Corinthian, Doric, and Ionic architecture were the three forms of architecture utilized in ancient Rome. Although no remains of Roman buildings have survived, we do know a lot about ancient building techniques from writings by classical authors such as Vitruvius and Pliny the Elder.
Rome was an imperial city, which means that it was governed by an emperor. The emperor's court was made up of members of the reigning family, known as "Imperial House", and their many servants. Other people who lived in Rome included slaves hired out by wealthy owners, prisoners taken in wars or captured on raids, and anyone else who could not afford to pay for their own food and shelter. This last category was large, since there were many poor people in Ancient Rome.
Those who owned real estate would hire a manager or agent called an "aedile" to look after its management and maintenance. They would also hire workers to build houses if they needed to repair roads or perform other tasks. When a house was being built, any necessary permits would be obtained and contracts would be awarded to builders and others who would work on it. Once a house was finished, the owner would move in.
Ancient Romans used wood as their main material for construction.
In ancient Greek architecture, there are three different orders: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. The Romans adopted all three and adjusted their capitals. They also added other forms such as abaci (from which we get the word "abacus") and conoid.
Doric caps have a single curve on both sides with an angled point at the top. They were used mainly for columns that supported nothing but themselves. Ionic caps have two curves on one side with an angled point at the top. They were used mainly for pillars that stood on a base or otherwise supported something else. Corinthian caps have three curves on one side with an angled point at the top. They were used mainly for entablatures and other flat surfaces. Abaci are small curved pieces used under Doric capitals to give them more weight and stability. Conoids are small curves used under Ionic and Corinthian capitals to give them more volume and appearance.
During the Hellenistic period, Egyptian architects influenced the design of Roman capitals. They added more shapes including flowers, leaves, and even animals. But they still kept the basic Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian designs used by the Greeks.
Under the Empire, architectural styles become more refined and elaborate, but the three basic designs remain the same.
Classical Greek architecture is split into three orders: the Doric Order, the Ionic Order, and the Corinthian Order. All three styles had a significant effect on later Western architecture. The Doric Order was primarily used for temples and other large structures. It is characterised by its simplicity and strict adherence to rules. The Ionic Order was developed in Asia Minor (present-day Turkey) and used for buildings such as theatres and public baths. It is characterized by its influence from Geometric Greece and its use of volutes and scrolls instead of acanthus leaves for decorative purposes.
The Corinthian Order originated in Corinthia (in modern-day Greece) and was adopted by many cities across Greece. It is distinguished by its curvaceous style of sculpture and ornamentation. Although schools began to appear around this time that mixed different influences together, they were not very popular. However, the Romans would adopt some aspects of these schools and incorporate them into their own building techniques.
During the Hellenistic period, many new styles emerged that incorporated various foreign influences including Egyptian, Syrian, and Babylonian design elements. These designs were often more sophisticated than those of the Greeks and used larger dimensions and higher levels of decoration. They also included many allegorical sculptures which reflected the importance of religion during this time.
The temples of Apollo at Corinth, erected in the second quarter of the sixth century B.C., and the temple of Aphaia at Aegina, built approximately 500–480 B.C., are among the best-preserved specimens of Archaic Doric architecture. There are at least three main groups of pedimental sculpture, each representing a distinctive style...
The Parthenon, built between 447 and 432 B.C., is an early example of Greek neoclassical architecture. The structure was originally crowned with a wooden roof covered in gold leaf. The interior features magnificent marble columns and walls decorated with sculptured metopes (carvings depicting scenes from mythology) and triglyphs (three horizontal grooves used to carve decorative designs into the surface of a column or wall). The building was used for worship by Athens' citizens and visitors alike until it was burned down by the Persians in 480 B.C....
Aeschylus, Agis, and Cleisthenes were three prominent politicians of Ancient Greece who played important roles in the development of constitutional government. They belonged to an aristocratic family that can be traced back to the legendary hero Theseus. Aeschylus was one of the seven poets who contributed to the creation of classical poetry. He lived around 525 B.C., just after the Peloponnesian War had ended.
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