2.2 Architectural orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian)

Greek architecture evolved with three distinct styles: Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Each order had unique features in columns, capitals, and entablatures. These styles reflected cultural values and regional preferences across ancient Greece.

The Doric order, oldest and simplest, had sturdy columns and plain capitals. Ionic was more elegant, with scroll-shaped volutes. Corinthian, the most ornate, featured acanthus leaf capitals. These orders shaped Greek buildings for centuries.

Archaic Greek Architectural Orders

The Three Main Orders

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• Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian orders each have distinct characteristics in their columns, capitals, entablatures, and overall proportions
• Doric order is the oldest and simplest characterized by sturdy, fluted columns with plain capitals, a frieze of alternating triglyphs and metopes, and a simple cornice
• Ionic order is more slender and elegant than the Doric with taller, fluted columns, scroll-shaped volutes on the capitals, a continuous frieze, and dentils in the cornice
• Corinthian order is the most ornate featuring slender, fluted columns with elaborate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves, a continuous frieze, and a cornice with modillions

Proportions and Variations

• Proportions of each order vary with the Doric being the stoutest, the Ionic more slender, and the Corinthian the most slender and tall
• Variations within each order existed based on regional preferences and the specific building's purpose (temples, treasuries, stoas)

Defining Characteristics of Orders

Doric Order Elements

• Columns have no base, are fluted with 20 shallow grooves, and have a plain, disk-shaped capital
• Entablature consists of a plain architrave, a frieze with triglyphs and metopes, and a cornice with mutules
• Triglyphs are vertical blocks with three vertical grooves, while metopes are square spaces often filled with sculptural reliefs

Ionic Order Elements

• Columns have a base, 24 flutes, and a capital with scroll-shaped volutes
• Entablature features a three-fascia architrave, a continuous frieze, and a cornice with dentils
• Volutes are the distinctive spiral ornaments on the capital, while dentils are small, tooth-like blocks in the cornice

Corinthian Order Elements

• Columns have a base, 24 flutes, and a capital with acanthus leaves and small volutes
• Entablature is similar to the Ionic order but often includes a more ornate cornice with modillions
• Acanthus leaves are a common decorative motif, and modillions are bracket-like ornaments under the cornice

Evolution of Architectural Orders

Doric Order Development

• Originated in mainland Greece around the 7th century BCE and was the dominant style in the early Archaic period
• Used in prominent temples like the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Hera II at Paestum

Ionic Order Emergence

• Developed in the 6th century BCE in the Greek cities of Ionia (modern-day western Turkey)
• Became popular in the late Archaic and Classical periods, often used in smaller temples and treasuries like the Erechtheion in Athens

Corinthian Order Appearance

• Emerged in the late Classical period (5th-4th centuries BCE) and became more widespread during the Hellenistic era
• Used in more elaborate buildings and monuments like the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens and the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens

Standardization and Codification

• Over time, the orders became more standardized and codified, with the proportions and details of each order following established rules and conventions
• Roman architect Vitruvius codified the orders in his treatise "De Architectura" in the 1st century BCE

Influences on Order Selection

Cultural and Regional Factors

• Doric order was favored in mainland Greece and the Greek colonies in southern Italy and Sicily, reflecting the more austere and masculine cultural values of these regions
• Ionic order was more prevalent in the Greek cities of Ionia and the Aegean islands, where the culture was known for its refinement, luxury, and feminine qualities
• Corinthian order, although developed in Greece, became more popular during the Hellenistic period and was later widely adopted by the Romans, who associated it with wealth, power, and grandeur

Building Purpose and Patron Preferences

• Choice of architectural order for a building often reflected the cultural identity, religious beliefs, and political aspirations of the city or patron commissioning the structure
• Doric order was often used for temples dedicated to male deities like Zeus and Ares, while the Ionic order was used for temples of female deities like Athena and Artemis
• Corinthian order was often used for buildings associated with royalty, victory, and opulence (Ptolemaic Alexandria, Pergamon Altar)