Greek Temple Flashcards
Define peristyle.
Series of columns that surround the outside of a temple.
Define cella.
Inner area of a temple, usually within temple walls.
Define pronaos.
Area at the front of a temple, enclosed by projecting side walls.
Define entasis.
Subtle adjustments/swelling of building blocks of a temple. Added beauty to a temple. Stylobate slightly curved upwards in the middle to look naturally straight to the human eye. Corner columns are slightly larger in diameter to offset the sun’s rays cutting away at overall temple shape by creating a silhouette along the columns.
Define pediment.
Triangular upper part of the front of a temple, surrounded by a raking cornice on sides and cornice on bottom. Usually contained murals or statues.
Define Doric order.
Columns made by stacked drums, topped with an echinus (semi-circular shaped capital). Contains triglyphs (fluted panels) and metopes (painted or carved panels) within the frieze. Symbolized fortitude.
Define Ionic order.
Taller, slender, singular shafted columns. Base is layered instead of the columns meeting the stylobate directly. Capital = volutes (two curved spirals on sides with a flat top). One continuous frieze instead of triglyphs and metopes.
Define elements of the orders.
(bottom to top) Stereobate = steps Stylobate Columns - base, shaft, capital Entablature - architrave (smooth or molded layer on top of columns), frieze (continuous or triglyphs/metopes), cornice, pediment, raking cornice
Define stylobate.
Top step of temple foundation. Continuous base supporting columns.
Describe Pericles.
Greek statesman. Moved Delian League treasury to Athens - resources were relocated. Built Acropolis in Athens.
Describe Phidias.
In charge of sculptures in Parthenon (Temple of Athena, 447-438 BCE). Model of “Athena Parthenos” = chryselephantine sculpture (carved out of ivory, dipped in gold).
Parthenon (Temple of Athena), by Iktinos and Kallikrates, Acropolis, Athens, 447-438 BCE.
Doric order. Utilized entasis. Chryselephanine sculpture of “Athena Parthenos” by Phidias. Panathenaic procession on inner temple frieze = images of Gods, elders, and maidens of Athens would have been painted with bright reds/blues (447-438 BCE). Battle of the Lapiths and Centaurs on outer temple metopes (447-442 BCE).
Erechtheion, Acropolis, Athens, 421-405 BCE
Built for King Erechteos. Ionic order. Caryatid porch at south end.
Define Caryatids.
Greek columns in the shape of women named after married women who were taken as slaces from Caryae and forced to continue to wear their long marriage robes. On the south porch of the Erechtheion in Acropolis, Athens (421-405 BCE).
