History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Influence of Greek Architecture on Neoclassical Architecture

Term Paper for History of Architecture (AP131)

Purnima Pawar
Roll Number: 05616901611 Sushant School of Art and Architecture

ABSTRACT
Greek architecture is the art of building that arose on the shores of the Aegean Sea and flourished in the ancient world. Temples are the main features of Ancient Greek architecture. It is distinguished by its highly formalized characteristics, both of structure and decoration. The Greek architecture was revived through Neoclassism in the 18th century. As the age of Baroque and Rococo came to an end, appreciation for classical restraint resurfaced. the excavation of numerous ancient ruins, both Roman (e.g. Pompeii) and Greek (e.g. Athens) accelerated this trend, which rekindled interest in antiquity and expanded classical architectural vocabulary. The neoclassical architecture was greatly affected by the distinct architectural styles of the Greeks and Romans which were made clear by the excavations. This resulted in designing pure Greek, pure Roman, or Greco-Roman hybrid buildings. All three options proved popular. Neoclassicism spread across Western Europe (especially in the north) and the United States, and to a lesser extent to Eastern Europe.
Page 1 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

This paper highlights the influence of Greek architecture on neoclassical architecture and how neoclassical architecture came up as a revival of ancient Greek architecture. The temples of ancient Greece were the inspiration for Neoclassism but the style was modified somewhat to suit modern (nineteenth century) usage. Hence complex plans came up in the neoclassical period and in some, reflection of the Parthenon in Athens can be seen. Most Ancient Greek temples were rectangular whereas neoclassical building was a combination of a square and circle. A comparison in terms of plan is done taking examples like the Parthenon (447-38

BCE), Athens Greece, Temple of Hephaestos (449-44 BCE), Athens from the classical Greek period and Gucevicius, Juan de Villanueva, El Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain (1785) in Europe Latrobe, Baltimore Basilica (1806-1820) in America.

PAPER
ANCIENT GREEK ARCHITECTURE
Greek architects provided some of the finest and most distinctive buildings in the entire Ancient World and some of their structures, such as temples, theatres, and stadia, would become important features of towns and cities from antiquity onwards. In addition, the Greek concern with simplicity, proportion, perspective, and harmony in their buildings would go on to greatly influence architects in the Roman world and provide the foundation for the classical architectural orders which would dominate the western world from the Renaissance to the present day.
Page 2 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

There are five orders of classical architecture - Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Tuscan, and Composite - all named as such in later Roman times. The first three were created by Greek architects and they hugely influenced the latter two which were combinations rather than genuine innovations. The most characteristic Greek building is the colonnaded stone temple, built to house the cult statue of a god or a goddess. The typical temple had a rectangular inner structure known as a cella which was divided by two interior rows of columns. Most temples faced the east and visitors entered on that side through a colonnaded front porch.

1. Stereobate (or substructure). 2. Stylobate. 3. Colonnade (or peristyle). 4. Porch (or pronaos). 5. Cella (or naos). Figure 1: Plan of a typical Greek Temple 6. Rear porch (or

opisthodomus). Ref: http://www2.palomar.edu/users/mhudelson/StudyGuides/GreekTemple_WA.html

NEOCLASSISM
Page 3 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Neoclassical architecture was the architecture that occurred between 1750 and 1848. It was the recovery of the architecture of classical Greece. It was started after excavations took place the Roman ruins in Pompey and Herculaneum were discovered. It was also a reaction against the Baroque and the Rococo. Purer forms and more severe forms were the needs of Neoclassical. It became popular after the works of the Italian Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) were made popular in Europe. The architecture reflected the trend towards romanticism in Europe. It tried to recreate the lost world of classical Greece and Rome, places that were supposed to have purer art forms. The architecture was characterized by the simplicity of geometric forms, the dramatic use of columns (especially the Doric) and blank walls. The scale was also grand. Simplicity, symmetry, clean basic line and functionality were important. Dramatic curves were considered unnecessary. The appearance was monumental

GREEK REVIVAL
In the early 19th century certain architects began to synthesize classism with Greek design, as in the St. Madeleine church in Paris. The fascination with Greece increased in the 1830s following the liberation of Greece from Turkish occupation. The impact of liberation of Greece was great on the European consciousness as it breathed new life into the neoclassical movement. The artistic prominence of the Parthenon came into focus in the 19th century. The neo-Greek movement took on a more strident form as can be seen in Valhalla designed by Leon von klenze. The movement was relatively short lived in the continent because it had to compete with the other architectural styles.in Scotland

Page 4 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

on the other hand the Greek style became an important expression of its national romantic fervour. This was so because the country was eager to express itself as autonomous after the rapid increase in the economy. The style can be seen in the Royal Scottish Academy Building in Edinburg and St. Vincent Street United Presbyterian Church in Glasgow. The most impressive examples of Greek revival were in the United States. The Americans saw their nation as the land of opportunity, where they could return to classical values without any legal liability of custom. The modern builders guide that was published in 1833presented detailed engravings of the

classical orders and their sources in the ancient temples. The Greek revival includes the Old Shawnee town Bank (1836), the James Dakin Bank of Louisville among the many.(1)

EARLY GREEK ARCHITECTURE: PATHENON

When work began on the Parthenon in 447 BC, the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. Work on the temple continued until 432. It symbolizes the power and influence of the Athenian politician, Perikles, who championed its construction.
Page 5 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

The Parthenon is a Doric peripteral temple, which means that it consists of a rectangular floor plan with a series of low steps on every side, and a colonnade (8 x 17) of Doric columns extending around the periphery of the entire structure. Each entrance has an additional six columns in front of it. The larger of the two interior rooms, the naos, housed the cult statue. The smaller room (the opisthodomos) was used as a treasury. Here is a plan of the temple:

Figure 2: Plan of the Parthenon

http://www.goldennumber.net/parthenon-phi-golden-ratio/

Page 6 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Figure 3: Details

http://www.uncp.edu/home/rwb/lecture_med_civ.htm

It was built to replace two earlier temples of Athena on the Acropolis. One of these, of which almost no trace remains today, stood south of the Parthenon (between the Parthenon and the Erechtheum). The other, which was still being built at the time of the Persian sack in 480, was on the same spot as the Parthenon. We know the names of the architects (Iktinos and Kallikrates) and also of the sculptor (Pheidias) who made the massive chryselephantine cult statue of the goddess.

TEMPLE OF HEPHAISTOS

Page 7 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

The temple located in Athens is a peripheral temple on the west side of the Gora. It was built in ca. 449BC-444Bc. It is a Doric peripteral temple with 6 x 13 columns. The Cella with a pronaos and an opisthodomos can be seen in the plan. The Interior is with superimposed with Doric colonnade along 3 of the cella walls, but the original number of columns is uncertain.

Figure 4: Plan of Temple of Hephaistos https://encryptedtbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQE_6k5AqhNzRCjoQsBWBaWoiwDCo4KMSjJb2YDKg Xws9kh4iSt

Page 8 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

NEOCLASSIC ARCHITECTURE IN EUROPE

El Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

The building, in a neoclassic style, has a rectangular floor and four big interior courtyards.

Figure 5: Entrance of El Prado Museum

http://www.123rf.com/photo_7353727_statue-in-front-of-a-museum-el-pradomuseum-museo-del-prado-madrid-spain.html

Page 9 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

East
Figure 6: Ground Floor Plan https://encryptedtbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSi1DnD9wEh3BxlNpg1NYJ3rA7SgjWD2rWrFp 9NHTLbN1a9XG1r

Entrance

Presence of internal courtyards Doric columns Presence of internal vaults

East Entrance

Page 10 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Figure 7: Plan: the Parthenon

Absence of internal courtyards Doric columns No vaults

NEOCLASSIC ARCHITECTURE IN AMERICA: BASILICA AT BALTIMORE

Figure 8: Entrance of the basilica

Page 11 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

U. Penn. slide coll.: gift of G. B. Tatum, 1966.

Figure 9: Plan of basilica of baltimore F. Kimball, "Latrobe's Designs for the Cathedral of Baltimore" Architectural Record, vol. 43 (June 1918).

The Baltimore Basilica designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe was built from 18061821. The neoclassical basilica freely and soberly translates the spirit of ancient

Page 12 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Greek architectural principles and proportions to result in a distinctively American architecture. The basilica is a cruciform building with an elongated nave and apse, constructed of brick clad in porphyritic granite. A wooden dome with copper sheathing is topped by a simple cross and is set on an octagonal drum. This octagonal drum tops the rear portico of the church. The plan unites two distinct elements: a longitudinal axis and a domed space. The hexastyle front portico, added in 1863, has Ionic columns. The large central door is flanked by two smaller doors and has a square window above to light the choir. Along both sides of the cathedral is a series of small stained glass windows set in recessed arched panels. Plain panels fill the wall space between the windows and cornice. Two square towers with arcaded belfries and onion domes are located on the west end of the nave. These were added from 1831 to 1837. Internally, the cathedral is vaulted by several shallow domes, and the entire structure exhibits an exceptionally good mixture of spherical and cube-like shapes. The cathedral lot is surrounded by an iron fence with Greek Revival gateposts at the west entrance to the grounds. This was designed by Robert Cary Long in 1841. (2)

DIFFERENCES AND SIMILARITIES IN PLAN

Page 13 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

North Entrance

Hexastyle front portico

Figure 10: Plan of Temple of Hephaistos

Rectangular plan Doric colonnade Absence of domed space Absence of square towers

Page 14 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Square towers

West entrance
Domed space

Hexastyle front portico

Figure 11: Plan of basilica of Baltimore F. Kimball, "Latrobe's Designs for the Cathedral of Baltimore" Architectural Record, vol. 43 (June 1918).

cruciform building Ionic columns

Page 15 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Figure 12: Column Details http://www.buffaloah.com/a/DCTNRY/doric/source/1.html

Page 16 of 17

History of Architecture (AP313) | Term Paper | 2013

Bibliography

1) Frank Ching, A Global History of Architecture, 2007 2) Mary Ellen Hayward, Frank R. Shivers, Jr, The Architecture of Baltimore: An Illustrated History 3)http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM15R9_The_Baltimore_Basilica_Americ as_First_Cathedral (4) Western Architecture: Classicism, 1750-1830, Encyclopedia Britannica.

Accessed June 2009 Greek Revival, Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed June 2009

Page 17 of 17