Architecture in Ancient Greece is distinguished by its extremely formalized characteristics. It employs unique decoration and structure. Architecture during this period follows a coding order founded on function and a logical system of sculptural decoration. The study will explore architecture in ancient Greece, focusing on developing a worship structure for a higher deity. The paper will build a temple dedicated to Poseidon. He is significant in ancient Greek mythology since he is one of the most powerful Olympian gods. Poseidon's temple will be built on top of a mountain by the Aegean Sea. The temple will be designed using the Doric order.
Reason for Choosing this Era and Deity
Architecture in ancient Greece is highly distinguished by its extremely formalized characteristics, both decoration, and structure. Ancient Greece is an ideal era for learning architecture because of the logic and era of designs during this epoch. The development of temples and shrines followed a coding structure of parts grounded on function, a logical system of sculptural decoration. Structures like Greek temples appeared to be developed as sculptural entities within a raised landscape so that the effect of light on its surface and its proportions could be seen from all directions (Azad, Barua & Sultana, 2015). The era is appealing because of its architectural designs, structure, and sophistication.
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Poseidon is one of the most powerful Olympian gods. He is the son of Rhea and Cronus and the god of horses, earthquakes, sea, and storms (Poseidon, n.d.). Poseidon is an ideal choice for the study because of his significance and role in ancient Greek mythology. He controlled anything involving water, i.e., drought and floods, among others. Poseidon was revered as a god navigator. Building a temple dedicated to Poseidon would appease him and offer people a peaceful voyage on the sea and sufficient rainfall for farms.
The medium of the Structure
Poseidon’s temple will be built using marble and travertine (limestone) mined from a nearby quarries. Marble will be used to develop the façade, while travertine will create the rest of the temple. Marble was the ideal choice for art and architecture in ancient Greece, and it was used to develop structures and art that impressed the public, celebrated beauty, and honored gods. For instance, Parthenon in Athens was decorated with marble from the Cycladic Island of Paros and Pentelic Marble (Hemingway, 2003). Travertine will develop the interior of temples such as the shrine, cella, and an antechamber. The two primary construction mediums used to build and decorate Poseidon's temple will be marble and travertine.
Building Method
Poseidon’s temple will be built using the Doric order. The architect will need to know the overall length of the structure and the number of columns. The temple will be built as a hexastyle temple implying that it will have six columns on the front and sixteen columns on the sides (Waddell, 2002). The column number ratio will be employed as the ratio of the stylobate. The stylobate will be constructed to support the columns for the temple. The columns will be plain and tapered. Each column will have 20 parallel flutes. Afterward, the builders will erect the entablature, which will contain three parts; the architrave (the horizontal beam that rests on the capitals of columns and will be undecorated), the frieze (a structure that contains irregular patterns of metopes and triglyphs as decoration), and the cornice (the protruding structure that supports the triangular pediment).
Structure’s Intended Function
Doric temple will build on a mountain by the Aegean Sea to be used as Poseidon's 'house' and as a worship place. The structure is a sacred architecture with soaring but plain design erected on a mountain in isolation with tall fluted columns and a peaked tiled roof. Ancient Greeks worshiped in temples by presenting offerings that a specific deity was believed to have favored. Poseidon’s Doric temple will serve three primary functions; offerings, sacrifices, and prayer. Greeks believe that Poseidon will come down from Mount Olympus to visit the temple from time to time. The temple will also be used as an allocation for ritual feasting in the name of Poseidon. Greeks will present offerings and worship to appease Poseidon to offer them a peaceful voyage on sea and sufficient rainfall for farms.
Characteristics of the Structure
Poseidon’s Doric temple will be categorized by basic, plain column capital and a column that directly rests on a temple's stylobate that does not have a base. The temple will have an entablature that includes a frieze made up of metopes (square spaces for sculpted decoration) and triglyphs (perpendicular plaques with three splits) (Greek architectural orders, 2020). The columns for the Doric temple will be fluted and are also of stocky and sturdy proportions. The temple will also have a cornice, which is the topmost part of a classical entablature. Poseidon’s Doric temple is characterized by fluted columns that have simple saucer-shaped capitals and no base. The designs also have an entablature decorated with metopes and triglyphs.
Conclusion
Architecture in ancient Greece is significant and has been critical in shaping modern architecture. Greek architecture is highly distinguishable because of its order and logic. The paper explores the concept of ancient Greek architecture by developing a temple dedicated to Poseidon. The temple will be designed using the Doric order. This architectural style is characterized by fluted columns that have simple saucer-shaped capitals and no base. The paper has presented an opportunity to apply ancient Greek architecture concepts to develop a temple for a prominent deity in ancient mythology.
References
Azad, M. M., Barua, A., & Sultana, S. (2015). A review analysis of ancient Greek architecture. International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, 3(2), 48-58.
Greek architectural orders. (2020). Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ancient-art-civilizations/greek-art/beginners-guide-greece/a/greek-architectural-orders
Hemingway, C. (2003). Architecture in ancient Greece. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/grarc/hd_grarc.htm
Poseidon. (n.d.). http://dante.udallas.edu/hutchison/Mythology/Gods/poseidon.htm
Waddell, G. (2002). The Principal design methods for Greek Doric temples and their modification for the Parthenon. Architectural History, 45, 1-31.
