The Appeal of Ancient Greek Architecture

I've always been fascinated with the civilization of ancient Greece. From the pantheon of Greek Gods and Goddesses to the elaborate beauty of Greek architecture there was a unique quality of the culture that still lends an air of mystique to its history.

There were three different types of architecture used by ancient Greeks. The Doric style was more formal whereas the Ionic style was more relaxed and the Corinthian was rather elaborate. The materials most commonly used in Greek architecture included wood, limestone, marble, unbaked brick, terracotta and bronze.

The Parthenon and the Acropolis are two of the most famous Greek structures. The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC. It is the best known remaining building of ancient Greek architecture. It is also considered to be the finest achievement of Greek architecture. Originally the Temple of Athena, in the 6th century AD the Christian Church converted the temple. It was then dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Later the temple was again converted, this time to a mosque after the Turkish conquest. It is currently being restored to its original form.

The Acropolis at Athens rises 512 feet above sea level. The Acropolis is home to many ancient Greek buildings. At the center of the Acropolis is the Parthenon. Even as many of these ancient structures stand in the throes of decay and ruin their magnificent splendor of bygone ages still resonates a beauty that can only be captured by ancient Greek architecture. One has only to imagine the buildings and temples in their original forms standing proud, tall and glorious. Like stepping through a portal to find oneself back in time in the heyday of ancient Greece the architecture of that time period is truly classic. Its appeal is timeless in every sense.