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This ClipArt gallery offers 209 illustrations of ancient Greek architecture.

"Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Choragic Monument

"Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, Athens." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

"A low column, sometimes round, but more frequently rectangular. Cippi were used for various purposes; the decrees of the senate were sometimes inscribed upon them; and with distances engraved upon them, they also served as mile-stones. They were however, more frequently employed as sepulchral monuments. It was also usual to place at one corner of the burying-ground a cippus, on which the extent of the burying-ground was marked, towards the road, and backwards to the fields." — Smith, 1873

Cippus

"A low column, sometimes round, but more frequently rectangular. Cippi were used for various purposes;…

The columns at Knossos tapered downward and bore simple heavy torus capitals.

Column

The columns at Knossos tapered downward and bore simple heavy torus capitals.

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated to be introduced between pillars and antæ, and not in a disconnected peristyle with with angle columns. In angle columns, however, the volutes are sometimes constructed in such a way that they meet at both sides diagonally.

Ionic Angle Column from the Temple of Minerva Polias at Athens, Front

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated…

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated to be introduced between pillars and antæ, and not in a disconnected peristyle with with angle columns. In angle columns, however, the volutes are sometimes constructed in such a way that they meet at both sides diagonally.

Ionic Angle Column from the Temple of Minerva Polias at Athens, Side

The good effect of the Ionic capital is really only produced by the front-view. It seems calculated…

The Doric columns, which are short, powerful, and closely ranged together, in order to support the weight of the massive entablature, consist of the shaft and the capital, and rest immediately without base on the upper step, which serves as the ground-floor, or stereobate of the temple.

Doric Column from the Temple of Neptune at Paestum

The Doric columns, which are short, powerful, and closely ranged together, in order to support the weight…

"A pillar or column. The use of the trunks of trees placed upright for supporting buildings, unquestionably led to the adoption of similar supports wrought in stone. As the tree required to be based upon a flat square stone, and to have a stone or tile of similar form fixed on its summit to preserve it from decay, so the column was made with a square base, and was covered with an abacus. Hence the principal parts of which every column consists are three, the base, the shaft, and the capital. In the Doric, which is the oldest style of Greek architecture, we must consider all the columns in the same row as having one common base, whereas in the Ionian and Corinthian each column has a seperate base, called spira. The capitals of these two latter orders show, on comparison with the Doric, a much richer style of ornament; and the character of lightness and elegence is further obtained in them by their more slender shaft, its height being much greater in proportion to its thickness. Of all these circumstances some idea may be formed by the inspection of the three accompanying specimens of pillars. The first on the left hand is Doric, the second Ionic, and the third Corinthian." — Smith, 1873

Columna

"A pillar or column. The use of the trunks of trees placed upright for supporting buildings, unquestionably…

Columna Rostrata and Column Trojana.

Columna

Columna Rostrata and Column Trojana.

Corinthian capital from Temple of Zeus at Athens.

Corinthian Capital

Corinthian capital from Temple of Zeus at Athens.

Early Corinthian capital from Bassae.

Corinthian Capital

Early Corinthian capital from Bassae.

Capital from "Tower of the Winds" Athens.

Corinthian Capital

Capital from "Tower of the Winds" Athens.

A basket with acanthus leaves growing around it—the supposed inspiration for the Corinthian capital.

Corinthian Capital

A basket with acanthus leaves growing around it—the supposed inspiration for the Corinthian capital.

The Corinthian order is one of the Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, characterized by a slender fluted column and an ornate capital decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls. Although of Greek origin, the Corinthian order was seldom used in Greek architecture.

Greek Corinthian Order

The Corinthian order is one of the Classical orders of Greek and Roman architecture, characterized by…

The entablature resting on the columns has three parts: a plain architrave divided into two, or more generally three, bands, with a frieze resting on it that may be richly sculptural, and a cornice built up with dentils, with a corona and cyma molding to support the projecting roof.

Ionic Cornice from the Temple of Minerva Polias at Priene

The entablature resting on the columns has three parts: a plain architrave divided into two, or more…

The Corinthian cornice is only distinguished from the Ionic by its mutules and modillions, which take the place of the dentels in the latter style. They are fewer in number, but richer and more ornamented, as well as more projecting.

Corinthian Cornice

The Corinthian cornice is only distinguished from the Ionic by its mutules and modillions, which take…

"Coryatic Portico of Temple in Acropolic, Athens." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Coryatic Portico

"Coryatic Portico of Temple in Acropolic, Athens." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

"A colonnaded hall and staircase in the Cretan palace at Cnossus." -Breasted, 1914

Cretan Palace

"A colonnaded hall and staircase in the Cretan palace at Cnossus." -Breasted, 1914

"Tile drainpipes from the Cretan Palace of Cnossus."

Cretan Palace

"Tile drainpipes from the Cretan Palace of Cnossus."

"Ancient "Cyclopean" Wall" — Morey, 1903

Cyclopean

"Ancient "Cyclopean" Wall" — Morey, 1903

"Cyrus caught sight of his brother Artaxerxes, whose person was revealed by the flight of his troops, when, maddened at once by rage and ambition, he shouted out, "I see the man!" and rushed at him with his handful of companions. Hurling his javelin at his brother, he wounded him in the breast, but was himself speedily overbourne by superior numbers and slain on the spot." — Smith, 1882

Tomb of Cyrus

"Cyrus caught sight of his brother Artaxerxes, whose person was revealed by the flight of his troops,…

"The Theater of Dionysus (Restoration)" — Morey, 1903

Dionysus

"The Theater of Dionysus (Restoration)" — Morey, 1903

Ground Plan of a Greek House.

Domus

Ground Plan of a Greek House.

Doric order of the Parthenon, Athens.

Doric Column

Doric order of the Parthenon, Athens.

The earliest of the three Greek orders of architecture.

Doric Column

The earliest of the three Greek orders of architecture.

Grecian Doric Order.

Doric Order

Grecian Doric Order.

Doric order

Doric Order

Doric order

One of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture.

Doric Order

One of the three orders or organizational systems of Ancient Greek or classical architecture.

"The front elevation of a Greek Doric Hexastyle-peripteral Temple." — Encyclopedia Britanica, 1893

Doric Temple

"The front elevation of a Greek Doric Hexastyle-peripteral Temple." — Encyclopedia Britanica,…

Egg-and-dart is an ornamental device often carved in wood, stone, or plaster quarter-round ovolo mouldings, consisting of an egg-shaped object alternating with an element shaped like an arrow, anchor or dart. Egg-and-dart enrichment of the ovolo molding of the Ionic capital is found in Ancient Greek architecture at the Erechtheion and was used by the Romans.

Egg-and-Dart

Egg-and-dart is an ornamental device often carved in wood, stone, or plaster quarter-round ovolo mouldings,…

"In architecture, a sculptured ornament in imitation of a garland or festoon of fruits, leaves, or flowers, or of other objects, suspended between two points." -Whitney, 1911

Encarpus

"In architecture, a sculptured ornament in imitation of a garland or festoon of fruits, leaves, or flowers,…

"Doric Entablature. E, entablature: a, epistyle or architrave; b, frieze; c, cornice." -Whitney, 1911

Doric Entablature

"Doric Entablature. E, entablature: a, epistyle or architrave; b, frieze; c, cornice." -Whitney, 1911

"The 'house of Erechtheus'; a temple of Ionic order on the Acropolis of Athens, noted as one of the most original achievements of Hellenic architecture." -Whitney, 1911

Erechtheum

"The 'house of Erechtheus'; a temple of Ionic order on the Acropolis of Athens, noted as one of the…

"The building of the new Erechtheum was not commenced till the Parthenon and Propylea were finished, and probably not before the year preceding the breaking out of the Peloponnesian war. Its progress was no doubt delayed by that event, and it was probably not completed before 393 B.C. When finished it presented one of the finest models of the Ionic order, as the Parthenon was of the Doric. It stood to the north of the Acropolis." — Smith, 1882

Erechtheum restored

"The building of the new Erechtheum was not commenced till the Parthenon and Propylea were finished,…

Belonging to the time directly after Pericles is the Erechtheum. This is a double temple in the Ionic style, dedicated to Minerva Polias, and is situated on the Acropolis. It has a hexastyle Ionic prostyle. A low building adjoins it, behind which is the shrine of the Nymph Pandrosos.

Erechtheum with the Pandrosium

Belonging to the time directly after Pericles is the Erechtheum. This is a double temple in the Ionic…

An exedra is a semicircular recess set into a building's facade. The exedra at the Street of Tombs in Assos (Turkey) is shown here.

Exedra at the Street of Tombs in Assos

An exedra is a semicircular recess set into a building's facade. The exedra at the Street of Tombs in…

"An ancient Greek or Roman temple, of rectangular construction, is terminated at its upper extremity by a triangular figure, both in front and rear, which rests upon the cornice of the entablature as a base, and has its sides formed by the cornices which terminate the roof. The whole of this triangle above the trabeation is implied in the term fastigium." — Smith, 1873.

Fastigium

"An ancient Greek or Roman temple, of rectangular construction, is terminated at its upper extremity…

Carved finial of Choragic monument of Lysicrates, Athens.

Finial

Carved finial of Choragic monument of Lysicrates, Athens.

The Ionic column has a less diminished shaft and a smaller parabolic curve than the Doric. It is, like the Doric, channeled; the flutings, which are 24 in number, are separated by annulets, and are therefore narrower, but at the same time deeper, than the Doric, and are terminated at the top and bottom by the final curvature.

Fluting Plan of the Ionic and Corinthian Column

The Ionic column has a less diminished shaft and a smaller parabolic curve than the Doric. It is, like…

"Part of the Parthenon Frieze" — Morey, 1903

Frieze

"Part of the Parthenon Frieze" — Morey, 1903

"Panathenaic Frieze, from the Parthenon." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

Frieze

"Panathenaic Frieze, from the Parthenon." — Chambers' Encyclopedia, 1875

The frieze of the Doric order is not taken up with sculpture in uninterrupted succession, but it occurs in groups at regular intervals, separated by features called triglyphs (a). The spaces formed between the triglyphs are called metopes (b).

Doric Order Frieze in the Parthenon at Athens

The frieze of the Doric order is not taken up with sculpture in uninterrupted succession, but it occurs…

The stairway of the great altar at Pergamon in Ancient Greece shows a frieze. A frieze is a sculpture of an entablature in bas-relief.

Frieze of Altar at Pergamon

The stairway of the great altar at Pergamon in Ancient Greece shows a frieze. A frieze is a sculpture…

"A Frieze, in architecture, is that portion of the entablature which is between the architrave and the cornice. It was generally adorned with triglyphs in the Doric order. The term frieze was also applied to a broad band of sculpture, in low relief, that was frequently placed round the cella of a Grecian temple, immediately under the ceiling of the portico, and completely surrounding the exterior."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Drontheim Frieze

"A Frieze, in architecture, is that portion of the entablature which is between the architrave and the…

"Grave Relief" — Morey, 1903

Grave Relief

"Grave Relief" — Morey, 1903

An ancient monument in honor of a Greek soldier

Grecian Monument

An ancient monument in honor of a Greek soldier

A Grecian Temple

Grecian Temple

A Grecian Temple

An ancient tomb constructed by the Greeks.

Grecian Tomb

An ancient tomb constructed by the Greeks.

"Round, triangular, or square in plan, often elaborately adorned with sculpture, and bearing inscriptions."-Whitney, 1902

Greek Altar

"Round, triangular, or square in plan, often elaborately adorned with sculpture, and bearing inscriptions."-Whitney,…

Ionic.

Greek capital

Ionic.

Ionic.

Greek capital

Ionic.

Corinthian.

Greek capital

Corinthian.

Doric.

Doric Greek Column

Doric.

Illustration of an Ionic order Greek column.

Ionic Greek Column

Illustration of an Ionic order Greek column.

Illustration of a Corinthian order Greek column.

Corinthian Greek Column

Illustration of a Corinthian order Greek column.

"Greek Corinthian Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Corinthian

"Greek Corinthian Style" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Decoration" — Morey, 1903

Greek Decoration

"Greek Decoration" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Doric Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Doric

"Greek Doric Style" — Morey, 1903

"Interior of a Greek House (Restoration)" — Morey, 1903

Greek House

"Interior of a Greek House (Restoration)" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Ionic Style" — Morey, 1903

Greek Ionic

"Greek Ionic Style" — Morey, 1903

"Greek Philosophy, which reached its highest excellence in Athens in the fourth century before Christ, had its origin two hundred years earlier i nthe ourlying settlements of the Hellenic race in Asia Minor, Thrace, Sicily, and Southern Italy, rather than in Greece proper. The founding of colonies and frequent changes of government in the older states led thoughtful men to study the constitution of man and of society." — The Delphian Society, 1913

Greek philosophers

"Greek Philosophy, which reached its highest excellence in Athens in the fourth century before Christ,…