The Greek temple was considered the home of the god and all its features both inside and out – structure, decorations – existed for the purpose of his worship.
The Greek temple is an architectural structure of ancient Greece , dedicated mainly to the worship of the deities. Built according to precise proportions and aesthetic principles, the temple was generally located on a raised podium, a symbol of proximity to the gods. The columns represent the distinctive element and are present in various styles: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian .
Each order has its own unique characteristics:
- the Doric is massive and simple;
- the Ionic is more slender and decorated with scrolls;
- The Corinthian features elaborate capitals with acanthus leaves.
Structure of the Greek temple
The main structure of the temple is divided into three parts:
- the pronaos (entrance portico);
- the cell or naos (sacred space that housed the statue of the deity);
- the opisthodomos (rear room).
The cella was the heart of the temple and could host the offerings and ceremonies dedicated to the divinity. Only the priest could access the naos while the sacrifices took place outside around an altar called ARA that could have the same extension as the facade of the temple.
The buildings were usually built in limestone or marble and decorated with sculptures and bas-reliefs.
Orientation of the Greek temple
The orientation of the Greek temple was usually east-west, allowing the rising sun to illuminate the entrance and, symbolically, the deity itself. Among the most famous temples is the Parthenon in Athens , a perfect example of the Doric order. Each temple represents not only a place of worship, but also an architectural masterpiece that expresses the ideal harmony and beauty of the ancient Greek world.
The Greek temple was the house of the god. Inside the naos was placed the statue of the divinity to which the temple was dedicated. Only the priest could access the naos while the sacrifices were carried out outside around an altar called ARA that could have the same extension as the facade of the temple.
Evolution of the Greek temple
The temple was not born immediately in the form with which we know it today. It underwent an evolution that required architects to research to reach a perfect form, which once obtained, became canonical.
Over the centuries, the temple underwent changes that affected the structure, the material and the proportions:
- The oldest were made of wood, terracotta and marble;
- The naos was very long but later became smaller and was preceded by the PRONAOS and followed by the OPISTHODOMOS
- The flooring was at ground level, later raised on three steps;
- The roof, initially flat, becomes sloping;
In the mid-7th century BC the orders were being defined and therefore rules and proportions were established.
What is an architectural order?
By architectural order we mean the set of aesthetic solutions and proportional relationships that define the temple.
Vitruvius , a Roman architect who lived in the 1st century BC and author of the treatise “ de archittettura libri decem ” sets out in his work the rules for the proportions of the temple.
Decay of the Greek Temple
Greek temples began to lose their religious function mainly during the Hellenistic and then Roman eras, when they were progressively replaced by places of worship dedicated to Roman deities. However, their true decommissioning was completed between the 4th and 5th centuries AD.
, with the spread of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire . At that point, many temples were closed or converted into Christian churches. The conversion or abandonment of temples occurred gradually, and in some cases the temples were reused for civil or military purposes, thus marking the end of their original religious function.
