Classical Architecture
Ancient Greece
Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian Orders
The Second Temple of Hera at Paestum. c. 460-450 BCE.
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| Temple of Hera II. Photo by Norbert Nagel. CC BY-SA 3.0. Resized. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker discuss both temples to Hera found at the site of Paestum (Poseidonia).
What Greek order is the Second Temple of Hera at Paestum?
How are the two temples to Hera different from one another?
The Parthenon. 447-432 BCE.
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| Parthenon (full view). Photo by Rob and Lisa Meehan. CC BY-SA 2.0. Resized. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker talk about the Parthenon.
What Greek order(s) is the Parthenon?
Why was the Parthenon constructed?
The Erechtheion. 421-406 BCE.
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| The Erechtheum. Photo by Jebulon. Public Domain. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker examine the Erechtheion on the acropolis in Athens.
What is the predominant Greek order for this temple?
How is this temple different from the Parthenon and other, more typical Greek temples?
Ancient Rome
Temple of Portunus. c. 75 BCE.
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| Temple of Portunus. Smarthistory. Cropped. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker examine the Temple of Portunus constructed during the Roman Republic.
Why was the Temple of Portunus built?
How is this temple different from earlier Greek temples?
Flavian Amphitheatre or Roman Colosseum. c. 70-80.
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| Flavian Amphitheater. Photo by Mark Bauer. 2019. Cropped from original. |
In this video, Dr. Bernard Frischer and Dr. Steven Zucker examine the Flavian Amphitheater.
Why was the Colosseum constructed?
What Greek orders are found on the Colosseum? What Roman order?
The Pantheon in Rome. c. 118-128.
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| Christopher Goedert. Pantheon in Rome. 2023. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
Why was the Pantheon built?
How was the dome constructed?
How did the Pantheon look different from how it looks today?
Arch of Septimius Severus. 203.
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| Arco de Septimio Severo. Photo by Miguel Hermoso Cuesta. CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Darius Arya examine the Arch of Septimius Severus.
Why was this arch constructed? What was on top of it?
What is unusual but significant about part of the text on the arch?
Arch of Constantine. 315.
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| Arch of Constantine. Photo by Lil Herodotus. CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized. |
In this video, Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker examine the Arch of Constantine.
Why was this arch constructed?
How does this arch incorporate different sculptural forms?
What might this structure tell us about the Roman Empire in the time of Constantine?
If you enjoy the form of the Roman triumphal arch, this article by Calder Loth discusses the triumphal arch as well as several Neoclassical structures influenced in part by the arch.
Neoclassical Architecture
In this video, architectural historian Calder Loth discusses features from ancient Roman architecture alongside later examples of structures influenced by that ancient Roman architecture.
In this video, architectural historian Calder Loth discusses variations of the ancient Greek orders as those orders were presented to the public in the mid-18th century by architects James Stuart and Nicholas Revett. As Loth talks about ancient examples of these Greek orders, he also examines several Neoclassical structures influenced in some way by those ancient structures.
What characteristics help us to identify the Doric order? The Ionic order? The Corinthian order?
How might the images produced by Stuart and Revett have influenced architects from the late 1700s onward?
What are some example of Neoclassical structures influenced by the ancient Greeks?
You can see several more Neoclassical structures here.
Are there any structures in Hastings or in your hometown (if you are not from Hastings) that could be influenced by Classical architecture?