EGYPTIAN ARCHITECTURE
• Ancient Egyptian Architecture started during Predynastic Period, and (6000 - 3150 BCE) and lasted
through the end of the Ptolemaic Dynasty (323 -30 BCE).
• Egyptian architects were among the first to employ materials such as stone.
• Ancient Egyptian Architecture was based entirely on their religious beliefs. which is why
most of the structures made were religious buildings and funerary.
• NILE RIVER, providing citizens with food, transportation, building materials, and more Its name was
derived from the Greek Nelios, but the Egyptians called it Iteru or “River.”
• Nile River is the longest river in the world.
• There are two kingdoms, Lower and Upper Egypt, combined by King Menes in 3100 BC
• Wafaa El-Nil, It is celebrated by Egyptians as an annual holiday for two weeks starting August1 5
• RELIGION: Belief in and worship of an extraterrestrial ruler, belief in immortality (Mummification)
• GODS:
1. Amon-re (sun god) most powerful deity,
2. Osiris (underworld god),
3. Pharaoh "pharaoh" refers to the pharaoh's residence, which is called the "Great House."
• MATERIALS OF STRUCTURES:
1. mud bricks (for house & palace),
2. stones (for temples, pyramid, tombs),
3. Granite (for statues, monuments, ceremonial vessels)
• CHRACTERISTICS OF STRUCTURES:
1. Roof flat due to lack of rain,
2. Walls thick and covered by hieroglyphics.
• DECORATION:
1. Torus Molding- lowest molding base of column, resembles semi-circle, used to strengthen the
corners.
Characteristics:
• Gorge Cornice- support of the building, bending the top of the roof out, design purpose is to
show pattern.
• Puddle Clay & Reeds – composed of clay and sand
Two Types:
1. Nile Clay- To create ceramic, home dishes, containers. Red or brown hue
2. Marl Clay – or “desert clay”. Used to create luxury items like pots and storage.
3. Reeds- A grass species with tall, thin leaves. To create baskets, footwear, boats.
• Battered Walls- they slant upwards from a broad base with horizontal molding.
• TEMPLES
a. SPHYNX- mythical creature with the head of a human, the body of a lion, and the wings of
a falcon. viewed as benevolent but having a ferocious strength.
b. OBELISK- called “tekhenu”. a tall, four-sided, narrow tapering monument which ends in a
pyramid-like shape or pyramidion at the top.
PARTS OF TEMPLE:
a. PHYLON- large gate in front
b. COURTYARD-large open room without roof
c. AMBULATORY- covered walkway
d. HYPOSTYLE HALL- large room with columns
e. BARQUE HALL- 2nd hall with columns
f. SANCTUARY – where the statue of the god or goddess was kept.
g. SACRED LAKE- pool of water next to the temple.
EXAMPLE:
• TEMPLE OF AMUN, LUXOR
• GREAT TEMPLE OF ABU SIMBEL
• TOMBS
-Known as “houses of eternity”
PARTS OF TOMBS:
• Burial chamber- below ground to house the spirit.
• Mortuary chapel- above ground accessible to visitors
• False door- connection between dead and the living
EXAMPLE:
MASTABAS-
o Rectangular flat-topped funerary mound, with battered side, covering a burial chamber
below ground.
o First type of Egyptian tomb
CENOTAPH
▪ Empty grave built in memory of someone whose remains are elsewhere.
• PHYRAMIDS
▪ Angled sides symbolized the rays of the sun and were designed to help the king’s soul ascend to
heaven
EXAMPLES:
a. STEPPED PYRAMID AT SAQQARA- The oldest known pyramid.
b. BENT PYRAMID OF SNEFERU
c. GREAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZAEAT PYRAMIDS OF GIZA- largest and most recognizable
pyramid structures in the world.
AEGEAN& GREEK ARCHITECTURE
• Influences of the Development of Greek Architecture
o GEOGRAPHICAL
▪ Aegean Culture started in Crete which is isang island in Mediterranean Sea
▪ The geography of Greece affected its Architecture.The mainland of Greece is rocky and full of that’s
why the most abundant materials of them are stone and limestone.
▪ Greece is surrounded by three seas which are the Aegean, Mediterranean, and Ionian Sea.
▪ Coastline of Greece has lots of natural harbors–source of communication and trading with other
regions.
• GEOLOGICAL
o stone - primary material in architectural structures.
o white marble was also abundant in their architecture.
o they use marble stucco (a powdered marble dust) in temples and palaces.
• CLIMATIC
o As Greece had no major river systems, it instead relied on rainfall to keep its orchards and vineyards
fertile.
o Given the mountainous nature of Greece, the Greeks relied on the warm sea breezes to make life in
their city-states tolerable.
• RELIGION
o Gods and Goddesses
▪ Zeus - God of Thunder
▪ Poseidon - God of the Sea
▪ Athena - Goddess of Wisdom
▪ Hera - Goddess of woman and marriage, Zeus' wife
▪ Apollo - God of sun and light,
▪ Artemis - twin sister of Apollo, wants to maintain her purity/virginity. Goddess of hunt.
▪ Hermes - son of Zeus' , Messenger of the Gods, God of thieves and travel.
▪ Demeter - Goddess of grain and agriculture.
▪ Aphrodite - goddess of beauty, love and sexual desire
▪ Eros - son of Aphrodite, God of Love.
▪ Dionysos - God of wine and Vegetation.
▪ Hephaestus - Hera's son, God of fire, flame and forge
▪ Ares - God of war
▪ Hercules - God of strength
▪ Hestia - goddess of Hearth and Home
▪ Pan - God of the wild, god of shepherds and flocks
▪ Cronus - Ruler of the Titans, God of Time.
▪ Asclepius - Apollo's Son, God of medicine
▪ Nike - goddess of Victory, winged Goddess
▪ Gaea - Mother Earth, goddess of Earth, mother of all life
• Temples
o ERECTHEUM
▪ Classical Architectural Style
▪ contain sanctuaries to Athena Polias, Poseidon, Erechteus and Hephaestus
▪ made with white parian marble rested on the heads of six Korai statues.
o TEMPLE OF APOLLO
▪ Dorie Hexastyle
▪ made in 5th century BC but not finished until 4th century
▪ built from limestone & tuff
o TEMPLE OF ZEUS
▪ most recognize as the perfect Doric example locate Atlis
▪ most important architecture
▪ destroyed by an earthquake
▪ symbol of Athen's power and wealth
o TEMPLE OF ATHENA NIKE
▪ earliest Ionic Building on Acropolis
▪ built in Ionic order
▪ one of the materials used is Pentelic Marble
• SOCIAL
o Residential Buildings- a place to stay and protect against natural phenomenon (Oikos na may
porch/foyer which is the entrance hall)
▪ Materials: Mud & Bricks, Clay Tiles (Roof), Window (Wooden Shutters)
▪ Common room na meron sila: Bedroom, Store Room, Bathroom (no flushing toilet at sa tubig,
kailangan nila dudukot), Kitchen,Dining Room
▪ Courtyard: Located at the center of the house provided with altar and well for various
activities.
▪ Andron: Men’s room for entertainment purposes
▪ Gynaikon/Gynaeceum: Children and Women’s room located at the second floor to segregate
from men as well as protection against male intruders.
▪ Economic Status of the House: If poor,simple bahay lang pero for rich, mataas quality
o Theater- Greek Word “Theatron” meaning seeing place
▪ Hollowed, Large, and Open-Air Structure placed on the slope of the hillside where it was
established for the seats (theatron).
▪ Circular space is called Orchestra for chorus (actors) to perform backstage is called Skene
(Tent).
▪ Parados is meant for the passageway on both sides but primarily kung sino nasa ground floor.
▪ Materials: Wood to Stone Genres they perform art (DRAMA): Comedy, Tragedy, and Satyrs
▪ Theaters: Theatre of Dionysus (17K), Theater of Epidaurus (13K), Theatre of Megalopolis, Theatre
of Delfoi, Theatre of Delos
▪ Odeion: Small and Roofed (for acoustics performance) building a theater for musical and
poetry play.
• POLITICAL
o 4 Common Governments in Ancient Greece/Greek
1. Monarchy - the power of one
2. Oligarchy - the power of the rich
3. Tyranny - the power taken
4. Democracy - power to the people
o Most shared authority - Most centralized authority (Arranged in order)
▪ Democracy > Oligarchy > Monarchy >Tyranny
1. Monarchy( 2000-800 BCE)
▪ one person rules, usually a king or a queen.
▪ monarchs governed the Minoan and
▪ Mycenaean civilization
▪ sometimes rulers are called “princes,”
▪ indicating local territory governance instead
▪ of a widespread kingdom (ruled by kings)
▪ eldest son inherits the position
▪ monarchs have luxurious lives; yet
▪ aristocrats still assisted them financially
2. Oligarchy (800-650 BCE)
▪ government was shared by a limited group of people (oligoi)
▪ handful to several hundreds of leaders per city state
▪ aristocracy - type of oligarchy in which leaders were selected only from privileged families.
▪ common people are neglected under oligarchy.
3. Tyranny (650-500 BCE)
▪ one person illegally rules by force.
▪ took power in an unconstitutional manner, often murdering their predecessor.
▪ tyranny = dictatorship
▪ 3 differences with monarchy
a. throne not necessarily inherited by children.
- most long-lived tyrannies existed in Corinth and city-states on Sicily
b. tyrant usually takes control illegally.
c. no legal limits on the tyrant’s power
4. Democracy -500 BCE
▪ government is ruled by the people.
▪ from Greek word “dēmos” = entire citizen body
▪ Athens - first city state to use this system of government.
▪ citizen must be a man 18 years old or over
▪ Greek word “polis” = city had a direct democracy
▪ directly vote on issues or for candidates
Similar Information
Democracy - rule by the people (male citizens).
Monarchy - rule by an individual who had
inherited his role.
Oligarchy - rule by a select group of individuals.
Tyranny - rule by an individual who had seized.
power by unconstitutional means
• HISTORICAL
Periods of Development
o Aegean / Early Period (2000-1100 BC)
▪ - 3 main cultures that flourished
A. Cycladic- Art are usually geometric and angular,
focused on depictions of the female figure.
B. Minoan (3000- 1400 BC) –invented early form of writing, and built large complex palaces, art
is colorful and loaded with a love of nature.
C. Mycenean/ Helladic (1400- 1100 BC) –relative dating system based on pottery products.
o Ancient Greece (800-323 BC)- Period in between the Greek Dark Ages and Hellenistic Period and
is further broken down into 3 periods.
A. Archaic Period ( 750-480 BCE)- gradual development of statehood, structural and
intellectual evolutions
B. Classical Period(479-323 B)- death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC, and the fall of last
Athenian tyrant in 510 BC
C. Hellenistic period (323 – 30 BCE )- Greek cultural influence and and power was at its peak.
o Architectural Character of Aegean was started in 3000-1100 BC.
Characteristic features
▪ Multi storey structure is low pitch or flat roof.
▪ They developed stairway for vertical circulation.
▪ Megaron is the houses termed and palace were principal building types.
Megaron area
▪ Has an enclosed porch
▪ Living apartment or megaron proper
▪ Sleeping room
4 methods of walling surface finishes
1. cyclopean- masonry made up of huge stone blocks laid " mortar"
2. polygonal- masonry constructed with stones having polygonal faces
3. rectangular-block of stone cut into rectangular shapes
4. inclined blocks- stones with inclined blocks
o Characteristics of Greek Architectural Structures
▪ Simplicity and Harmony
▪ Purity of Lines
▪ Perfection of Proportions
▪ Refinement of Details
Characteristics Features
▪ Rectangular plans
▪ Propylaea as Temples’ gateway
▪ Colonnade surrounding temples.
▪ Ceilings treated with timber paneled coffers.
▪ lacunar
▪ Walls made of stone.
▪ Marble structures completed the buildings.
▪ Highly developed mural paintings on the
▪ walls of temples
▪ Optical illusion in the Parthenon.
Example of Architectural Structures in Aegean Period
▪ Gate of Lions in Mycenea
▪ Palace of King Minos in Knosses
▪ Tombs – Tholos and the rock-cut or chamber tomb.
Example of Architectural Structures in Hellenic Period (650 -323 BC)
▪ Temenos - Principle Temple, Pinacotheca (picture gallery), Glypotheca (picture gallery), Statue
of Athena, The Erectheon, Old Temple of Athena, The Parthenon, Theater of Dionysus, Stoa of
Eumenes, Odeion of Herodes Atticus, Temple of Nike Apteros
▪ Civic square or city square or marketplace
• TEMPLES
PARTS:
1. Naos- contain statue of deity
2. Pronaos – inner portico in fornt
3. Epinaos- treasury chamber
ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
• Roman architecture continued the legacy left by Greek architects
• THE HISTORICAL TIMELINE
▪ Birth of Roman Republic 509 BC
▪ Historical event- Etruria Subjugated 400 BC
▪ Major technology- Aqueducts 312 BC
▪ Major Technology- Concrete 200 BC
▪ Circus Maximus 50 BC
▪ Historical Event-Roman Civil War 49 BC
▪ Pantheon 27 BCE
▪ Theatre of Marcellus 13 BCE
▪ Maison Carree 10 AD
▪ The Colosseum 70 AD
• HISTORY OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
o Roman architecture mainly refers to the buildings in Rome and the extended Empire that started
around 509 BC and continued until around the 4th Century AD.
• PEOPLE OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
o Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
▪ first great architect of Rome and responsible for the characteristic style of the buildings of
the Roman Empire.
▪ established that architectural design should consider three fundamental aspects, named
the Vitruvian Triad after him: stability, usefulness, and beauty.
o Apollodorus of Damascus
▪ The Forum of Trajan and Column of Trajan is an example of his influence .to architectural
style applied in the construction of buildings in Rome .
The fora or public squares were a tradition of great importance , space for population of
▪
Rome.
o Emperor Hadrian
▪ ruled as the Roman Emperor between the years 117 and 138.
▪ Works: Pantheon and the Temple of Venus and Roma.
• ORDERS OF ARCHITECTURE
o Doric Order - the first style of Classical Architecture, It represent the masculine.
o Ionic Order - characterized by the use of volutes.
o Corinthian - describes an ornate column style
o Tuscan order -is a Roman adaptation of the Doric.
o Composite order -. It is called Composite because its capital is composed of Ionic volutes and
Corinthian acanthus-leaf decoration.
• MATERIALS OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
o STONE
▪ Marble - used to decorate surfaces.
▪ Lime and sandstone - used for pedestrian areas subjected to light wear.
▪ Alabaster - applied as window panes, can be still seen in a couple of the more ancient
basilicas of Rome.
▪ Tufa - a form of compressed volcanic ash – igneous rock, which is relatively porous, light and
of medium hardness suitable for sturdy structures, such as foundations.
▪ Opus Reticulatum - Roman wall faced with patterned tufa bricks.
• TECHNIQUES OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
o The mastery of Roman architects & engineers of the arch, domes, and vaults was enhanced further
when concrete appeared.
• STRUCTURES OF ROMAN ARCHITECTURE
A. FORUM- open space used as a meeting place, market, or rendezvous for political demonstration.
EX. Forum Romanum, Forum of trajan
B. RECTANGULAR TEMPLE
C. CIRCULAR TEMPLE
D. BASILICAS- hall of justice or Assembly halls.
E. THERMAE - is a palatial public bath with three (3) main parts
F. AMPHITHEATER OR COLOSSEUM - is used for gladiatorial combat and elliptical in plan.
G. TRIUMPHAL ARCHES - This was erected to commemorate victorious campaign of Emperors.
H. AQUEDUCTS - Carried water in pipes from the country to the heart of the city
I. INSULAE- 3- or 4- storey tenement type buildings
J. BALNEUM - private bath
K. THEATER/ODEION - built up by means of concrete vaulting, supporting tiers of seats; it was
restricted to a semi-circle.
• FAMOUS BUILDING
o Pantheon – temples of all gods in ancient greek
o Colloseum-largest ampitheater
BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE
• BYZANTINE ARCHITECTURE, recognized as Late Roman or Eastern Roman Empire
• The new Roman capital of Byzantium, which was later renamed Constantinople and presently known as
Istanbul.
• Constructions Style is religious, or congregation related.
• Two kingdoms, the Western and Eastern Empire
• First buildings constructed were churches; Domed, centralized plan.
• The dome was the prevailing motif of Byzantine architecture.
• WESTERN
Ravenna, most important cities in all Europe. Home of western emperors, become link between
western and eastern empire.
Their exquisite decorative art, includes mosaics, relief sculpture, mural paintings, ceramic art, maiolica,
ivory carving ,marble in lays, gold smithing, ornamented sarcophagi, and much more.
• EASTERN
Constantinople (now Istanbul, formerly Byzantium) adopted the Byzantine architectural style for its
structures. Architecture of Constantinople dominated the Christian East,
• HISTORY AND ORIGINS OF WESTWERN AND EASTERN BYZANTINE
ROMAN EMPEROR JUSTINIAN
o Byzantine architecture dominated the eastern half of the Roman Empire during his reign.
o Rose to power in Constantinople and started a conquest that would stretch across the
Mediterranean, recapturing most of the formal Roman Empire.
EMPEROR CONSTANTINE
o he briefly united Rome, as it was dividing in the 3rd to 4th centuries.
o Convert empire to Christianity.
o Moved the capital from Rome to the Greek city Byzantium in modern-day Turkey.
• GEOGRAPHICAL
EMPEROR DIOCLETIAN
o divided Roman Empire in into two parts known as the Western Roman Empire and the
Eastern Roman Empire.
o Founded a governmental structure known as the Tetrarchy. Greek words "tetra" means four
and "arch" means rule.
▪ eastern part of the Roman empire was located in a place called Byzantium. This was in an area
near the Bosporus Strait. It is located at the crossroads of two major commercial highways: the
water high-road from the Black Sea into the Mediterranean Sea,
o Advantage of Constantinople Geography: Richness, wealth, protection
THEODOSIAN WALL: Emperor Theodosius II built the Theodosian Walls in the 5th century. Build
with limestone mortar that can be able to absorb seismic shock without shattering.
• GEOLOGICAL
o Constantinople possessed no good construction stone or material for creating bricks.
o Thessalian Green marble (Verde Antico) accounts for 75% of the colored marble used in Hagia
Sophia and other churches and mosques in Constantinople.
• CLIMATE
• Constantinople being hotter than Rome, Since the temperature becomes hotter, smaller windows
at a high level and few openings were used to solve this problem.
• INFLUENCE OF PREVIOUS ARCHITECTURE- Early Christian and Classical Roman architecture profoundly
influenced Byzantine architecture. The major distinction between early Christian and Byzantine art and
architecture may be summed up in two words: bigger and more. More clerestory windows and mosaics
covered.
• RELIGION
o “Byzantine Christianity”
o Constantine, first Roman emperor to become a Christian.
o Convert empire to Christianity.
o Byzantine emperors considered all non-Christians to be heretics.
o Iconoclastic Movement It is a decree to ban the use of statues as means of representation, either
human or animal forms
o ICONOCLASM, Refers to a recurring historical impulse to break or destroy images for religious or
political reasons.
• 10 FAMOUS BUILDING
1. Hagia Sophia
2. Hagia Irene
3. Basilica of
4. Sant' apollinare Nuovo
5. Basilica Cistern
6. Daphni Monastery
7. Basilica of San Vitale
8. St. Mark Basilica
9. Hosios Loukas
10. Church of Saint Catherine
11. Byzantine Baths
EARLY CHRISTIAN ARCHITECTURE
• GEOGRAPHICAL
o Christianity had its birth in Judaea, an eastern province of the Roman Empire.
o It was carried to Rome by St. Peter, St. Paul and other missionaries.
o Early Christian architecture was influenced by existing Roman art.
• GEOLOGICAL
o The ruins of Roman buildings often provided the quarry to build basilican churches.
• CLIMATIC
o Modification of styles depended on climatic conditions where hotter climates necessitated small
windows.
• RELIGION
o The Early Christian Period lasted from Constantine to Charlemagne.
o Christianity inspired the building of churches for worship.
o Constantine changed the capital of the Empire from Rome to Byzantium
• ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTER
o Early Christian buildings hardly have the architectural value of a style produced by the
solution of constructive problems.
Example: BASILICAN CHURCHES - Usually erected over the burial place of the saint to whom it was
dedicated
• PLAN
o BASILICA- An early Christian church characterized by long rectangular plan.
• WALLS
o constructed according to the Roman methods, rubble or concrete walling being used, faced with
plaster, brick, or stone.
o Mosaic was used internally, and sometimes externally.
• OPENINGS
o Doors, windows, and niches were generally spanned by a semicircular arch
o The window openings were small;
• ROOFS
o Further development of trusses - king and queen post trusses
o These roofs were sealed in some ornamental manner
• COLUMNS
o Columns and capitals from old Roman buildings were used. Basilican churches are impressive and
dignified by the long perspective of columns.
• MOULDINGS
o These are coarse variations of Roman types, and the carving is of the rudest kind, though rich in
general effect.
• ORNAMENT
• The introduction of much color is a feature of the period, giving much richness to the interiors.
• PARTS OF A BASILICAN CHURCH:
1. Atrium – open forecourt surrounded by arcades,
2. Narthex – located between the atrium and the church, was used by penitents.
3. Nave – seating area for the worshippers.
4. Aisles – located on both sides of the nave.
5. Cancelli / Chancel– low screen wall enclosing the choir.
6. Ambo / Pulpit – place where the priest reads the gospel and delivers the homily.
7. Transept – side projections of the church.
8. Bema – raised platform on the altar.
9. Altar – place where the priest officiates the mass.
10. Baldachino – erected on columns over the altar.
11. Apse - is a circular termination of the church.
12. Arch of triumph – at the entrance of the apse above the altar.
EXAMPLES:
A. HOUSE CHURCH
o The DURA-EUROPOS CHURCH (also known as the Dura-Europos house church) is the earliest
identified Christian house church.
B. BAPTISTERIES
o They are separate buildings used only for the sacrament of baptism during Easter, Pentecost &
Epiphany.
o Baptistery of Constantine, Rome was built by Pope Sixtus III and was among the oldest of Italian
Baptisteries.
o Baptistery of Sta. Maria Maggiore, Nocera is a 6th-century circular structure and houses the
second largest baptismal font in Italy.
o Neonian Baptistery, This brick octagonal monument is the oldest in Ravenna and contains some
of most beautiful mosaics was listed in UNESCO World Heritage in 1996.
C. TOMBS
o Christian’s objection to cremation led to the building of monumental tombs which were an
expression of the faith in immortality and memorial to the dead.
1. Monumental Tombs
o Tomb of Galla Placidia, The entire vault is covered in ancient mosaic.
o Mausoleum of Santa Costanza,
o Tomb of Theodoric,
2. Catacombs are networks of subterranean chambers for burial purposes of the early Christians.
o .Catacomb of St. Callistus,
o Catacomb of St. Domitilla,
o Catacomb of Priscilla,
D. BASILICAN CHURCHES
o Church of the Nativity- Bethlehem, Palestine, this is the traditional birthplace spot of Jesus.
o Church of the Holy Sepulcher- where Jesus was crucified and entombed.
o St. Apollinaire Nuovo- The interior is famed for its side walls full of figurative mosaics.
o St. Apollinaire In Classe - It has been described as the most impressive example of the Early Christian
basilica.
o Sta. Sabina- Santa Sabina is the mother church of the Order of Preachers (Dominican Order).
