The Greeks

Greek architecture, paintings, sculptures, buildings and decorative arts started about 1050 B.C. and ended about 31 B.C. The best known monuments are stone temples, statues of human figures, and painted vases. The importance of Greek architecture for the history of Western civilization, was that the Greeks established many of the most enduring themes, attitudes, and forms of Western culture. The architecture of the Greeks told stories of gods and heroes that have given the Western world a common ground for art and literature. Architecture is one of the Greek legacies that the West has inherited, as the Greeks established many of the structural elements, decorative motifs, and building types still used today.

Greece architecture has influenced all architecture throughout the world. The Romans especially got their ideas from the Greeks. The greatest monument that was ever built was the Parthenon of the Acropolis, in Athens. It is the most brilliant example of the Doric architecture. It is also said that it has the reputation of the most perfect angle calculated temple. There were three types of architecture that the Greeks used, Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian style. The Doric and Ionic were commonly used and the Corinthian style was later on developed.

There were two main styles of the Greek architecture, the Doric and Ionic. These names were used by the Greeks and they are said to have reflected the Dorian and Ionian Greeks of the Dark Ages. The Doric was used in the mainland and from there it spread to the Greek colonies in Italy. The Doric style was formal and austere. The Ionic style was more relaxed and decorative. The Corinthian was a later style of the Ionic. Marble was another element used for expensive building in Greece.

Later on after the Romans took over Greece, they took over the architecture of the Greeks. They used the architecture and changed it into their style of life. During this time Corinthian architecture became more popular. By the middle of the first century B.C., the Romans were able to reflect on the Greek architecture to enhance their cultural life. The Greeks were a model to the Romans architecture. Though the Greeks architectural influenced the Western world more.( Freeman 401- 402)

Architecture means the art or science of planning and designing buildings, temples, and paintings. The Greeks focused some of their architecture on the gods and goddess. The temple of Parthenon was one of the temples that was dedicated to a goddess. The goddess was Athena. This temple the Acropolis was decorated with sculpted stone which had legendary stories written on it. This was the most brilliant and magnificent temple built during this time. ( Bauer 546 )

The Hellenistic period was the time when Greek architecture began to change into different styles. It was the time when the Greeks were buildings theaters. They spent less time on temples and kept their focus on building the theaters. By 200 to 100 B. C. the Romans had conquered Greece. After this the architecture begin to take on the Roman style. This was the time when the Greek architecture started to decline.

Bauer, Wise, Susan. The History of the Ancient World. New York: Norton & Company, Inc, 2007
Freeman, Charles. The Greek Achievement. New York: Penguin Putnam, Inc, 1999