Without a doubt, a major impact on the next generation had art and architecture of the ancient Greeks.Their majestic beauty and harmony become a model and source of inspiration for the later eras.Ancient Greek temples are monuments of Greek art and culture.
formative period of Greek architecture
types temples of ancient Greece are closely connected with the time of their construction.There are three epochs in the history of Greek art and architecture.
- Archaic (600-480 gg. BC. E.).The Persian invasions.
- Classic (480-323 gg. BC. E.).The heyday of Hellas.Movies of Alexander the Great.The period ends with his death.Experts believe that this diversity of many cultures, which are a result of the conquests of Alexander began to penetrate to Greece led to the decline of the classical Hellenic art and architecture.The ancient temples of Greece, too, did not escape this fate.
- Hellenism (up to 30 years BC. E.).Late period ended with the Roman conquest of Egypt.
Dissemination of culture and the prototype of the temple
Hellenic culture has penetrated into Asia Minor, Sicily, Italy, Egypt, North Africa and many other places.The most ancient temples of Greece belongs to the archaic era.At this time, the Greeks began to be used instead of wood construction materials such as limestone and marble.It is believed that the prototype for the temple is an ancient Greek dwelling.They are rectangular buildings with two columns at the entrance.Buildings of this type eventually evolved into more complex shapes.
Standard Design
Ancient temples are usually built on the basis of speed.It is a building with no windows that surrounded the tower.Inside is a statue of the deity.Columns supports the joists.The ancient temples of Greece had a gable roof.In the interior, as a rule, was dim.Access to had only priests.Many of the ancient Greek temples of ordinary people could only see the outside.It is believed that this is why the Greeks so much focus on the external appearance of places of worship.
Ancient temples were built according to certain rules.All dimensions, aspect ratio, the ratio of parts, the number of columns and other details have been clearly defined.Ancient Greek temples built in the Doric, Ionic and Corinthian styles.The oldest of them is the first.
Doric style
This architectural style was formed as early as the Archaic period.He is characterized by simplicity, power and some courage.His name, he shall Doric tribes, which are its founders.Today remained only part of such temples.Color them white, but before the structural elements were covered with paint, which crumbled under the influence of time.But cornices and friezes were once blue and red.One of the most famous buildings in this style is the Temple of Olympian Zeus.To have survived only the ruins of this majestic building.
Ionic style
This style was founded in the corresponding areas of Asia Minor.From there it spread throughout Hellas.Ancient Greek temples in this style are more harmony and elegance when compared to the Doric.For each column to create their base.Capital, in its middle portion resembles a pillow whose corners are twisted into a spiral.This style does not have such strict proportions between the bottom and the top of buildings, as in the Doric.A connection between the parts of the buildings became a mene pronounced and more shaky.
Ironically, practically did not spare the Ionic style monuments on the territory of Greece itself.But they are well preserved abroad.Several of them are in Italy and Sicily.One of the most famous is the Temple of Poseidon near Naples.It looks squat and heavy.
Corinthian style
During the Hellenistic architects began to pay more attention to the splendor of the buildings.At this time, the temples of ancient Greece began to supply the Corinthian capitals, richly decorated with ornaments and floral motifs with a predominance of acanthus leaves.
divine right
art form that had the temples of ancient Greece, was the exclusive privilege - the divine law.Until the Hellenistic period, mere mortals could not build their homes in this style.If a man has surrounded his house rows of steps, gables adorned him, it would have been considered the greatest audacity.
In Dorian state formations priests regulations prohibit reproducing iconic styles.Ceilings and walls of conventional dwellings were built, usually made of wood.In other words, the stone structures were the privilege of the gods.Only their monastery should have sufficient strength to withstand time.
sacred meaning
Stone ancient Greek temples built entirely of stone because they were based on the idea of the division began - sacred and profane.Abode of the gods had to be protected from all mortal.Thick stone or marble walls served their figures reliable protection from theft, desecration, accidental contact, and even prying eyes.
Acropolis
heyday of Ancient Greek architecture began in the 5th century BC.e.This era and its innovations are strongly associated with the rule of the famous Pericles.It was during this time was built the Acropolis - a place on the hill, where were concentrated the greatest temples of ancient Greece.Photos can be viewed in this article.
Acropolis in Athens.Even the ruins of this place, you can judge how grand and beautiful it was once.On the hill is very wide staircase made of marble.To the right of it on the hill is a small but beautiful temple of goddess Nike.The Acropolis itself people get through the gates with columns.Going through them, visitors find themselves in the square, topped with a statue of Athena (goddess of wisdom), who was the patron of the city.Next it could be seen on the very complex structure of the Erechtheion temple.Its distinguishing feature is the portico, which stands on the side, and not supported by the standard ceiling colonnade, and marble statues of women (karitaidy).
Parthenon
main building of the Acropolis is the Parthenon - a temple dedicated to Athena Pallas.It is considered the most perfect structure created in the Doric style.The Parthenon was built about 2.5 thousand. Years ago, but the names of its creators have survived.The creators of this temple are Kallikrates and Iktinos.Inside it is a sculpture of Athena, which carved the great Phidias.The church was surrounded with a 160-meter long frieze depicting the parade of residents of Athens.Its creator was also Phidias.The frieze depicts nearly three hundred men and two hundred horse figures.
destruction of the Parthenon
At this time the temple is in ruins.This magnificent structure as the Parthenon, perhaps, would have survived to the present day.However, in the 17th century, when Athens besieged by the Venetians, dressed in Turku arranged in the building of a powder magazine, and an explosion which destroyed the monument of architecture.At the beginning of the 19th century British Elgin brought to London the majority of the surviving reliefs.
The spread of Greek culture as a result of the conquests of Alexander the Great's conquests of Alexander
led to the fact that the Hellenic art and architectural styles spread over a large area.Outside of Greece were established major centers such as Asia Minor Pergamon or Alexandria, Egypt.In these cities, construction activity has reached unprecedented proportions.Naturally, a huge influence on architecture has had a built in ancient Greece.
temples and mausoleums in these areas tend to be built in the Ionic style.An interesting example of Hellenic architecture is a huge mausoleum (tombstone) King Mausolus.He was counted among the seven greatest wonders of the world.An interesting fact is that the construction led the king himself.The mausoleum is the burial chamber on a rectangular high ground surrounded by columns.Above it stands the Step Pyramid of stone.It is surmounted by the image of Quadriga.Name of the structures (mausoleum) in the world now call other grandiose funerary structure.
