700-200 BCE The Greek City-State

Greek architecture was formed with civil and religious architecture which are temples, altars, tombs, theater, Odeon, stadium, fountains, houses and castles. Temples; the most important part of temple is Cella other name is Naos. It is the most sacred part of statue of God. The ceiling generally is made of Keson. Cornice is generally ornamented with antefix which is shaped as the head of lion. The most characteristic element of Greek architecture is columns. The first columns were made of wood, after that columns were made of stones. It is a transition from adobe constructions to stone constructions.

Greek Architecture influenced from Egyptian Architecture. First sculptures, columns, beams and stone architecture are products of these influences. Like Egyptians, Greeks are influenced by regions of geography and climate conditions. Greek’s public structures were generally open air area and they contained stadia which is used for theater. For Greeks, going to theater was a ceremony of soul of community. Aim of theater was not only for entertainment, it’s aim is also contributing the political education. Temples: one of the most important structures of Greek’s were temples. They were not public area, only chosen people and priests came in to the temples. Whereas inside of temples were simple, out facade contain attentive art because public rituals did at altars.

Parthenon

• Athenian, Acropolis Greece
• 447-438 BCE
• Purpose: Temple to goddess Athena
• Iktinos, Kolikrates
• Museum
• Post and Lintel System

Parthenon is a Doric temple supported by Ionic columns. It has a rectangular floor and is made entirely from marble with limestone base. An Ionic frieze runs around its exterior walls. The east pediment narrates the birth of Athena while the west pediment shows the contest between Athena and Poseidon to become the city’s patron god. Sometimes there is only cella and all around stairs.

700-200 BCE Southwest Asia & Persian

With the improving the military techniques such as the wheeled chariot, helped the continuum the politic empires. All over the world there was a combination of military and diplomatic strategies. They deployed their power to “Regional Satraps”, to give pledges loyalty. Thenceforth third millennium BCE South West Asia were assembled into empires gradually and this way cause repeated political scenario. A strong military leader on a path of conquest. By the eighth century BCE, the empires of the region improved both architectural project and in imperial administration. Sargon II’s new capital of Dur-Sharukkin and Nebuchadnezzar’s rebuilding of Babylon provided a new sense of urban order with well made city and city gates. Sargon II ‘s Dur-Sharrukin: Because of the invasions and famine kepting, Southwest Asia experienced the period of stagnation during. Neo- Assyrians with their army and laid claim to the lands of the fertile crescent. The new despot Sargon II modeled himself and to consolidate the territories he get a lot of lands.

The Babylon Gate was the huge entrance of Babylon. It was made of blue bricks which are ornamented with animal figures. It was the way of ceremony.

Persepolis was the capital city of Persian. Sargon’s palace which is Persepolis Palace was at Persepolis  It reflect the culture of Persian. Grand palace remains, impressive wall decorations and high quality sculptures were features of Persepolis. At the entrance of the palace, there are 2 Lamassu  (bull-man). They have horned head, half man half bull. It has sophisticated style also they have wings. It symbolized 38 nations and they dissociate with 3 tree motifs.

XIR189592 Head of Sargon I (c.2334-2279 BC) 2400-2200 BC (copper) (see also 187024) by Mesopotamian copper Iraq Museum, Baghdad Giraudon out of copyright

Head of Sargon, Ninevah 2250 BCE: It was deliberately damaged enormously. On his head there are diadem(band). His knot is called as Chignon. Proportion is very good.

1500-750 BCE

The Aegean in the Bronze Age ( Labyrinths and Cyclopean Walls)

During the second millennium BCE, the cultures that developed around the Aegean Sea. The settlements on Crete, in Greece and in Turkey conserved a deep belief in the spiritual power of natural phenomena. In their cities and their architectural plans they chose hilly sites. Also large, unrendered stones, cyclopean walls are used by their architects.

Minoan Crete: One of the most extraordinary cultural awakenings of the Bronze Age occurred on Crete, a long, narrow island, on the southern rim of the Aegean Sea. The small town of Gournia, on the bay of Mirobello in the northeast, offered the best-preserved example of Minoan  urban layouts. They built artillery and military structures also they used fortification walls. There are no monumentality on the contrary Mycenaean. Their drainage system was excellent for water bearing. Decorations were evidently no less important than comfort. Also they built wooden columns and painted plastered walls(wall paintings). The subject matter of Minoan art was derived mainly from the natural world.

A modern copy of the ancient Minoan dolphin fresco is installed in place of the original dating from 1500 BC at Knossos palace, Heraklion (Iraklion), Crete, Greece, Europe. Knossos is a Minoan archeological site associated with the Labyrinth and Minotaur of Greek mythology. The Bronze Age palace of Knossos was first built around 1900 BC, destroyed by a large earthquake or foreign invaders in 1700 BC, rebuilt more grandly, then damaged several more times by earthquakes, by invasions, and in 1450 BC by the colossal volcanic eruption of Thera (modern Thira or Santorini). Invading Mycenaeans used Knossos as their capital as they ruled the island of Crete until 1375 BC. Archaeologist Arthur Evans excavated the Palace at Knossos from 1900-1905 and named the Minoan civilization of Crete after king Minos from Greek mythology. Homer’s epic poems of the Iliad and Odyssey are the first Greek literature to mention Minos as a king of Knossos, Crete. Minos was son of Zeus and Europa. Every nine years Minos made King Aegeus pick seven men and seven women to go to the Labyrinth to be eaten by the Minotaur, a creature half man and half bull. After his death, legendary Minos became a judge of the dead in Hades. The vast building complex at Knossos is popularly thought to be the site of the Labyrinth, which Greek mythology says was designed by architect Daedalus with such complexity that no one could ever find its exit. Published by Thames & Hudson Ltd in the book “Art and Archaeology of the Greek World” by Richard Neer 2012.

The sea provided many motifs, underwater plants floats and sway languidly. Dolphins play happily on little gold cup and large vases.

Here is the plan of Gournia, Crete. They like very much courtyard. Everybody lives in structures. It is Knossos, Crete. Ceramic figure. Frontality is very important. They used glazed ceramic which is faience. In ceramic figure, open bodice is used. Also her skirt is called as folded skirt.They used in structures vivid colors and figures. It is very colorful. Also their ornaments very durable and are covered the plaster.

Mycenaeans built cyclopean walls and Megaron palaces. They were more attacker and daring from Minoans. They were representative culture of Minoans. Unlike Cretan cities, their cities were sheltered. Tyrins city was located on limestone plateau. Megaron was the heart of palace. Houses and public buildings are located on Agora. People did trade and education. Then agora is defined with stoa.

New Kingdom Egypt: Akhenaten ( Amenhotep IV)  was a pharaoh of Egypt. He is also known as Akhenaton which is translated to mean successful for or of great to use the god Aten. Akhenaton want to changed his name after the conversion the cult of Aten, prior of this conversion he was known Amenhotep IV. He was the son of Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye. During the five years of sovereignty, he followed the policies of his father and the religious traditions of Egypt. However, in the fifth year, he pass a dramatic religious transformation, changed his loyalty from the cult of Amun to that of Aten and for the next twelve years, became famous as the heretic king who removed traditional religious rites of Egypt. Also he moved the capital city from Thebes to Amarna. Amarna is built as a shelter. All structures and ways are built as a place of a worship. After his death, the cult of Aten is removed and all over the things which are interested him are abolished. After his that, his groom become pharaoh for little time. After that although there is no blood relation, Horemneb became pharaoh. because he had military power. Moreover in this period with the separated of art and religion, the art improved, no longer pictures were very realistic and sculptures were perfect and well-made, also very detailed.

Egypt abounded in material also materials had high quality. First they used sand and clay later to endurable they used heat energy. They use wood little. Firstly they used square plan and then they started to use polygonal plan. High official people are built mastaba for their tombs. Their plan was rectangular and had flat roof. Walls were sloping with 75 degree. Also they are made of limestone.