Greek
This was the style of architecture which first emerged in ancient Greece during the first millennium BC – reaching its fullest flowering in the city-state of Athens during the fifth century BC. It is a style of architecture which subsequently came to dominate the Roman world as we shall see in future units, and which, following its ‘rediscovery’ during the Renaissance, has come to form one of the main stylistic well-springs from which the modern Western tradition has drawn
Here Sutton explains that many of the decorative and stylistic details of classical buildings are ultimately derived from the time when the ancient Greeks built in wood. In other words, features such as ‘triglyphs’ and ‘guttae’ can be seen as elements of ancient wooden structures ‘petrified’ into stone
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Columns and beams
Making structures out of beams supported by columns is one of the most ancient architectural ideas. The Greeks turned this simple notion into a stone building system of great sophistication called 'the orders'.
Each order had its own particular ornament and proportions. A key element of each order was the column, topped with a distinctive capital: the cushion of Doric, the spiral volutes of Ionic and the acanthus leaves of Corinthian. The Doric order, used in the Parthenon, reflected the various components of wooden buildings now lost to us.
Columns and arches
The arch became significant in architecture when the Romans made it the main element in their buildings.
Arches allowed Roman builders to cover very wide spaces and also to create bridging structures like aqueducts.
The Romans often combined arches with the Greek orders. It might appear that the columns are holding the building up, but in fact they are usually just a decorative covering. Underneath, the structure of the building is formed from brick and concrete.
Vault and domes
The use of the arch in ancient Rome naturally led on to the development of the vault. The great public halls were roofed with semi-circular tunnel vaults. Two tunnel vaults crossing each other made a groin vault which could bridge a very wide space.
The Romans' most spectacular invention was the dome. For centuries the dome of the Pantheon, the temple to all the gods, was the biggest in the world.
These vaults and domes were made possible by the Romans' mastery of concrete
Temple of Athena Nike
In ancient Greece, the orders were thought to have particular characters and uses, related to their proportions and decoration.
The Temple of Athena Nike uses the Ionic order. This order was based on the proportions of a woman's body. Its characteristics were beauty, femininity and slenderness.
The Ionic order's calm refinement made it suitable for a temple dedicated to Athena Nike (Athena Bringer of Victory). The decoration shows Athena and the gods, as well as battle scenes.
Commentary
I have thought that choosing such an modest Acanthus mtif to cap the columns seems somewhat perverse. I cannot find a persuasive medicinal, superstitious, spiritual or mythological basis for using it. I find Vitruvius's account that Callimachus spying an acanthus plant growing through a basket of a deceased maiden is little more than romantacised poetic license.
However, I am sure the Corinthians would have adopted elements of nature to blend in with the surroundings as well as stand apart from it. If the acanthus plant was a creeper or a plant known to grow in crevices then it could be argued that they were more closely copying from nature. It is none of these so I am left with the idea that the classical architects decided to co-opt it in its stylised form to give the column the visual (more feminine) and flexible effect they desired. Looking through pictures or Corinthian columns they vary from the simple to very elaborate.
Having said that the Scots chose its cousin, the thistle, as their national flower, so may be the Corinthians just liked it!
