Essay on Greek Architecture - 2001 Words

Greek Architecture: History and Mechanics nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Throughout history, there have been several significant architectural movements. The last, and perhaps most enduring movement is that of Classic Greece. Although for centuries, the architecture of ancient Greece has been admired, mimicked, and replicated, its beginnings are somewhat surprising to one unfamiliar with the history of the region. It is important to understand the history and mechanics of Classic Greek architecture in order to fully appreciate its form, function, and beauty. â€Å"Ancient Greek architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The formulas they invented as early as the sixth†¦show more content†¦One of the most famous examples of Minoan architecture is â€Å"†¦the palace at Knossos, their chief city, located near the northern coast of the island, was five stories high and consisted of hundreds of interconnected rooms† (Nardo, 12). Nardo states â €Å"there is evidence that these were highly sophisticated buildings with modern-style plumbing features, such as flush toilets and clay pipes carrying hot and cold water. As many as thirty to fifty thousand people lived in the palace at Knossos and in the city that surrounded it. And there were dozens, perhaps hundreds of Minoan cities and towns on Crete and the islands of the Aegean Sea, the inlet of the Mediterranean Sea bordering eastern Greece† (Nardo, 12). â€Å"Because the Minoans kept few records and no histories, their culture had been largely forgotten by the time of the classical Greeks. Yet a few vague memories of Minoan days remained, passed on by word of mouth over the course of many centuries† (Nardo, 13). It is this little bit of information that was orally passed down which became the foundation for the classical Greek style, when combined with the Egyptian influences to come. â€Å"Greek Life was dominated by religion and so it is not surprising that the temples of ancient Greece were the biggest and most beautiful. They also had a political purpose as they were often built to celebrate civic power and pride, or offer thanksgiving to the patron deity of a city for success in war† (ancientgreece.com). TheShow MoreRelatedGreek Architecture1563 Words   |  7 PagesThe Greek culture has had a huge impact on the history of the world. There is something Greek in almost everything, especially in the worlds architecture. Greece no longer had one king, so they focused on building temples for their gods. Architecture began small and plain but evolved into impressive pieces of art. As time passed from the Archaic period to the Hellenistic period, the people of Greece developed a type of formula for their buildings and their pieces of art. In Ancient Greece,Read MoreThe Architecture Of Modern Greek Architecture Essay2233 Words   |  9 Pagescomprehend the history and mechanics of Classic Greek engineering with a specific end goal to completely value its frame, capacity, and excellence. â€Å"Ancient Greek architects strove for the precision and excellence of workmanship that are the hallmarks of Greek art in general. The formulas they invented as early as the sixth century B.C. have influenced the architecture of the past two millennia† (metmuseum.org). This paper will cover the essential types of Greek design and the reasoning behind the importantRead MoreClassical Greek Architecture On Modern Architecture959 Words   |  4 PagesClassical Greek Architecture in Carlisle The influence of Classical Greek Architecture on modern architecture is evident all over Pennsylvania. Carlisle, in particular, is full of old buildings that utilize the styles of the Greek Classical Period. The Old Cumberland County Courthouse is a perfect example of how the architectural styles of the Classical Period have been carried out through time. This building is a historical landmark, located in downtown Carlisle, which was built in 1846 and currentlyRead MoreEssay on Greek Architecture1558 Words   |  7 PagesGreek Architecture The Greek culture has had a huge impact on the history of the world. There is something Greek in almost everything, especially in the world’s architecture. Greece no longer had one king, so they focused on building temples for their gods. Architecture began small and plain but evolved into impressive pieces of art. As time passed from the Archaic period to the Hellenistic period, the people of Greece developed a type of formula for their buildings and their pieces of artRead MoreThe Influence of the Greeks and Romans on Architecture894 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction â€Å"Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.† (Gehry, 2012). What Frank Gehry was trying to say in simple terms was our culture cannot do without proper appreciation of its classical roots and it goes without saying that the Romans and Greeks have influenced art and architecture with its classical style in a number of different ways. Allow me to give a definition for the word classical. â€Å"Classical† refers to any art or architecture modelled after ancientRead MoreImportance Of Greek Art And Architecture1868 Words   |  8 Pages Importance of Greek Art and Architecture Student’s Name University Affiliation Date The Greek culture fascinates the young and the old, the scholar and the tourist, the Greek and the foreigner. The Geek artifacts have demonstrated unique and ageless artisanship. From the buildings to the paintings, the pieces of ancient artifacts indicate symbolic meanings of the ancient Greek society. The citizens nurtured this practice over particular periods in since the history of its existenceRead More Classical Greek Architecture Essay1279 Words   |  6 PagesClassical Greek Architecture The reuse of older art works in contemporary times is not an uncommon occurrence, and many examples can be seen throughout the day as one goes from place to place. Even when one is browsing through the World Wide Web can many uses of older art and architecture be seen, as with the example shown. This image was found on the internet at the American Express homepage (http://www.americanexpress.com/student/), which functions as a resource for college students to findRead MoreAncient Roman And Greek Architecture1275 Words   |  6 PagesModern Architecture around the globe had been influenced by ancient Roman and Greek architectural. Although both ancient Romans and Greeks are recognized for their innovations in architecture having both constructed a variety of buildings and structures that can still be appreciated today, they appear to have concentrated mostly on the creation of temples which at first sight seem similar but in reality they each diverged and had their own identity and s erved for different purposes. Ancient Greek andRead MoreEssay about Greek and Gothic Architecture948 Words   |  4 PagesGothic Architecture Have you ever noticed the style in the buildings of your city? Well the style comes from an antique type of architecture called gothic architecture. The buildings now days have many developed characteristics from this style. Gothic architecture brought to the world many new features; the most important was the ogival arch, it helped the structure of the buildings and their inside designs. Gothic architecture started when the roman empire declined and the middle ages arose.Read MoreEssay about Greek and Japanese Architecture865 Words   |  4 PagesGreek and Japanese Architecture For a great many years, architecture has been a breaking point for different artisticeras in history. Some of the most famous â€Å"works of art† have been chapels, temples, and tombs. Among the most dominant and influential eras of great architecture are the sophisticated, stoic Greeco-Roman periods and the more mystical, elemental Japanese eras. These two very distinct and very different eras have more in common than you may realize. When work began on the