Ancient Greek Architecture Facts & Worksheets

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Greek architecture is characterized by preciseness and excellence. The Greeks built fine and elegant public structures that influenced the succeeding era of architecture. To this day, their unique style of art is preserved and used all over the world.

See the fact file below for more information on Ancient Greek Architecture or alternatively, you can download our 33-page Ancient Greek Architecture worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BACKGROUND

• The geographical location of Greece made stone, limestone, and marble very accessible.
• The best and highest-quality marble was said to be found in Paros and Naxos.
• Other factors that influenced the construction of their structures were the maritime climate and natural bright light.
• Ancient Greek architecture was known for its temples.
• During the Geometric Period (900-725 BCE), the most significant task for Greek architects was to build temples.
• These temples were made to honor the deities.
• They were built mostly with rubble, mud bricks, timber, and clay.
• No stone temples were built until 650 BCE.
• Contracts concerning trade and commerce were renewed between Greece and Middle East countries.
• As a result, the Greeks were influenced by the architecture of the ancient Egyptians.
• The Greeks switched to using stone as a material for construction and other building techniques.
• The gradual change and development of the construction process began in the late 7th century.
• Ancient Greek architecture greatly influenced Roman architecture.

THE GREEK ORDERS

• Ancient Greek architects were strict about the appearance of their structures.
• Their temples and buildings were deliberately calculated. 
• However, if the structures didn’t look right, the measurements kept keep changing until they looked perfect.
• The three styles used to build most Greek temples and buildings are known as orders or templates and are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian.
• The orders determined how columns, capitals, and designs would be made.
• In Archaic and Classical Greek architecture, the two principal orders were Doric and Ionic.

DORIC ORDER

• Doric temples were usually found on the Greek mainland. 
• The Doric order was said to be the earliest of the three orders of architecture.
• It was first seen in the 7th century and was most popular during the Archaic Period (750-480 BCE). 
• It can be easily recognized by its plain design.
• A doric capital has no base, is massive, stout, sturdy, and often has fluted columns.
• Its frieze structure in the entablature has triglyphs and metopes, which distinguishes it from the other orders.
• The Parthenon, which was built to honor the goddess Athena, has elements of both the Doric and Ionic orders.
• Other temples built with the Doric order are the Temple of Apollo at Corinth, the Temple of Aphaia, and the Temple of Hephaestus.

IONIC ORDER

• The Ionic order was developed in the mid-6th century in Ionia, a coastal region in Turkey, and brought to Greece by the 5th century BCE.
• It was said to be more popular among the Greeks who lived in Asia Minor and the Greek islands.
• It was derived from wooden architecture.
• The Ionic order is considered to be more elegant than the Doric order. 
• It has large bases with narrower flutes, has two opposing scroll-like ornaments called volutes, and is lighter than Doric columns.
• The frieze of the ionic columns is composed of continuous sculptural relief.
• A famous Ionic temple is the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus.

CORINTHIAN ORDER

• The Corinthian order was developed during the Classical Period (400-323 BCE) but was not that famous.
• During the Hellenistic era, the Romans popularized it by refining it and adding details to enhance its design.
• It is considered the most elegant of the three orders.
• The Corinthian order did not originate from wooden architecture.
• The capital of a Corinthian order is more decorated compared with the Doric and Ionic.
• It contains designs of scrolls and leaves of the acanthus plant.
• It is deeper and taller compared to Ionic and Doric columns.
• Callimachus of Corinth, a sculptor, and an architect were said to have invented the Corinthian capital.
• The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens is one example of a Corinthian temple.

ARCHITECTURAL STRUCTURES

HOUSES

• Houses or “oikos” built during Ancient Greek civilization had a simple design.
• They were built using sun-dried bricks or wooden frameworks with clay or plaster and roofs made of thatch or eaves.
• Large houses were built with stone and tiled roofs.
• Wealthy houses had mosaic floors depicting classical style.
• Their houses were usually in the center of the courtyard or garden, where rituals were done.

TEMPLES

• The Ancient Greeks did not have royalty so palaces weren’t needed.
• Temples were the most popular structures built by the Ancient Greeks.
• Temples were widely built structures by the Ancient Greeks.
• In the 8th century BCE, materials used for construction changed to a more permanent materials such as stone.
• Ancient Greek temples were classified by their floor plans and how the columns were arranged.
• Prostyle temples are temples with columns placed at the front.
• Amphiprostyle temples have columns placed at the front and back.
• Peripteral arranged temples are described as having a single line of columns that are arranged around the outside of the temple.
• Dipteral temples have double-row columns around the structure.
• A unique temple with a circular floor plan is called a tholos.

STOA

• Stoa is a Greek term used to define a covered walkway.
• It is usually used by and designed for the public.
• The earliest stoae were composed of a single level and used Doric order.
• Eventually, the stoae became larger, designed with Ionic order interior colonnades.
• These stoae were built wide enough to cover the agora or public city marketplace.

THEATER

• Theaters in Ancient Greek civilization were large and had an open-air structure where dramatic live performances were done.
• A Greek theater consists of a “theatron”, the seating area, which is arranged in a tiered setting.
• It also has an orchestra placed in the circular space on the two aisles, and the “skene” which is the stage.
• Theaters were usually associated with sanctuaries.

BOULEUTERION

• A bouleuterion was where the boule (council) of the city gathered to talk about public affairs.
• Other structures include fortifications, altars, gymnasiums, stadiums, monumental gateways, mausoleums, fountain houses, palaestra, and a hippodrome.

ANCIENT GREEK ARCHITECTURE AND THEIR ARCHITECTS 

• Parthenon, Acropolis
  • This temple was built in honor of the goddess Athena.
  • It served as a mosque and also a church during its existence.
  • The Parthenon was designed by architects Ictinus and Callicrates and the sculptor Phidias.
• Odeon of Herodes Atticus, Acropolis
  • Herodes of Atticus built this stone-Roman theater with a steep-sloped design.
  • He made the theater for his late wife, Aspasia Annia Regilla.
  • The Odeon of Herodes Atticus was used to hold musical concerts with a capacity of 5,000 pax.
• Temple of Olympian Zeus, Athens
  • This temple was made for the Olympian god Zeus. 
  • Peisistratos led the construction of this temple in the 6th century BCE.
  • However, it was halted and was just finished after 638 years under the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
  • The initial building Peisistratos built was demolished and changed into the Temple of Olympian Zeus built by his sons Hippias and Hipparchus.
  • The temple was designed by architects Anistates, Calleaschrus, Antimachides, and Phormos. 
• Temple of Artemis, Corfu
  • This was built for the goddess Artemis.
  • Among all the Greek temples, this was the first to be constructed from stone in Doric order.
  • The temple of Artemis was among the 150 masterpieces of Western architecture.
  • Callimachus originally designed the temple.
  • However, in the 7th century BCE, it was destroyed by a flood.
  • It was reconstructed and redesigned by a Cretan architect named Chersiphron and his son Metagenes.
• Temple of Hera, Olympia
  • This temple was built in honor of Zeus’ wife, Hera.
  • Initially built with wood, the temple later changed into stone.
  • The architect of the temple remains unknown but it was believed to have been dedicated by the people of Skillous in Triphylia.
  • The temple was destroyed by an earthquake in the early 4th century CE.
• Many notable architects during the era of Ancient Greece produced work that became significant later.
• A lot of their beautiful and elegant masterpieces have been preserved until today and are considered remarkable sceneries.

Ancient Greek Architecture Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Ancient Greek Architecture across 33 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about Ancient Greek Architecture which influenced the succeeding era of architecture.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Ancient Greek Architecture Facts
• Fill Me Up
• X-O-X-O
• Orders
• Which Order?
• Picture Me Crossword
• Floor Plans
• Where Are We Going?
• Travel With Me
• Legends
• What Do You Think?

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Link will appear as Ancient Greek Architecture Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, January 26, 2022