What inspired ancient greek architecture.?

Question

Meaing the materials used like marbel and the size.of the buildings they are not sky scrapers but they are imposing sites..especialy if you seen 3 dimensionnal drawings of them in all thier glory.they where almost etheareal.?

Additional Details

zoi between u and link u both inspired me .to re.start my research which i hung up 8 years ago..Yes it true all matter has a base to start at but all matter eventual meets to a point of impact or connection.i knew about the woden temples.and yes greek architture was inspired by the egyptians. at least our golden ancient period..i do have doubts about the mycaney and minonian periods.SINXARETERIA SAS PEDIA KALOS KALOS ME ARISTON..

EDIT:sorry was NOT inspired by egyptian architecture....lol

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

WHAT A BRILLIANT QUESTION!
I won't talk about greek houses and greek 'megaron' but only for the temples,it's enough I think.
You will be surprised to know that ancient temples were made of wood and clay at first.
What inspired the most known Greek Architecture were a>practical needs and
b>a certain perspective about the gods,the world, the human art.
Example:
The columns that surround the temple: they are the marble representatives of the originally wooden pillars that they used for protecting the walls from the rain. Another explanation: the columns were representing the processions or the guards of the god's statue in the temple.

Something else that is important to know, is that the Greek Temple is full of subtle asymmetries IN ORDER TO BE MORE 'HUMAIN' TO LOOK ALIVE!
If it sounds crazy, I tell you there have been researches about it.
So,f.ex.the columns aren't 100% vertical, but if you expant their sides, they are going to meet each other somewhere. I hope you understand.
The same happens to the ACROCERAMA, to the KIONOKRANA, to the whole building, and it happened deliberately as researches have concluded.
Well,there are so much to write here, I think that cpinatzi should answer (I know why I'm telling this).

Ancient Greek Architecture and EGYPT:
Ancient Greek Architecture has nothing to do with Egypt, it was a 'genuine' GREEK achievement. Egyptian monumental art was very grobe, tried to impress with the volume, just like Minoan Art did (it was influenced by Egypt indeed).
They followed EXACTELY the opposite rules from the Greek Architecture. The columns were thinner on the base and gradualy thicker when reaching at the top, EXACTELY the opposite from Greek Rules.

BUT IT WAS A SPECIFIC PERIOD,PART OF THE ARCHAIC PERIOD,THE ANATOLISOUSA PERIOD, THAT WAS INFLUENCED BY THE EGYPTIAN, ASIAN (MESOPOTAMIA, PERSIA) ART.
It was, as says Brittanica, SCULPTURE (and VASE MOTIVE'S).
Some examples:
http://users.sch.gr/ipap/Ellinikos%20Pol…
http://users.sch.gr/ipap/Ellinikos%20Pol…
http://www.antikmakler.de/catalog/images…

IN THE HISTORY OF ART THERE ISN'T A PERIOD, WHICH DOESN'T INCLUDE INTERACTIONS WITH PREVIOUS OR CONTEMPORARY CIVILISATIONS.
Most people have the opinion that Roman Period stops rapidly and then, all of a sudden, people convert into Christianity and change their Art and methods of expression. It is not at all like that.
Christian Art,f.ex., derives from Roman Art.

Source(s):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ionic_order

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

excelelnt zoi you sure do know your stuff...ty very much for all the info..love it ...

Answer 2

Available durable materials and cheap (slave) labor, perhaps. And I agree, they ARE imposing. Especially if you imagine a world without skyscrapers.

Edit: OK. Thanks.

Edit2: Six thumb downs leave me no choice.

You people are the only people I know, who take history as a personal insult. Did you ever think why?

Answer 3

Ancient Greek architecture like in the other fields of science and mathematic was inspired by ancient Egypt.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/432415/Orientalizing-period

http://techcenter.davidson.k12.nc.us/spring5/goddess2/artnarch.htm

-It was inspired by ancient Egypt. WI come across people who think they know more than britannica encyclopedia, lol.

Answer 4

Mathematics and Geometry. Practically the visual concept behind mathematics, kinda like the fractals of today.

Pythagoras (560-480 BC), the Greek geometer, was especially interested in the golden section, and proved that it was the basis for the proportions of the human figure. He showed that the human body is built with each part in a definite golden proportion to all the other parts.

Pythagoras' discoveries of the proportions of the human figure had a tremendous effect on Greek art. Every part of their major buildings, down to the smallest detail of decoration, was constructed upon this proportion.

Source(s):

http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/gold…