Greek Temples as Repositories of Tradition

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Lecture 6

• Greek Temples as Repositories of Tradition

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Religious Beliefs

• According to Hesiod, (c. 700 BCE) there were over
  50,000 gods on earth concerning themselves with
  human problems. Their influence was no doubt
  felt in every aspect of daily life on all levels.
• The distinct hierarchy of the gods was reached
  only after violent struggles among the old
  divinities of Chaos,, Zeus coming out on top.
  With his wife, Hera, Zeus reigned over the
  Olympian deities including, Apollo, Artemis,
  Demeter, Aphrodite, Dionysus and Pluto. This
  hierarchy mirrored the laws of man. Because of
  the Pan-Hellenic system of sanctuaries the gods
  guaranteed justice through the official status of
  religion. Festivals held in the appropriate
  seasons attracted crowds who attended and spent
  money locally just like the conventions and
  sports events that are held today.
• Demigods and minor deities, under the watchful
  eyes of the major gods, were responsible for
  everyday life. All around the Greek countryside
  temples, chapels, oratories and altars differing
  in design and decoration, formed the natural
  expression of these popular beliefs.
• A great website for learning more about the Greek
  gods is
• http//www.theoi.com/Pantheon.html

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Death and Funerary Art

• It was thought that at the moment of death, the
  body was violently separated from the life-force,
  or psyche, which escaped and took refuge in the
  dark domain of the dead, the underworld or
  kingdom of the shades beyond the river Styx.
  Only by following the prescribed rituals for the
  moment of death would secure the complete freedom
  necessary for the soul to travel to the domain of
  Pluto. Charon was the name of the ferryboatman
  who transported dead souls to Hades, the domain
  of Pluto.
• To ensure a comfortable last journey,
• the dead mans tomb was filled with the
• practical and precious objects such as
• vases, jewelry and eating utensils and
• plates. Sometimes stele and chapels
• were subject to restrictive laws as the
• human preoccupation with display resulted
• in an upward spiral of opulence.
• Amphora with Birth of Athena, 540BCE

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Ritual and Sacrifice

• Prayers/offerings/rituals to gods were highly
  diversified according to the deity, his
  personality, his functions and the desired
  benefits expected.
• Major gods on Olympus were celebrated on raised
  altars of monumental character (i.e., Priene and
  Pergamon) but those offerings for the lower gods
  or for the dead might be placed on low altars
  with hollows in the center to collect the blood
  of the victim and then let it flow directly onto
  the ground. Some were public and some rites were
  secret. The mystery cults required halls for the
  initiation of their members or plays that evoked
  divine revelation.
• Oracular gods by duty had to answer worshipers
  questions, justify their decisions and lead them
  to taking decisions most favorable to public or
  private activities. Consultations with an oracle
  involved complex rituals and a preliminary
  sacrifice. The gods then conveyed their answers
  in a variety of ways shaking of leaves of oak
  trees or the deep echoes of a cauldron, or the
  answer might be given to a skilled interpreter or
  priest who then relayed it through verse or
  prose.
• Shrines of the muses in valleys and gardens, or
  hidden in groves provided sanctuaries for
  philosophers, artists and men of letters. Athis
  greatly influenced later garden architecture.

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Pergamon Altar, Altes Museum, Berlin
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The Immortals (or Greek Gods) can be divided into
8 groups 1. Protogenoi First Born Gods
primeval beings who emerged at creation and form
the fabric of the Universe Earth, Sea, Sky,
Night, Day, etc. Purely elemental in form. Gaia
is literally earth, Pontos is sea water
Sometimes they assumed anthropomorphic shapes as
long as they stayed part of their element, so
Thalassa (the sea) might express herself by
lifting her sea-formed womans head above the
waves 2. Daimones (spirits) and Nymphai who
nurtured life in the four elements, (earth, air,
fire, water) i.e., fresh-water Naiades, forest
Dryades, beast-loving Satyroi, Marine Tritones,
etc. 3. Daimones (spirits) that affect the body
and mind Sleep (Hypnos), Love (Eros), Fear
(Phobos), Death (Thanatos), or Old Age (Geras),
etc. 4. Theoi (gods) who controlled forces of
nature and bestowed civilized arts on mankind.
These are further divided into the gods of the
Sky, Sea, Underworld, Agriculture, Pastoral
Earth, Olympians, Titans, and Deified Monsters,
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5. Olympian gods who governed the universe and
commanded the legions of lesser gods and spirits.
Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Artemis, Apollo,
Ares, Athena, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes,
Dionysus, and Hestia. 6. Constellation spirits
circled the night sky. Every constellation
including the Zodiac was possessed of one or more
spirits Sagittarius was the centaur Kherion,
Gemini the Dioskouri Twins, etc. 7. Mosters,
Beasts, and Giants were semi-divine creatures,
close relations of the gods. Gigantes (giants),
Drakones (dragons), Kentauroi (Centaurs),
Kerberos (Cyberus), Sphinx, Sirens, Muses,
etc. 8. Heroi hemitithoi (semi-divine heroes) who
were worshipped after death as minor divinities.
Akhilleus, Theseus, Perseus, heroines Alkmene,
Helene, and BAubo, founding kingsd like
Erikhthonios, Kadmos, and Pelops. Many deities
fell into more than one category For instance,
Tykhe (Lady Luck) could be classified as an
Oikeanis Nymph, (in group two), as fortune
personified, (in group three), and as a popularly
worshipped goddess (in group four.)
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Aesclepius

• Aesclepius was the god of healing and is today
  medicines symbolic founder. Physicians
  traditionally take the oath of Aesclepius when
  they graduate from medical school.
• The sick could, after a preliminary sacrifice,
  settle down to sleep the night under the
  colonnade behind the temple (the opisthodomus).
  During the night the god, or his servants, would
  visit and inform him of a way to get well or
  perform the cure on the spot. Most gods were
  available in this fashion.

Berlin Museum
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Muses

• Nine muses of the arts Erato (love poetry),
  Clio (history), Calliope (epic poetry and song),
  Thalia (comedy), Urania (astronomy), Euterpe
  (lyric poetry and song), Melpomene (tragedy),
  Polyhymnia (sacred poetry and song), Terpsichore
  (choral dancing).
• In Plato's Phaedrus (259BCE), Socrates says the
  locusts used to be men before the birth of the
  Muses. When song appeared when the Muses were
  born, some men were so overcome with delight that
  they sang constantly, forgetting to eat and drink
  until they eventually died. These dead men became
  locusts - with a gift from the Muses allowing
  them to sing continuously from their birth until
  death without the need of sustenance. When they
  die, the locusts go to the Muses and report which
  men on earth honors each, endearing a worshipper
  to the Muse he followed.
• It was common for ancient schools to have a
  shrine to the Muses called mouseion, the source
  of the modern word 'museum.' The famous Museum of
  Alexandria, founded by Ptolemy I, was a temple
  dedicated to the Muses. Before poets or
  storytellers recited their work, it was customary
  for them to invoke the inspiration and protection
  of the Muses.

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Panorama of Paestum showing Temple of Poseidon
and Basilica
Temple of Poseidon (Hera II), Paestum, 460BCE
toward the norm for Doric. More massively
monumental and sculpturally severe than
others. Entablature still heavy. Columns placed
more closely, more mature form than the Basilica.
Hexastyle facades and 14 columns per side. This
view shows the rear of the temples. Note the
opisthedomos.
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Treasury of the Athenians at Delphicolumns in
antis
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Temples and Altars

• Interior of Temple of Athena Alea at Tegea

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Temple of Artemis (Diana) at Ephesus Dating to
8th c. BCE the original temple was built over
again several times. We know the form from coins
struck in the Roman period.

• Plan of the Hellenistic Period. Artemision (J.
  T. Wood 1877).

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Some General Differences in Greek and Roman
Temples

• Roman temples were built on an elevated plateau,
  with a big staircase in front. This in contrast
  to Greek temples which were built on a stylobate,
  a base of three steps.
• It is obvious which side of a Roman temple is the
  front side. This is not at all clear with Greek
  temples.
• The Greeks placed the statue of a god in the
  cella (a room in the temple that nobody was
  allowed to enter). The Romans mostly placed the
  statue in the absis.
• In contrast to the Greeks, the Romans used
  pilasters (half columns)
• Roman temples are monopteral, meaning they have
  only one colonnade, whereas Greek temples can be
  both monopteral as well as dipteral (having a
  double colonnade).
• Roman temples often had columns on the front side
  only.

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Acropolis Model Showing Route of Entry
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Procession of Panathenaeic Festival

• Zigzag path up the western slope swept back an
  forth across the Acropolis axis
• First clear form is Athena Nike, but it
  disappears and dramatically returns as the ramp
  is ascended. Becomes more enveloped by u-shaped
  Prophylaea, where space expands and contracts
  with ceiling heights.
• Coffered ceilings
• Statue of Athena Nike dominates the view
  temporarily 30 foot high statue by Phidius.
  Promachos is seen at an angle.
• Erectheum and Parthenon three quarter
  perspective
• Public may not be able to enter, but they can see
  in.
• Attitudes toward symmetry. Positioning of
  buildings off-center for better viewing. Zig-zag
  routes make for several views of the goal.
• Balance between parts of the building, the
  various buildings in a group, the buildings and
  the landscape.

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Propylaea
The Propylaea 437-432BCE, never completed, by
Mnesicles. Marble gateway is externally Doric,
internally Ionic Adjusts to steep slope of the
site for two types of traffic central ramp for
processions, beasts and vehicles, side walkways
for pedestrians, columns on stepped floors (two
spaces) all are proportionate and same
height. Pinacotheca is first picture gallery
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• The Erectheon
• built in 420 B.C.E. has two sections, one
  dedicated to the worship of Athena and the other
  to Poseidon.
• Porch of the Maidens
• Caryatids explicitly reveal
• the underlying anthropomorphic
• proportions of the Greek columns

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• While the Parthenon is the best known of all
  Greek temples, the Erechtheon is perhaps the most
  unusual. It is built over the spot where
  mythology says Athena and Poseidon had a
  legendary contest to win the hearts of Athenians.
  Poseidon gave them a spring of fresh water on top
  of the Acropolis, and Athena gave them the olive
  tree, which became a staple food crop for the
  country. The temple is dedicated to these two,
  and to Erechtheus, a legendary king of Athens who
  started the Panathenaic festival.

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Festivals and Processions

• An effigy of the god might be included in a
  procession. Sacred banquets, songs and music,
  gymnastics, literary and musical competitions
  might combine with political and commercial
  elements at these ceremonies. Associated games
  held at Delphi and Olympia grew into the
  Olympics. www.bibleplaces.com/delphi.htm

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Temple of Apollo at Delphi
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Theatre at Delphi The theater is quite
well-preserved, dating to the 4th century B.C.
Eumenes II of Pergamon restored it in the 2nd
century, as did the Romans later. It was used for
musical and theatrical portions of the Pythian
Games and for meetings of Delphian citizens.
Thirty-five rows provided seats for 5000
spectators as well as an excellent view
overlooking the Temple of Apollo.
www.bibleplaces.com/delphi.htm
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The Orders Doric

• Shaft of tapered column set directly on the
  stylobate
• Ratio of height to diameter is 4 ½ 1 or 5 ½ 1
• 20 flutes separated by sharp arrises
• Entasis - Response to weight of the entablature
• Smooth transition from round column to
  rectangular superstructure
• Capital carved from single block has three
  parts (necking, echinus, abacus) that disperse
  and carry the load evenly and gracefully
• Architrave stone lintel running from one
  column center to the next
• Triglyphs and metopes
• Cornice gives a strong edge to ends of roof and
  frames the pediment
• Tympanum is an isosceles triangle
• Acroteria
• Painted in bright gaudy colors
• Cella with one entry door, columned aisles

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Parts of the Doric Column
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The Orders Doric

• The Basilica (Temple of Hera) at Paestum, 530
  BCE Axial center columns are two tiered to reach
  the ceiling. May have housed two gods, Zeus and
  Hera. Nine end columns and 18 laterals per side.
• Basilios King Archon Kings House Law Court
  Church and judgment by Christ

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The Orders Ionic

• Base cushions shaft from stylobate
• Parts of base Torus, Spira and Scotias, Plinth
• Flutes have fillets instead of arrises
• Ratio of height to diameter is 91 or 101, wider
  spacing
• Entasis is rare
• Volute between echinus and abacus below
  entablature
• Architrave
• Dentils
• Corona
• Sima
• Plan Temple of Artemis, Ephesus
• Dipteral temple, colonnade is tripteral, paired
  columns in antis four deep on porch, open
  courtyard at center

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Parts of the Ionic Column

• Engraving of six Ionic orders, by the French
  architect Julien-David Le Roy, published in Les
  ruines plus beaux des monuments de la Grace (1758)

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Parts of the Corinthian Column
The Corinthian Order is ornate and variable, but
has volutes and foliage above an astragal and the
column shaft is usually fluted.