Product Description

This survey takes the reader through the history of Greek architecture from Minoan Crete to the Hellenic era, and its expansion in the Mediterranean world during the 5th century BC. The book begins with a detailed analysis of Minoan Crete, the birthplace of Western architecture in the second millennium BC, describing the palaces at Mallia, Knossos, and Zakro. Straightforward, readable text placed side-by-side with large photographs and drawings covers the functional and organic composition of the palaces; columns, pilasters, and porticoes; the organization of volumes and interior spaces; decorative aspects, polychrome, and murals. The book continues through Mycenae (the famous Lion's Gate, Palace of Nestor, the "Treasury of Atreus") to the birth and evolution of the doric and ionic orders, religious architecture (with emphasis on the temples of Paestum, Corinth, Delphi, and the Acropolis), to the temples and structures of Classical Greece. The book dedicates a section to civic architecture, which in its massiveness reflected the creation and evolution of the political community, the most original aspect of ancient Greece. The author discusses the spatial composition of the major urban complexes, the relationships between buildings (stadiums, theatres, agoras) and between the complexes and their urban surroundings, and the birth of urbanism. Important centres outside Greece are discussed, including Agrigento and Segesta in Sicily. The final section documents the Hellenic phase, with its unparalleled innovations and its influence on the greater Mediterranean.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3410370 in Books
• Published on: 1988-11-15
• Released on: 1988-11-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 204 pages

Customer Reviews

A pictorial "Ferrari" of history of architecture books
A part of the series History of World Architecture originally published by Electa in Italian in 1971-7 under a general editorship of Pier Luigi Nervi, it was translated to English and published by Abrams in 1971-80 in b&w only, but at 10 x 11 1/4 inches. Subsequently, the series was reedited, shrunk to 8 5/7 x 9 1/2 inches, and published by Electa / Rizzoli in 1985-9 with a few color photos added including each front cover. In the early 2000's, the series was reissued by Phaidon unchanged except for the front cover photo. It is a pictorial "Ferrari" of history of architecture books. Almost every page contains one or - usually - more than one illustration as photo, plan, section, elevation, axonometric view, etc. of the highest quality. They depict the best examples of topical architecture covering the most significant ones. The text was written by one of the best experts in the field. While relatively concise, it is still comprehensive and complete enough even for students of architecture.
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
(24 color and 276 black and white illustrations; the Abrams' edition combines Ancient and Greek Architectures.)
This volume presents an extraordinary collection of images and covers the whole range of Greek architecture, from a thorough analysis of Minoan Crete - which marked the beginning of the history of Western architecture - through Mycenae, to the magnificence of the Doric places of worship: from the temples of Corinth, Delphi and the Acropolis to those of Magna Graecia. The book covers the birth and evolution of the doric and ionic orders, religious architecture, and the temples and structures of Classical Greece. There is a substantial section on civic architecture, which closely reflects the formation and evolution of the political community, the most original aspect of ancient Greece. Important centres outside Greece are discussed, including Agrigento and Segesta in Sicily. The final section documents the Hellenic phase, with its unparalleled innovations and its influence on the greater Mediterranean.