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Question on Greek architecture - SigniferOne - 02-05-2009
Hi guys,
I remember flipping through a book on Greek architecture in a Barnes & Noble (any popular bookstore is comparable) over a year ago. That book made a statement that I haven't forgotten since, to wit. that Greeks built their structures in pursuit of a central idea of One, Ideal, building; whereas the Romans built their structures haphazardly, of all shapes and forms, indifferent to finding that one Ideal building which would be suitable for all occasions.
My question is simple: have any of you read recent books on Greek architecture, and remember where that statement could come from?
Re: Question on Greek architecture - Paullus Scipio - 02-05-2009
That somehow doesn't seem quite correct, given that Greek architecture utilised many building designs, depending on purpose, just like everyone else........
Perhaps the statement was with reference to Temple designs ? .........that seems to fit better.....
Re: Question on Greek architecture - SigniferOne - 02-05-2009
No no, the book in question specifically made the point that Greeks tried to approximate the Perfect building, in all of their designs. That's what struck me as curious and as something to remember.
Re: Question on Greek architecture - Mythos_Ruler - 02-05-2009
Quote:No no, the book in question specifically made the point that Greeks tried to approximate the Perfect building, in all of their designs. That's what struck me as curious and as something to remember.
The perfect building mathematically? The perfect building for that purpose and locale?
Re: Question on Greek architecture - SigniferOne - 02-05-2009
I'm not completely clear, which is part of why I wanted to find that book again. From what I understood, this building would be 'perfect' by standing in a way that a building 'ought' to stand; in an Aristotelian, teleological sense; or likewise in a Platonic ideal sense.
You can notice this Platonic streak in much of Greek thought. The Greek profile is beautiful, fine. Does that beauty arise in a mathematical sense? In an aesthetic sense? Who knows, but all we can tell is that a human face cannot look better than that. Same with the military camps which Polybius says they established in complete accordance with the terrain; their aim was to set up such a camp that no other camp could be more ideally situated for this particular terrain. Etc.
I'm not saying this extended to architecture, but the book makes the argument that it does, which is what makes it all the more interesting!