Greek Architecture Essay

1008 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Greek influence in architecture

Many people are able to look around our country and appreciate all the beauty that it entails. A portion of this beauty is a mere testament of what past civilizations have implemented and others have built on. We can admire the technologies that are available, as well as the conservation methods, because they instill us with the capabilities to preserve our histories for future generations and that in itself is a blessing. However, there is something many people forget about, the history of our American culture and where they stem from. America as we know it was developed from bits and pieces of ancient civilizations; but there is one civilization that has impacted us more than many realize and has brought us admirable characteristics that …show more content…

Greek architecture has not only influenced the structure of American construction but also its design. Structural elements that have been implemented are features known as The Orders of Greek Architecture. According to "Influence Of Flutes On The Mechanical Behaviour Of Ancient Greek Columns," the Greeks had three specific columns they used, the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian (Kourkoulis, 468). These columns were differentiated by the number of flutes or the longitudinal design of the columns that provide a visual appeal and help to retard deterioration (Kourkoulis, 469). These three columns are included in the architecture of many of the southern plantation homes, various churches, and well known monuments such as the Lincoln Memorial. While the structural aspects do play an important part in construction it is the design that brings the greatest visual appeal. The design aspect of Greek culture must be given equal appreciation as the columns because they too add to the uniqueness in various buildings. One example is a coliseum. The Greeks knew that for spectators to be able to enjoy a particular event they must have a clear view of what is happening. They succeeded in this architectural feat and for this reason our current stadiums and theaters use the same design concepts that the Greeks …show more content…

The reality that we can model and change our current world based off of the civilizations before us offers us a greater advantage than realized. The ability to make important decisions that allow us to grow and build from the mistakes of others have made is phenomenal. This gives us the capability to continue forward in our journey toward equality and obtain contentment and happiness in life. There are several areas in life than can always be enhanced upon, yet the enhancements made by our Greek contributors have virtually stayed the same. There are instances where some people just get it right the first time and how enjoyable this must be, especially if it’s related to the aspects that surround us each day. Imagine how our architecture, literature, and our political systems would be without these contributions. How different would our world be as we know it? While only speculation can answer this question is it certain that it would not be the same as we know it today. It is time to give credit where credit is due. The classical Greek contributions to American society are some of the best contributions that man has to

Show More
Related

  • Greek Architecture in New York

    842 Words  | 2 Pages

    When studying an ancient culture, it is important for one to comprehend the many unique elements that make up that culture. The study of architecture enables historians to deepen their understanding of a culture and identify the modern influences of that society. Architecture is an essential aspect of ancient Greek culture and its long lasting influence is evident in most cities today. The Greek Revival style dominated American architecture during the nineteenth century. Many prosperous citizens believed that the ancient Greece architecture embodied the spirit of democracy. When analyzing the architecture of New York City, one will find many examples of Greek Revival architecture, the most notable examples being the Old Custom House on 28 Wall Street, the first National City Bank building on 55 Wall Street, and Saint Peter’s Church at 22 Barclay Street.

    Read More

  • Obituary Ancient Greece

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ancient Greece has always been known as the civilization that created the mold of the Western society that we live in today. It had influenced the world in a way that no other civilization had. However, such a great civilization didn’t last long. The reason for this is its people failure to form unity.

    Read More

  • Greek Influences on Western Civilization

    340 Words  | 1 Pages

    Grecian architecture formed its own conventions in the ancient world, buildings in Greece were built with meticulous mathematic design. Great buildings were believed to be symmetrical, and perfectly proportioned [Document 7]. Another prominent aspect of ancient Greek architecture is the extensive use of columns. There were three basic types used, Doric which were plain capitals, ionic in which the capitals were fashioned after ram’s horns, and Corinthian which were made to mirror acanthus leaves.

    Read More

  • Roman Culture Vs Western Culture Essay

    817 Words  | 2 Pages

    The foundation of Greek culture was balance, reason, and harmony which can be unveiled in their art. As the civilization heavily revolved around religion, massive temples were built to serve the Gods. Greeks believed in many Gods, meaning they had polytheistic views . This notion of polytheism passed down to the Romans who adopted nearly the exact same deities and built similar architecture as well. One of the most famous buildings of worship was the Greek Parthenon built around 447-432 B.C.E, worshipping the goddess Athena . While building these brilliant pieces of art, concepts regarding laws and the natural world from philosophers were being incorporated in the structure. Pillars were often built in temples and various buildings in both Greek and Roman cultures. Doric, ionic, and Corinthian stand as the main three pillars built; each of them becomes increasingly more elaborate by order. For example, the Corinthian was the most intricate. Romans quickly developed a taste for this form of architecture and incorporated into theirs later on. The Romans however were very inventive, and began to develop the arch, vault and dome to add to what they emulated from the Greeks. Using these elements the Romans built what is known as the Coliseum, built over a 10 year span from around 70 AD to 80 AD. The Coliseum was said to hold 50,000 spectators and was used for entertainment

    Read More

  • The Different Ideologies of Both Roman and Greek Architecture

    1685 Words  | 4 Pages

    The different ideologies of both roman and Greek architecture have been disputed for many decades. These great feats such as the Flavian Amphitheater and the Parthenon help distinguish the two cultures. The amphitheater was built for the roman people’s entertainment. The Parthenon was built to appease the Greek goddess Athena. Just by looking at their purposes it is easy to see how their cultures varied. However, it is important to also look into the architectural components to further analyze. The Flavian amphitheater and the Parthenon are both examples of classic roman and Greek architecture. Both of these architectural accomplishments have their subtle similarities as well as major differences. Although the building styles of Greek and Rome vary, by analyzing key components of each architecture similarities will emerge.

    Read More

  • Influence of Greek and Roman Culture on Western Civilization

    530 Words  | 2 Pages

    “The Greeks molded the mind of Western Civilization, if not the body and the culture” (PowerPoint #6). The Greeks had a very powerful impact on the entire world, making them a huge influence to Western culture. The Greeks showed their power over the world by their great intellect. Through their accomplishments in art, architecture, government, philosophy, education, and science they helped shape Western Civilization. They built strong and intricate buildings, allowing others to see throughout history the plan of the architecture used. The Greek government was one of the first to have a Democracy. Their ac...

    Read More

  • Roman Architecture Essay

    837 Words  | 2 Pages

    Following from etruscan we need to understand the characteristics of a greek temple. the greek did not allow the people to enter the temple and thus their temple were designed to accommodate their needs. having freestanding columns with and a circu...

    Read More

  • Greek and Roman Architecture

    1104 Words  | 3 Pages

    Greek and Roman architecture is truly amazing. They each had great ideas, and fabulous productions. It is said that the Pantheon is to Italy what the Parthenon is to Greece. Both are tremendous monuments that reek of culture and history. Each had a purpose which was displayed by the design and construction of each. There are such great meanings behind each of these architecural structures. The Romans and the Greeks alike worshipped and dedicated their structures and designs to the Gods and Goddess they believed in.

    Read More

  • Greek And Roman Influence On The Modern World

    1407 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most renowned inspirations from the Greeks would be the Greek philosophy of citizenship and Roman impact on the legal world. In Greece, a true member of society was a participating citizen which directly correlates with the modern world in how we as societies view participation in government. In contrast, Roman inspiration on the modern world is heavily seen through architecture especially with columns and the pantheon. In the United States, the US Capitol Building was built with a dome shaped rotunda resembling the pantheon in a way to symbolize power and strength as such the Romans did through their temples. In regards to religion, the ancient Romans are responsible for the spread of Christianity which is today the most followed religion in the world. Both ancient Greece and Rome have influenced the daily aspects of modern life through the Greek style of showering which is a daily ritual for most decent humans and the Roman style of eating three-meals a day and even dessert which are special daily rituals especially for college students. Even so, both civilizations have directly influenced the American system of government from the basis of democracy in Greece to the bicameral legislature of Rome that was a defining factor is the establishment of our nation through the Great Compromise. Furthermore, the seventh amendment to the United States Constitution establishing a trial by jury is a direct reflection of ancient Greece policies as well as the checks and balances system of Rome that the federal government cherishes. A popular reincarnation of the Greek life on modern culture is the use of the Greek alphabet to name fraternities and sororities. While this is not a direct reincarnation of the Greek lifestyle, the fraternities and sororities use the Greek alphabet to give themselves a

    Read More

  • Greek Architecture

    2000 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...on. It is important to understand the history and mechanics of Greek architecture in order to fully appreciate it. The ancient Greeks were very well known for their beautiful temples. They were able to devise several different ways to create beautiful buildings and implement those designs. The ancient Greeks set the architectural foundations for the rest of the world with their three orders. The three styles, or orders, are the Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The three distinctive styles are referred to as orders because they display proportionate, ordered, and coordinated parts. The Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders serve a functional purpose, as well as lend so much beauty to structures. “All the world’s culture culminated in Greece, and Greece in Athens, all Athens in its Acropolis, all the Acropolis in the Parthenon” (Nardo, 61).

    Read More

  • Comparing Ancient Greek and Ancient Roman Architecture

    1128 Words  | 3 Pages

    The ancient Greeks developed a system of orders which were known as columns. There were three different types of columns and each had they own special twist, both structurally and appearance wise. The three orders consisted of the Doric order, Ionic order and the Corinthian order. One shocking fact was that the Romans used the Corinthian columns more than the Greeks did and they were the one that came up with them. Each order could be found in many different parts of ancient Greece. The columns were put into use by creating ancient temples. Since Greek life was mainly focused around religion, their temples were very big and beautiful (“Ancient Greece” 1).

    Read More

  • Ancient Greek Art Essay

    564 Words  | 2 Pages

    The first type of art that we find interesting is paintings, specifically kalamkari paintings, artwork done with pen. Vegetable dies were used to color designs put on the cloth. The outline and main features were done using hand-carved blocks. The finer details were later done using the pen. These paintings consisted of mostly Hindu Mythology and were used in temples. One distinctive styles of kalamkari art in India was the Srikalhasti style. The Srikalahasti style is when you hand draw an object and fill in the colors, entirely hand worked. This style blossomed around temples.

    Read More

  • Classical Architecture: The History Of Greek And Roman Architecture

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    While houses, and stoas did have columns they were certainly not as ornate as columns on temples like the Parthenon. So to an ancient Greek the column would have been primarily associated with monumental temples. However, in Rome the collm j was used in a number of different buildings from, basilicas, to baths, to the emperor’s palace. The use of columns as decorations also began in Roman times as seen in buildings like the colosseum. In much more recent times, elements from both Greek and Roman architecture have been combined and used on numerous important buildings. Some of the most obvious examples of this are courthouses, which often have a very striking columnar faced emulating that of Greek and Roman temples. So through the study of ancient architecture one can understand why this architectural style means today, as well as what it means

    Read More

  • Greek Architecture Essay

    1045 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are many different types of architecture, but they all somehow relate back to the ancient Greek’s architecture. Greeks developed their distinctive building types, and these forms, once established, remained remarkably consistent. (W.B Dinsmoor 1927) Characteristically, they combined the functional elements with close attention to the overall aesthetic effect of a building. Thus the ancient Greeks constructed glorious architectures. The Greek Architecture is divided into three main periods; the Geometric and Orientalizing periods (1100 B.C to 650 B.C), the Archaic period (660 B.C to 475 B.C), and the Classical period (475 B.C to 323 B.C). (A.W Lawrence 1957). Along with the different periods of Greek architecture, the Classical period had two main styles; Doric and Ionic.

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Greek And Roman Architecture

    1827 Words  | 4 Pages

    Have you ever seen or visited the Capital building, Washington or amphitheater of Arlinton, Virginia or Cabin John bridge of Washington aqueduct? If an answer is yes, then have you ever think that how we come up with this type of buildings? These all buildings’ basic structures are based on the Greek and Roman cultures’ architecture. Historical records of Western culture in Europe begin with Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome. Roman culture was very inspired from the Greece culture and they had used very basic ideas to build buildings and temples, to portrait sculpture. They modernized and improved their architectures and sculptures in decorative way and made a separate image in the world.

    Read More

More about Greek Architecture Essay

Open Document