We can define Greek architecture as the architecture of the Greek mainland, the Aegean islands, and throughout the Greek colonies in Asia Minor, Sicily, and Italy from 900 BCE to 27 BCE. The landform of the region is mountainous, which was the source of ample supplies of good building materials like limestone, granite, marble, etc., especially the mountains of Hymettus and Pentericus near Athens, and the islands of Pharos and Naxos. For that reason, the world witnessed an architecturally advanced civilization here, which later influenced almost all architectural revolutions.

The uniformity, simplicity, proportions, harmony, and pure bold geometry are the most noticeable features of Greek architecture.

We can classify Greek architecture into four different parts according to different periods; these are:

• Pre-Archaic Period (900-650 B.C.E)
• Archaic Period (650-480 B.C.E)
• Classic Period (480-323 B.C.E)
• Hellenistic Period (323-27 B.C.E)

Pre-Archaic Period

After a long dark age from the fall of the Mycenaean period (1100 B.C.E.) to 900 B.C.E., a new Greek culture started to emerge during this time. The population grew, and trade began once more. They adopted the Phoenician alphabet for writing.

In this period, Greek pottery was a developed art form, decorated with Proto-Geometric Style. Proto-Geometric shapes converted into geometric shapes (triangular, zigzags). That’s why this period is also known as the era of geometry. We can see pure geometrical shapes in different creative fields like pottery, sculpting, and painting.

This is also true for architecture. We can’t see such exploration in architecture at that time because it was just a start after a long period of dormancy; it needed more time to develop at its full pace. The architecture was very minimal and simple at that time. The main and only consideration of architects was to erect buildings for gods. Buildings were typically simple and rectangular. Materials used at that time were rubble, mud-brick, wooden beams, straw, or clay for flat roofs.

Archaic Period (650-480 B.C.E)

For geographical reasons, the ancient Greeks were experts in sea trading. Due to communication and trading (from 650 BCE) with Egypt (the land of stone structures) and the Middle East, the path of Greek monumental architecture and sculpture widened. For the international meetup, they were introduced to many new things and techniques like stone structure, figurative sculpture, and so on. They also started experimenting with these in their culture and creative fields. For that reason, this period is also known as the era of experimentation. They started to use figures in pottery decoration, painting, and sculpture, which later became an integral part of Greek architecture.

The architecture was built in a simple post-lintel structure. The roof was made with wooden beams and decorated with terracotta. Pediments were decorated by relief sculpture and artwork. The architects of that time were conscious of proportionality, which is why they established Classical Orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian). From examples like the temple of Hera, we can say that most probably the architecture of that time was influenced by Egyptian architecture.

Classic Period (480-323 B.C.E)

This is the period when Greek civilization reached the peak of its flourishing. That is why we can call it the era that witnessed the flowering of mainland Greek power and artistic domination. Athens gained the strongest position among Greek city-states from 490 BCE to 479 BCE due to conquests in Persia. The best contribution of Greek Classicism is the “Canon of Proportion,” which later highly influenced “High Renaissance Art.”

In this period, Doric and Ionic orders became more harmonious, timeless, universal, and rhythmic. The decoration of the buildings was done with marble, bronze, and chryselephantine free-standing statues with reliefs and friezes. For the first time, the world saw how sculpture could be used as a decorative element. The Parthenon is the supreme example of Greek classical architecture. We can see all the possible developments of Greek civilization in the Parthenon.

Hellenistic Period (323-27 B.C.E)

Hellenism started with the death of Alexander the Great. Greek culture extended well into Asia Minor, Anatolia, Egypt, Italy, Crete, Cyprus, Rhodes, and the Aegean Sea islands. This expansion led to the decline of Greek culture and civilization. The Macedonian Empire was divided into three parts. This period witnessed the decline of Greek power.

Due to extensive expansion and high demand, temple architecture lost its aristocracy. Because in this situation, the quality of craftsmanship couldn’t be maintained as well as needed. Ornamentation became more important. The need arose for a more ornamented form from the Ionic and Corinthian orders. The Temple of Apollo is an example of that time.

Classical Orders

There are some specific patterns and designs that can be seen in Greek architecture, which are eventually named as orders. An order is a unique and specific design that defines Greek styles.

• Doric Order: It is cylindrical and narrow at the top. It has shallow flutes. It doesn’t have any base. It is tall, heavy, and very stable. On the top, it has a flared slab above which there is an abacus. It has an entablature carrying frieze, architrave, acroterion, and pediment. In the frieze, there are triglyphs and metopes.

• Ionic Order: It is cylindrical but doesn’t have any narrow measures. It has regular flutes. It has more than three bases, and those are decorated. It is tall but not heavy and thinner than Doric. On the top, there is a capital which is decorated with volutes. It has an entablature carrying moldings, raking cornice. The moldings are decorated with sculptures.

• Corinthian Order: It is cylindrical, has no narrow parts, and has flutes. It has three bases. Its height is lower than other orders but highly decorated. On the top, there is a highly decorated capital, the decorations are made with a leaf shape. The capital’s decorations are a boss, acanthus leaf, and rosette. It doesn’t have any frieze or moldings or metopes. No sculptures are added to the entablature