The most famous Greek buildings are temples. Since the temple was built as a home for the statue of a god, primitive temples imitated earlier Greek houses. Later they developed according to the design of the Mycenaean megaron. Most early Greek temples were built out of wood. By the late 7th century B.C. they were usually constructed of limestone or marble. The typical temple included a porc and large hall surrounded by a colonnade.
Greek temples were built in three different styles, or orders called Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. Today we remember these orders best by their distinctive columns and capitals.
Doric. The Dorian tribes on the Greek mainland developed the Doric order. They were influenced by buildings at Mycenae and Crete. The Doric order is sturdy and dignified. The greatest example of this style is the Parthenon, built between 447 and 432, at the height of the classical age. Made entirely of marble, the building was constructed with great technical skill. All the parts of the building look even and straight. The columns, however, tilt inward slightly, and the base of the temple curves slightly upward in the center. These and several other slight changes were carefully planned by the architect Ictinus because he wished to create a feeling of energy.
Ionic. In contrast to the strong and manly Doric, Ionic architecture is more delicate and ornate. It was created by the Ionians, a Greek tribe living along he coast of Asian Minor. The influence of Egypt and Assyria can be recognized. The most elegant example of the Ionic style is the Erechtheum, built about 20 years after the Parthenon on the Athens Acropolis. Its design is unusual because it was built on these ground levels. Another striking feature of the building is the Porch of the Maidens. The six columns that support the roof of the porch are carved in the shape of girls with long locks of hair and flowing garments.
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