Influence of Ancient Greek Architecture on Modern Buildings

The civilization of Ancient Greece thrived for many years, with Greeks excelling in various fields such as art, entertainment, music, government, economy, leadership, science, mathematics, astronomy, and more. One notable example of their expertise in science and mathematics can be seen in their advanced architecture and engineering. Spanning from the 8th century BCE until about 600 CE, the Greeks continuously developed and innovated, leaving a lasting impact on modern culture. Greek influence can be observed everywhere in contemporary life, particularly in architecture.

The ancient Greeks were known for their many styles of architecture, from three different orders, ranging in complexity.

Their most famous innovation was the column, as they did not invent it, but used it the most efficiently for their time. Doric order was the first style of the three, and the simplest, with no extra design except for the grooves, called fluting, and the arrises, which are the sharp edges at which fluting meets. Early Doric columns do not have bases, but at the top, there is a circular ring, the echinus, that leads to the abacus, the square top piece.

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Often times, the echinus will have three horizontal grooves, called the hypotrachelion. Ionic order was the next style, and possibly the more used of the three in modern day architecture. Similar to Doric columns from bottom to middle, the only difference until the top of the Ionic column is the fillets, which are flatter arrises. At the top, the echinus has carved designs, and there are scrolls, with spiral volutes.

Government buildings, such as the White House, and upscale banks, including the National Bank of Oamaru, in New Zealand, feature Ionic columns. The last, and fanciest of the three orders, is the Corinthian order, with small scroll-shaped tendrils and carefully carved acanthus leaves; acantho- is a Latin prefix which means thorny.

In ancient Greek structures, the goal was not only structural design but also decorative elements like friezes located on the pediments. Pediments are triangular spaces at the top of buildings supported by columns, situated between the roof and the top of the wall. The friezes, often sculptures, are found within the pediment and typically depict mythology with animals, gods, goddesses, and events. Stoae are long walkways in ancient Greece supported by columns, mainly of the Doric order, to promote a safe environment and reflect symmetry in their alignment.

The architecture of ancient Greek structures, particularly temples like the Parthenon in Athens, reflects the culture of the time. Ancient Greeks, who were polytheistic, built temples to pray to their many gods and goddesses. The Parthenon, constructed by architects Ictinos and Callicrates starting in 447 BCE and completed in 438 BCE, is a famous example of classic Greek architectural elements such as geometry, columns, friezes, and pediments. Dedicated to the goddess Athena, the temple is known for its perfect symmetry, with a rectangular base and evenly spaced columns for support. The east pediment depicts the birth of Athena from Zeus's splitting headache in Greek Mythology, while the west pediment shows Athena's victory over Poseidon as the city's patron.

Most temples were smaller, ranging from thirty to one-hundred feet long, and rectangular in shape. One design, called tholos, was round, but other examples, including anta, prostyle, and pseudodipteral, were quadrilaterals. The Parthenon is an exception, although polygonal, it is 235 feet long by 109 feet wide, which is longer than the average Greek temple. The base of the structure rests upon the top step of a stylobate (similar to a short staircase or stoop). The inside of the temple consisted of two rooms: a windowless, small area that contained a statue of the god or goddess to whom it was dedicated, and the other was sunlit.

In ancient Athens, entertainment and the arts were crucial parts of everyday life, as buildings were built to cater to these needs. Open-air theaters, such as huge outdoor amphitheaters with a central stage, were popular structures. These stages could host many performers while accommodating up to fourteen thousand audience members. Athens was famous for its satyrs, tragedies, and comedies.

The ancient Greeks created a direct democracy where people vote on all matters, starting as an experiment in Athens in 550 BCE. This system made Athens powerful and stable. In modern America, our form of democracy is indirect as we elect leaders to make decisions. Our government buildings often reflect Greek architecture, like New Rochelle's city hall with Ionic columns and a pediment. Washington DC has buildings inspired by various ancient styles including Egyptian, Roman, and Greek. The American Institute of Architects ranked the top 150 favorite buildings from 2006 to 2007; four Neoclassical or Greek Revival style structures in DC made the top ten list. The White House ranks number two with Roman Ionic columns supporting its porch and a symmetric rectangular design.The Jefferson Memorial, ranked fourth on the list, features Roman architecture with Greek influences such as columns, pediment, and frieze. The Capitol Building and Lincoln Memorial, at numbers six and seven respectively, also have Greek-inspired designs resembling a Doric order temple.

The Romans were inspired by ancient Greek architecture following the influx of Greek immigrants into Rome after the fall of the Greek Empire. Roman columns, although similar in structure to Greek columns, featured bases on Doric columns and predominantly utilized Corinthian columns. Temples in Rome had a different structure but still incorporated pediments, with the adoption of the Greek word "basilica," meaning royal. Roman theaters were adapted versions of Greek theaters. While the Greeks were renowned for their columns, the Romans gained recognition for their innovative use of arches.

Ancient Greek civilization excelled in various areas such as art, music, government, economics, and architecture. Their use of elements like columns, pediments, friezes, geometry, symmetry, and temples influenced modern architecture. The Parthenon, a famous ancient temple, exemplifies this influence. Greek architecture remains a significant source of inspiration for contemporary buildings.