Architectural order: general information. Names of Greek architectural orders

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Architectural order became widespread in Antiquity. In fact, this is a building-and-beam structure, complemented by certain expressive elements. The architectural order, general information about which was outlined in the treatise of Vitruvius as early as the 1st century BC, was used in ancient Greece in the construction of temples and formed the recognizable look of the buildings of this country today.

Basic elements

Vitruvius in his work outlined the principles of building orders. To calculate the design parameters, the module was taken as the basis, which was the lower diameter of the column. He was the measure of the size of all the details.

Architectural orders of Ancient Greece had a set of standard elements, differed in the ratio of their sizes and decoration. They consisted of a column (column), entablature (entablature) and a pedestal. The first, in turn, included three elements:

• fust (shaft - trunk);
• capital (capital);
• base(baza)

The core of the column is its largest part, its thickness decreases with height, but unevenly. The capital forms the upper part, it is the direct load of all the overlying elements of the building. The function of the base is clear from its name: it is the basis of the fust.

The entablature, the upper part of the structure, also has a triple structure. It consists of architrave, frieze and cornice. The architrave forms the ceilings between the columns; it is the main load-bearing part of the entablature. Freeze is the middle element. The architectural orders of Antiquity are characterized by a different execution of this detail: it could be smooth or with an image. The cornice crowns the column, often it was decorated with denticles (dentils), or, as they are also called, order croutons - a series of rectangular ledges.

Pedestal - the lower part of the column, its base, most often had a stepped structure. The column "grew" from the stylobate (stylobate) - the upper step.

Architectural Orders of Ancient Greece

There are five orders in total that are considered classic. Three of them formed on Greek territory. This is a Doric, Ionic and Corinthian architectural order. In ancient Rome, two more appeared: Tuscan and composite. Each of them has its own distinctive features in the structure and decorative elements.

The names of Greek architectural orders give an idea of where they originated in the ancient state. Appearing each in their own area, in the VI century BC. Ionic and Doric column typesspread throughout Greece. The Corinthian order was not very popular. It became more in demand already in Ancient Rome.

Greatness and simplicity

The Doric architectural order was characterized by a reduced number of decorative details. The column did not have a base, since it rested directly on the stylobate. The trunk narrowed unevenly, somewhere at one third of the height there was a slight thickening. The surface of the pillar was covered with grooves - flutes. As a rule, there were only 20 of them. Flutes gave a certain decorative effect to the monumental structure: they created a play of light and shadow, visually increasing the height of the column. There were variants of columns with smooth trunks.

The capital had a rounded base on which lay a square. A smooth architrave rested on it. The frieze contained triglyphs - straight stripes with triangular notches between them, grouped in threes. Between the triglyphs there were gaps (methods) either smooth or filled with ornament. Under the cornice there was often a row of order crackers.

Famous all over the world

The Doric order is familiar to most from such masterpieces of ancient architecture as the Parthenon and the Temple of Hephaestus. Strict courageous columns also decorated buildings dedicated to Poseidon at Cape Sounion, as well as Aphea on the island of Aegina.

Doric - the simplest architectural order in terms of decor. The species that appeared in Ionia, and then in Corinth, are distinguished by a large number of decorations andartistic details.

Femininity set in stone

Dorian severity was opposed by softness and even some tenderness of the Ionic order. Columns of this type rise above a rounded base that looks like several rings stacked on top of each other. The pillar is longer than in the Dorian version. From this, the column seems more slender. The flutes are deeper (there are 24 in total), and the capital is decorated with currencies (volutes).

The Ionic entablature is rather narrow and includes three horizontal parts: a smooth architrave, a frieze without triglyphs, and a slightly protruding cornice with a row of denticles. The middle part of the entablature was often decorated with reliefs.

Creating such a column, the ancient architects likened it to a woman with a slender figure, curly hair-currencies and flowing folds of clothing - flutes.

Origin

Vitruvius in his treatise wrote that the Ionic architectural order arose during the construction of the Ephesian temple. The need for a new form arose from the desire to find a style that embodies the spirit of the Greek tribes inhabiting the area, and to oppose it to the Dorian. The embodiment of the plan brought the desired results: the Ionic order is known no less than its strict counterpart, and is also among the classic ones.

Scientists believe that the formation of a new type of columns occurred gradually, and the Temple of Ephesus became only the quintessence of all previous stages. One way or another, but the Ionic order really embodiessophistication and elegance. No wonder it was used in the construction of the temples of Nike Apteros and Artemis of Ephesus, the latter eventually awarded the title of one of the seven wonders of the world.

Younger brother

The Corinthian order, as already noted, was especially widespread in Ancient Rome. In Greece, it was considered an offshoot of the Ionic. Indeed, these orders have many similar elements. A high rod with 24 flutes stands on a rounded base. The main difference is the capital, consisting of sixteen currencies, accompanied by acanthus leaves arranged in two rows.

The entablature is similar to the corresponding element in the structure of the Ionic order: it includes a divided architrave, a frieze supplemented with a relief, and a cornice with battlements. The difference between buildings using such columns is that they did not support a gable roof, but a flat one.

If we continue the metaphor of masculinity and femininity, then the third Greek order rather has the features characteristic of a young girl: some coquettishness and love for exquisite jewelry. The earliest found examples of the Corinthian order are the columns of the temple of Apollo in Bassae.

Receivers

Greek architectural orders continued to exist in ancient Rome. They were used by craftsmen who created the appearance of the cities of the empire. In parallel, new forms appeared here: Tuscan and composite architectural orders. Both the name of the parts and the general logicconstructions have been preserved.

Composite order - "descendant" of Ionic and Corinthian. Tuscan has features that make its kinship with Dorian obvious: strict columns without capitals, a smooth architrave and frieze, a rounded capital without decorations.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, interest in such architectural forms gradually subsided and was revived only in the 15th century, when a treatise by Vetruvius was discovered. Buildings in the style of classicism, which took shape a little later, also necessarily contained columns or similar elements. It should be noted that today architectural orders that have come down to us through the thickness of centuries are quite often used in the creation and decoration of new masterpieces.