of Greece.