1. Greek Architecture and Culture Dr
Greek Architecture and Culture Dr. Khaled Mohamed Dewidar Professor of Architecture Ain Shams University Cairo - Egypt

2. A) Historical Background

3. Historical Background Location
Greek civilization occurred in the area around the Greek mainland, on a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea
Greek civilization spread to other far away places including Asia Minor and Northern Africa

4. The Greek World

5. Historical Background Location
Most of the Greek mainland was rocky and barren and therefore bad for agriculture
Most Greeks therefore lived along the coastline or on islands where the soil was good for farming
The Aegean and Mediterranean Seas provided a means of communication and trade with other places

6. Historical Background Period
The period of ancient Greek history can be divided into four as follows:
1100 B. C. – 750 B. C. Greek Dark Ages
750 B. C. – 500 B. C. Archaic Period
500 B. C. – 323 B. C. Classical Period
323 B. C. – 147 B. C. Hellenistic Period
The classical and archaic period are sometimes collectively referred to as Hellenic period

7. Architectural Characteristics
Buildings and other architectural elements
Building materials, construction and technologies
Architectural Organizing principles

8. Architectural Characteristics

9. Buildings & Other Arch Elements

10. Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Building Types
The major architectural element of the Greek civilization is the order and their principal building type is the temple
Greek buildings also feature civic buildings such as theater, council chamber, stoa, etc
Greeks invented the classical orders of architecture
Their invention of the orders was a result of the search for rational methods of expressing beauty
The orders embody a system of proportion that determines how the whole building looks
An order consist of a column shaft with its base and capital, and an entablature
All its dimensions were derived from the diameter of the column
The entablature is further divided into architrave, frieze and cornice

11. Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Building Types
Three orders of architecture were invented by Greeks; Doric, Ionic and Corinthian
Doric was the earliest and has a square capital and the stoutest proportion, resembling the power of a man
Ionic was taller in its proportion, has a volute capital and resembles the proportion of a maiden
Corinthian has the same characteristics with the Ionic except that its capital is decorated with the Acanthus leaf
Temples were the principal building types of the Greeks
Temples were considered as house of the Gods and efforts to beautify them pushed architectural development

12. Buildings & Other Arch. Elements Building Types
Temples were design to be seen and appreciated rather than used
The evolution of the orders led to standard temple forms based on them
Towards the later part of the Greek civilization, there was also a focus on civic construction
The Greeks needed civic buildings to support their democratic institutions and also satisfy their social and recreational needs
Council chambers, theaters, Stoas, were among the civic buildings that became popular with the city states

13. Materials, Const. & Tech.

14. Materials, Construction & Tech. Materials
Examination of Greek architecture points to three common materials of construction
These are Stone, timber and clay
Stone was the most common construction material for buildings
Greece had an abundant supply of stone, particularly marble
Stone was used for all types of temple and civic construction
It was used for all type of building elements
The characteristic grey color of the stone of the area is also what gives most ancient Greek buildings their characteristics color

15. Materials, Construction & Tech. Materials
Timber was used mainly for roofing
It was a very scarce commodity and it also had limited length
This limited its use
The limitation in length meant that the width of buildings was restricted and only very important buildings such as the Parthenon could go beyond a certain width
We did not examine Houses but clay was used mostly in housing construction
Clay was made into sun dried blocks for use in construction

16. Materials, Construction & Tech. Construction and Technology
The principal Building Material of ancient Greece was stone
The principal construction system was trabeated or column and beam construction
Combined, the two were used for temples and civic buildings
Construction technology involves ordering stones in semi-prepared state from quarries,
On site, they were roughly shaped and placed in position on the building
Elements placed in position would be been sized to the right proportion

17. Materials, Construction & Tech. Construction and Technology
Building blocks were not bonded, but are rather held in position by their weight
Then the rough stones were finished to achieve the final form and treatment of the building
Finishing enables the builders to create buildings of a particular order
It is in finishing that the Greeks showed their mastery of construction
Finishing work involved creating the fluting, base and capital decoration on columns
The Frieze and cornices of buildings were also decorated with appropriate relief carving

18. Materials, Construction & Tech. Construction and Technology
Pediments were also finished with relief carvings, which in temples depict stories of the gods
Full statues of gods were also carved and placed on strategic places on the outside of the temple and also as the major element in the interior
The Greeks essentially formalized architectural sculpture and decoration
They were able to effectively translate their ideas of beauty into tangible buildings
Ancient Greeks did not make significant contributions in the aspect of building technologies

19. Principles of Arch. Organization

20. Principles of Arch. Organization Principles
It is possible to understand forces and principles shaping Greek architecture by examining the following issues;
The role of religion in architectural development
Ideas about architectural aesthetics
Principles of architectural organization
Principles of city planning and urban design

21. Principles of Arch. Organization The Role of Religion in Arch. Dev.
Religion played a significant role in the development of Greek architecture
Architecture started in the service of religion
The important question for Greek architects was the right form of the temple
Temples were the house of the Gods
The duty of the architect was to make them beautiful
The search for how to make the temple beautiful resulted in the establishment of Greek ideals of beauty
Greek ideals of beauty was rooted in mathematical proportions

22. Principles of Arch. Organization Ideas about Architectural Aesthetics
The Greeks believed that mathematical proportion is at the root of beauty
They also believed that the human body has the best of proportions
Greeks also valued harmony, balance and symmetry in design
Greeks developed principles based on their believes about aesthetics
These principles were refined over time as they are applied in building
With time they developed into a standard that is widely applied

23. Principles of Arch. Organization Ideas about Architectural Aesthetics
Builders exerted great effort in ensuring that buildings were created to meet the aesthetic ideals of the society
The Greeks in essence became the first society to have well established ideas about architectural aesthetics with principles for their translation into physical design

24. Principles of Arch. Organization Principles of Organization
The Greek ideals of mathematical proportion was applied in architecture through the use of the orders
The orders provide a means to codify mathematical proportioning, by linking all the elements of the building with the diameter of the column
The orders were also viewed as anthropomorphic, representing the human body

25. Principles of Arch. Organization Principles of Organization
The Doric represents a man and the Ionic and Corinthian represent a woman
The use of the orders also provided a means for the Greeks to design buildings to meet their ideals of harmony, balance and symmetry
The use of optical correction, entasis, is a pointer to the desire of the Greeks to achieve their ideals of beauty in architecture

26. Principles of Arch. Organization Principles of City Planning & Design
Ancient Greeks not only develop ideals of architectural aesthetics, but they also developed principles for the design and planning of cities as location for architecture
The ancient Greek city states developed a standard plan of the city
The city consisted of three defined elements; the town, acropolis and Agora
Principles were developed for organizing each element of the city based on activities and its symbolism
The town was a place to retire for the day
It was composed of simple courtyard houses separated by streets
It could either be organic or grid-iron

27. Thank You.