Greek Architecture

Greek Architecture would have far reaching and lasting effects and many actions to come since its inception. If you look around at architecture seen through banks, office buildings, churches, and museums, you are almost sure to see some aspect the derived from the Greek form of architecture many years ago. It has been copied, emulated, and admired for many centuries and is still viewed as a classical form of architecture ad design as well as great aesthetic beauty in many forms.

There were three main styles or “orders” in Greek Architecture, which consisted of Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian. These three main designs were most commonly portrayed through the construction of Greek marble columns, which were by far the most prominent structure in their architecture. Their names were used by the Greeks and also reflected their beliefs pertaining to these styles, which descended from the Ionian and Dorian Greeks from the Dark Ages. These styles were so important that it not only made Greek art original, but played a significant role in changing art for those who preceded them. The Ionic style originally evolved in Ionia on the eastern shore of the Aegean Sea. This type of column was very elegant and had a scroll- like design, also known as a volute. Ionic columns normally stand on a base which separates the shaft of the column from the styobate, or platform. The capital of the Ionic column has characteristic paired scrolling volutes that are laid on the molded cap that springs from within it. The cap being the most elaborate detail, was usually very enriched, and just as the vital volutes lied in a single plane that was angled at the corners. This brought both uniqueness and originality to the detailed Ionic columns, which were to be admired and emulated throughout time.

The Doric “order” was the earliest style developed of the prominent three. It originated in the 7th and 8th centuries, reaching its apex in the 5th century. Because of its appearance, these columns were most commonly built on the outside of churches and public meeting places. In their original Greek version, Doric columns stood directly on flat pavement of a temple. Its exterior can be described as having parallel grooves that run from the top to the bottom of the columns. They were topped with a square- cut piece of marble that intersected with the vertical grooves.

The Corinthian column, the most elaborate of the three columns, was the most seldom used in Greek Architecture. This type of column has a ring- like molding, or banding beneath it at its base. Preceding its vertical indentions that characterize the Greek columns, it has elaborate designs at the top. Some of which included bellflowers and leaves that were decoratively carved. These detailed columns can also be seen in many prominent buildings such as the Flavian Amphitheatre and the Coliseum.

If some of these elements look familiar, it is because they have been passes in to the vocabulary of Western Architecture and form part of the basis of the style referred to broadly and known as classical. For centuries banks, museums, universities, government buildings, and churched have been built using the elements and style first designed and named by the Greeks.(Getlein 314)

The Greeks not only designed and executed the art of building beautiful columns, but also created them in such a way that has had a profound effect throughout the ages. Many of the styles have been reproduced and copied by some of what the modern day audiences would class as some of the finest architecture. Greek architecture was of great importance because the immense majority tell the timeless stories of gods, heroes, events, and the Greek culture in general. Many people even in today’s modern times copy the revered style as a sign of respect. They have depicted the famous architecture that truly changed the way art was viewed by the nations that followed.

The significance of Greek architecture as it relates to the history of Western civilization is of great importance and lasting substance. The Greeks were responsible and are to be credited with some of the most continuing themes, styles, viewpoints, and approaches to architecture that have engrained themselves throughout Western civilization.

Greek Art

Art, in the world of ancient Greece, has left an indelible mark on history through time, and has also left its influence on many cultures and walks of life.
There were many different styles of Greek art, all of which excelled and are why they are so respected. The major types include Archaic, Hellenistic, and Minoan art, as well as the Classical Period. All of these brought forth their own creative style and left a significant mark in the history of Greek art.

A prominent change would appear in the world of Greek art during the seventh century B.C., which became known as the Archaic period. The abstract geometric patterning that had controlled the art world during 1050 and 700 B.C. would be replaced in the seventh century by a more relaxed, unaffected style that would depict and show a noteworthy influence that came from the Near east and Egypt. The Kouros statues were one of the dominating features the Archaic period of art. All of the Kouros were either male or female statues that served as the promoter for their state. They were also designed in order to be decorations for the outside of religious buildings and were commonly carved out of marble. Formally, the Kouros statues that followed a carving formula that divides the human body into proportionally pleasing geometric entities. The stylization of the different figure planes, along with the rigid poses allowed the sculptor an easy way to create the human figure.(Getlein 371) This was because all he had to do was follow a well- established traditional formula in order to represent the different parts that compromise human-likeness. The Archaic period of art acted like a silent witness to the extraordinary development that took place in western society. The Kouros statues resembled a true cultural revolution.

The Hellenistic period of art expanded the horizon on dramatic posing, high contrast of light and sweeping lines. It also allowed the artist to explore in order to get inspirations from unique points of view. Different from previous styles, the importance of Hellenistic art shifted from natural and religious themes to more dramatic human appearance. It accomplished this through depicting the human figure with bold expressions and energy through the carving the images in motion- like positions. The sculptures of this period abandon the self-containment of the earlier styles and appears to embrace its physical surroundings with dramatic groupings and creative landscaping of its context.(Freeman 11) The sculptor not only wanted to depict his subjects outward appearance, but the inward emotions and attitudes. This resulted in the statue acquiring an individual personality.

Minoan art portrays a society that was very much in touch with their environment and what has survived has afforded us great insight into the cultures and peoples that thrived in Crete. During this time, known as the Prepalatial period, many important developments were seen throughout Minoan culture that brought about a freedom to build and create in a peaceful and prosperous lifestyle. Above all, the unearthed artifacts reveal a people who had developed a high degree of self- respect and a keen eye for observing and adapting to their physical environment who had devoted insight and appreciation for the coherent order of the natural world. It would be through the Athenian vases that we would be able to witness Greek life in what is known as iconography art. (Getlein 374)These vases describe and portray Greek culture as related to funerary rites, daily life, government, athletics, warfare, religion, and mythology.

Pottery was the key item made using this style of art. The type of pottery was categorized as having thin walls, sweeping curves, and elegant spouts, along with decorations. The surfaces of the pots were usually decorated with bold lines, in which created naturalistic scenes. They rapidly became popular in areas such as Crete and Syria, and were commonly exported. Furthermore, it is through the plastered walls from the Minoan palaces and villas that we can retain a glimpse into the portrait of what life was life during this time. The Minoans were known for their “true” or “wet” panting method which allowed for creativity and naturalness which also benefited the Minoans style of movement and nature scenes that depicted their known style. An additional interest aspect of Minoan art is seen within the expression of human emotions and feelings portrayed in the faces and figures that had not been observed in the history of art prior to the Minoan culture. Because of this articulation of emotions, the Minoans were to become known as a people who were in touch with the human condition and inner world.

During the Classical Period of art, Ancient Greece produced some of the most beautiful sculptures that the world has ever seen beginning about the middle of the 5th century BC. By this time, many of the difficulties that artists had been facing in the early archaic period had been resolved, thus enabling more freedom and creativity to produce. This classic Greek style is categorized by cheerful freedom of movement and expression. Sculptors were able to replace the strict asymmetry of the figure with a free flowing form more true to life, while they approached an ideal aesthetic vision through stone and bronze. Architects transformed blocks of marble and stone into proportional realistic figures with the illusion of if they were moving through space. The sculptures were truly a demonstration of perfect proportions, values, and a newly discovered sense of freedom. Many of the works of the Greek painters have disappeared completely and we are only granted insight by way of what historians are able to tell us. From this time periods, fortunately, we have many artifacts in the form of Greek vases and the decorations on them that were left in tombs or unearthed by archeologists that portray and give us examples of what Greek painting would have looked like. They depict the true form and line that made the Greeks famous in the domain of sculpture.


Greek Art as described in the form of sculpture, vases, paintings and pottery, known as classical art, were huge contributions to the world of art and artists forever will owe a debt of gratitude to the ancient Greeks. As portrayed, each type of Greek art expressed unique style in accordance with the time period. Greeks have become renowned and seen by many as the foundation to western society’s art and ideas and encompasses a large amount of what made the Greek civilization so distinguished.