Lecture 8 The Greek City

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Lecture 8 The Greek City
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Topography and Climate

• Both Greece and Ionia are mountainous, with only
  limited fertile areas in the form of isolated
  valleys, plains, and plateaus.
• Such conditions favored the existence of small
  and independent states. Each city-state
  consisted of an urban nucleus surrounded by the
  countryside and subordinate agricultural village
  communities.

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Geography and the Greek City-States (Polis)

• Greece is part of the Balkan peninsula and is
  comprised of the Peloponnesus and surrounding
  islands.
• Off the Greek mainland are hundreds of small
  islands.
• Natural resources were used both locally and for
  trade.
• Athens and Sparta were two of the largest
  city-states.

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The Empire of Alexander the Great
Quarreling city-states were conquered by Philip
of Macedonia and his son Alexander, increased the
influence of Greek culture through his conquests
to the East. This is the beginning of the
Hellenistic period. Styles shift from staid
tradition to showier and freer interpretations
and the Doric Order (intimately connected with
mainland Greece) was superseded by the more
ornate and less strict rules of the Ionic and
Corinthian Orders.
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MAP
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Athens and Sparta

• Society grew into a limited democracy, or
  government by the people. Male citizens over age
  30 participated in government. Limited rights for
  women. Women were considered inferior.
• Boys received education in many areas, not just
  military training but all boys received military
  training.
• Rulers encouraged trade with other city-states.
  Wealth power resided in the aristocracy.

Rulers were two kings, a council of elders,
assembly of citizens, five ephors. Rulers
formed a military society. Strict control over
peoples lives. Rulers forbade trade and travel,
or mixing with other city-states. Male,
native-born Spartans over age 30 were citizens.
Conquered people were turned into slaves, called
helots owned by the state. Slaves had no
political rights or personal freedom. Women had
the right to inherit property but were expected
to obey men. Girls were raised to produce healthy
sons for the army. Emphasis on military virtues,
discipline, fitness and health.
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The Population

• The self-imposed limit on population was not
  regarded as being in any way restrictive it was
  a necessary pre-condition for the orderly
  development of civil life.
• The population had to be large enough to enable
  an army to be raised, but not so large as to
  impede the smooth running of the assembly.
• The population had to be small enough for the
  citizens to be able to have some knowledge of
  each other and so that they could choose their
  magistrates.

• In theory, all citizens had a voice in the
  affairs of their city state (most city-states
  contained 5,000 citizens except Athens (approx.
  20,000) and Syracuse.
• The controlled population fostered the
  possibility for all citizens to gather throughout
  the year in one place, at one time, made feasible
  the Greek form of self-government.
• The Greek concept of polis was about collective
  freedom of society individual liberty could also
  exist, but that was not very important.

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The Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bassai (c.450
425BCE), designed by Iktinos employs all three
orders Doric I external colonnade, Ionis
cella side columns, and Corinthian single axial
column at the end of the cella. Adjacent statue
of Apollo faced east through an opening in the
cella wall unusual for its orientation as the
main entrance faces north. First known use of
the Corinthian Order. Elongated plan is
deliberate reference to history of the cult of
Apollo on the site.
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The Corinthian Order was employed on a
substantial scale at the Tholos at the Sanctuary
of Asklepios at Epidauros (c. 360 -330 BCE).
Approximately 72 feet in diameter, it is known
only from its foundations and reassembled bits
and pieces. The site was a large complex of
buildings dedicated to healing through exercise,
diet and medical care, and included stadia,
gymnasia, a theatre, altars, fountains ad baths,
temples and motel-like accommodations. The
tholos had 26 Doric external columns, 14
freestanding Corinthian columns in the inner
circle, and a black and white rhomboidal floor
pattern. The ceiling had ornate coffers with
floral decorations. Probable architect is
Polykleitos, a well-known sculptor.
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We have seen how the spatial experience of
buildings on the Acropolis affected the placement
and design of temples on the site, so that what
appears in the plan view to be haphazard unfolds
before the visitor in logical sequence as an
ordered and balanced universe. The Athenian Agora
is similar because it developed over time and
went through multiple changes, and because it
also employs the elements of surprise and
changing perspectives to reveal the full drama of
the site.
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A group of civic buildings were built beginning
about 600 BCE around the Dromos. This began to
define boundaries for the public space that
became the Agora, the civic and commercial heart
of the city. The first bouleterion , (along with
a shrine to Zeus and a few temples), was an
ambitious project for 500 senators, the elected
governors of Athens. A columned porch led
directly to a senate chamber with the roof
supported on the walls and four interior
intermediate columns.
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The Royal Stoa at the northwest corner was for
the citys chief magistrate, who was responsible
for official sacrifices, administration of the
citys festivals and ajducation of priestly
disputes. This stoa was the first of a type that
was constructed on a larger scale for various
purposes in the Classical and later eras.
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After the Persian Wars, while the Acropolis was
being constructed, the Agora was a constrution
site, too. The Doric Hephaisteion (temple to
Hephaistos and Athena) was built c. 449-440 BCE.
War damage to the Royal Stoa was repaired and the
building slightly enlarged and new stoas were
built. The Painted Stoa displayed paintings and
was Doric on outside but Ionic on the inside. It
was used for informal meetings of the Stoic
philosophers. The Stoa of Zeus repllaced an
earlier shrine. The first South Stoa used for
meals and commercial activities, was built near
the Heliaia, the main law court. A new
bouleterian was built behind the old one which
was remaned the Metroon, used for city archives.
The tholos was used for meals served to the 50
senators on duty at any time. The open spaces of
the Agora were used as a racetrack and sometimes
a theatre and dancing. Building continued in the
Hellenistic Period and some Classical buildings
were modified to create a more complete sense of
enclosure. The South Stoa was rebuilt on a
slightly different orientation and the Middle
Stoa was added. The Stoa of Attalos was added at
a right angle to the Middle Stoa creating a
narrow entrance to the open Agora beyond.
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Agora
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Hellenistic Cities

• Greek city planning was not always asymmetrical
  and evolutionary in form as in Athens. The
  Greeks regularly employed orthogonal town plans,
  especially in their colonies, which were planned
  communities.
• By 734 BC, several cities were founded in both
  the western and eastern Mediterranean including
  Syracuse in Sicily, Marseilles, Naples, Pompeii
  and Miletus.
• The planning of Miletus by Hippodamus became the
  starting point of a gigantic colonization
  movement at least 60 colonies originated based
  on Miletus planning approach.

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Planned Greek Cities

• Assos
• Miletus
• Priene

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Assos
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Miletus

• Planned by Hippodamus.
• Important role in the gradual establishment of
  Greek commercial and military power
• Persians, fire or earthquake destroyed Miletus in
  494BC
• Reconstruction from 479BC
• A, early fortified hilltop settlement B, the
  main harbour C, Agora complex, D, theater and
  other cultural/leisure facilities.

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Priene
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Priene
Detail of the Agora A, main east-west street
across city B, grid street continues through the
southern stos with access up via steps C, main
agora space D, colonneded hall E, fiah and meat
market F, stepped grid footpath on hillside G,
north stoa H, bouleuterion J, Prytaneion K,
Temple of Zeus
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Pergamon
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Olynthus
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Greek Urban Elements

• Acropolis
• Enclosing city wall
• The agora
• Residential districts
• Leisure and cultural areas
• Religious precinct
• The harbor and port
• Industrial district

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The Theater

• Greeks were and still are a race devoted to the
  theater.
• Customary in Athens to give free admission to the
  poor for all performances of the great contests
  where Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, and
  Aristophanes won their crowns.
• Competitive theatrical performances were
  religious, literary or political in character and
  theaters became a basic necessity of the
  architectural layout for all cities.
• Schools were associated with palestrae and
  gymnasia, or libraries, assembly halls and
  porticoes were grouped together to form real
  campuses.

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Special Building Types

• Gymnasium, Stadium, Theatres
• In many cities, these public buildings were to be
  found on the southern side of the acropolis.
• Each of these building types was regarded as
  essential in every city. Often these cultural
  and civic functions are grouped together.

Theater of Epidaurus (built after 350 BC) could
house 14,000 spectators
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Difference between Greek and Mesopotamian Urban
Structure

• Two revolutionary Greek innovations were
• The agora, the multipurpose area for the
  democratic assembly
• Leisure building types, such as the theater and
  arenas, did not have a place in the Sumerian
  schema as Sumerian urbanites were, most probably,
  denied the opportunity for public gatherings and
  such leisure time, as was available, was spent
  resting at home.

Theatre of Herodes Atticus
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Theater at Pompeii
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Agrippa's Theater in Mérida
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Famous Greek Writers

• Aristophanes
• The Birds, the Frogs, etc.
• comedic political satire

• Aeschylus Tragedian, veteran of Marathon and
  Salamis

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Famous Greek Writers

• Sophocles - tragedian

• Euripides tragedian,
• frequently the target of
• Aristophanes humor.

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Civic Buildings

• Agora Open public space for market social
  activity
• Bouleuterion A place of assembly and voting
• Tholos circular temple
• Dromos the main street, in Athens the
  Panathenaic Way
• Stoa a covered colonnade, may have market
  stalls behind

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Civic Buildings

• Stoa of Attalus II

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Bouleuterion at Paestum
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Influences on Society

• Greek architecture is an expression of community
  and the basic ties assuring unity. Maintenance
  of independence and autonomy is a basic law of
  city-states, but individuals are governed by
  these laws. So architecture expresses unity and
  group life rather than individual concerns.
• Temples as dwelling places of gods and goddesses
  who watched over everything.
• Forms recognizable to all insure permanence and
  protection of structures.
• Wooden temples and shrines often divided into two
  aisles by row of pillars, later were built in
  stone. Vast structures come in the early 6th
  century BCE.
• Heavy Doric styles in the west and rich complex
  Ionian styles in the east.
• Theaters and gymnasia became separated from the
  city center in 5th and 4th centuries, but no
  Greek city was without an acropolis, theater,
  agora, and market. Town plans enable the cities
  functions to be carried out in the most
  harmonious setting possible.

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Radical Change

• In 4th and 3rd centuries BCE the architecture of
  city-states gave way to that of kings and
  princes, ushering in a new set of inspirations
  and outlooks. Great buildings no longer are
  merely group expressions, but also express
  princely power. They become a means of
  influence, signs of civilization, instruments of
  diplomacy and conquest.
• Because of Alexander the Great opening up the
  world, new scales were developed to reflect the
  size of the new world. A taste for fine homes
  came into being and the concentration of tasteful
  individual houses and palaces assured the
  economic prosperity of these cities. About the
  same time a taste for funerary architecture
  became popular, a form that had not been employed
  since Mycenaean times.
• City-states were now becoming the seat of power
  and architectural scale was driven by ideas of
  monumentality which increased in relation to the
  ambitions of the cities ruler or founder.
  Architecture served as a reflection of their
  power and the part played by them in a world
  conquered by Hellenism. The city-states had
  achieved a balance between the nomadic of central
  and northern Europe with the centralized bloc of
  the kingdoms of the East, but wealth and power
  ended in the dispersal of the original
  characteristics of Hellenic creativity.

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• Town buildings now on a monumental basis and
  proportions increased with the ambitions of the
  towns ruler, since it served as a reflection of
  that individuals or rulers ambitions.
• Expansion of commercial resources and growing
  middle class led to growing opposition to the
  power of the tyrants. The final victory of the
  city-states over the Persian forces at Marathon
  and Salamis opened the way for the development of
  the democratic regimes. The middle classes came
  to power often led by the descendents of the old
  ruling families which had been crushed or
  banished by the tyrants.
• Athens is a good example of this form of
  political evolution. Lawgivers arose to codify
  primitive laws which had been handed down by word
  of mouth, for example, Solon of Athens. Leaders
  were chosen by lot, but laws were voted on in
  assembly. Only posts demanding some technical
  skill were elected, such as those concerned with
  building. Privileges of the upper classes
  diminished as the poor assumed political rights
  and responsibilities the same as the wealthy.
  Only foreigners, slaves and women were excluded
  from government. The Dorian territories clung to
  their oligarchic and aristocratic tendencies, but
  had a citizen assembly and council of elders with
  limited powers.
• By adapting itself to the scale of the new
  Macedonian world, Greek architecture lost most of
  its original features, especially the fundamental
  relationship to mankind. It became separated
  into elements easy for neighboring civilizations
  to copy without understanding the underlying
  ideal unity. It was simple for the Romans to
  change and integrate the Greek forms into the new
  needs and ideals of the Roman civilization.

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• Battles of Marathon (490BCE) and Salamis (480BCE)
  were the turning points in the war with Persia.
• On the plain of Marathon, the Athenian Greeks
  encircled and defeated a larger Persian force and
  then marched quickly back to Athens to warn the
  inhabitants. (Sparta would not participate,
  though they were allied with Athens.)
• Origin of the racing term Marathon Supposedly, a
  messenger (Pheidippides) ran about 25 miles, from
  Marathon to Athens, to announce the defeat of the
  Persians. At the end of the march he died of
  exhaustion.
• Salamis was great naval battle where the smaller
  Greek triremes trapped the larger Persian
  triremes in a small area where they could not
  maneuver and rammed and sank them one by one.
  Queen Artemisia of the Persian navy switched
  sides in the middle of the battle and began
  ramming the Persian ships. The Persian king
  Xerxes, witnessing the horror from the shore
  remarked that Artemisia was the only general to
  show any productive bravery ramming and
  destroying nine Athenian triremes, saying, "My
  female general has become a man, and my male
  generals all become women."

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After Alexander the Great

• Independent and rival kingdoms established in
  Macedonia (Antigonids), Egypt (Ptolemys), and
  Pergamon (Attalids.) Competition between them in
  politics and war, and also the arts. Political
  influence, personal glory and dynastic pressures
  contributed to the growth and cross-fertilization
  of the arts.

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Palestra (Gymnasium) at Pompeii
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Some Terms to Remember

• Acropolis - A hilltop fortress of an ancient
  Greek city-state
• Agora Marketplace and public meeting space of a
  city
• Bouleuterion assembly hall for voting
• Caryatid Alternate to a column, figure of a
  woman
• Dromos main street through the agora of Athens,
  or Panathenaic Way
• Insula City blocks, or sometimes apartment
  houses that fill a block
• Parts of the Doric and Ionic columns and
  entablature
• Names of major deities, poets and philosophers
• Parthenon - The Athenian temple dedicated to the
  goddess Athena

• Phalanx - A massive formation of heavily armed
  foot-soldiers in ancient Greece
• Pinocatheca Picture gallery
• Polis - A city-state in ancient Greece
• Stoa roofed porch with shops
• Terms for arrangement of columns in antis,
  tetrastyle, hexastyle, etc.
• Theater Open air theater for plays, often of
  political themes

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Greek Contributions to Urban Planning

• Use of gridiron by Greek town planners basis of
  a systematic approach to the organization of the
  cities
• The contrast between planned urban form and the
  organic growth pattern as seen at Catal Huyuk,
  Ur, and Babylon.