Ancient Greek buildings reached a point of extinction during the period of time ranging from the close of the Mycenaean period till about the 7th century BC.The economy of the civilization and the prosperity of the people finally improved after the 7th century BC and new architecture emerged in the cities.
Materials Used For Construction:
The common material used for the construction of the roofs of the building was wood. It was used for supporting the roof beams. Plaster was used for making sinks and for making bathtubs.
The walls of the houses were made of unbaked bricks. The columns, walls and the upper portion of the houses were made out of limestones and marbles. Terracotta was used to make roof tiles. These materials were used in constructing five simple types of buildings, namely
Types of Ancient Greek Buildings
- Religious buildings
- Civic buildings
- Domestic buildings
- Funerary buildings
- Recreational buildings
The temple was amongst the finest constructions of the Greeks. It served a dual function. Firstly, it served the functions of the modern church. Secondly, it served as a place where the deity was safely placed. The offerings that were given to the deity were stored in a place called the cellar.
The circular temple or the Tholos was another popular ancient building. This was a place of worship of Athena. There was a porch attached to this structure which served as the path leading to the temple sanctuary. The fountain house was a site from where the women filled their vases.
The towns often contained gymnasiums visited by the men. In the towns, a council chamber was built which formed the courthouses where judicial activities were carried out. The Greek Theatre was a place of entertainment for the public. They were so well maintained and well preserved that they survive until today.
There were two types of Greek architecture
- Doric
- Iconic
The iconic style was used in the cities of Ionia and the Doric style was prominent in mainland Greece. Among the ancient Greek building, the Doric style was more formal and austere. The iconic style was more ornamented and relaxed.
