Hellenistic Architecture

1
Hellenistic Architecture

• Stoas, Theaters, Temple complexes

2
Historical Background

• 323 BCE Death of Alexander the Great
• Seleucid dynasty at Antioch in Syria.
• Attalid dynasty at Pergamon in Asia Minor.
• Macedonians control Greece.
• Hieron II (275 - 216 BCE) in Syracuse.
• 201 BCE Roman praetor in Syracuse.
• Bickering among Greek city-states.
• Philip V defeated by Romans in 197 BCE totally
  broken at Pydna in 168 BCE.
• 146 BCE Mummius sacks Corinth. Rome razes
  Carthage.
• 133 BCE Pergamon bequeaths its kingdom to Rome.
• 33 BCE Battle of Actium.

3
Architecture

• City planning in Asia Minor effects the
  rebuilding of city centers like the agora in
  Athens.
• Stoas frame and monumentalize public spaces.
• Dictatorial displays favor gigantic building
  projects - large temples constructed.
• Rise in public entertainment for an expanding,
  diverse population seen in theater complex
  constructions.

4
Examples

• Temples
• Apollo at Didyma,
• Olympieion at Athens.
• Stoas
• Attalos at Athens
• Market in Miletus.
• Theaters
• Dionysos in Athens
• Pergamon.

5
Temple of Apollo at Didyma

• Pre-Greek cult center with sacred grove and
  spring.
• First temple completed in 6th century BCE
  unroofed Ionic building enclosing the spring and
  naiskos.
• 311 BCE Cult revived by the Seleucids and temple
  commissioned.

6
Plan of Didyma temple

• Monumental Ionic, dipteral temple surrounding a
  naiskos.
• 118 meters by 60 meters.
• Monumental stairway descends to the cella.
• Climb up to staircase through tunnels from the
  pronaos.
• Temple primarily of marble.
• Temple plans inscribed on the marble walls.

7
Olympieion, Athens.

• Begun by the Peisistratids in 6th century BCE as
  a Doric temple. Unfinished.
• 175 BCE Antiochus IV commissioned the architect
  Cossutius to finsih in Corinthian order.
• 108 by 41 meters.
• Triple rows of eight columns back and front.
• Sack of Athens by Sulla in 86 BCE. Corinthian
  capitals brought to Rome.

8
Plan of the Olympieion
9
Stoa of Attalos

• Gift of Attalos (159 - 138 BCE) and his wife.
• 115 by 20 meters.
• Two floors of 21 shops. 42 shops total.
• Primarily made of marble.

10
Column orders in the stoa

• Exterior Doric on the ground floor (unfluted
  bottom half). Ionic on the top floor.
• Interior Ionic on the ground floor. Pergamene
  (new) on the top.

11
Reconstruction

• Completed by the ASCSA in 1950s.
• Serves as the museum for the Athenian Agora.

12
Stoa framing
13
Miletus

• Rebuilt in Hellenistic period. Mid 2nd c. BCE.
• Complex market arrangement. South and North
  markets. All public buildings and offices enlsoed
  in thus planned market area.
• Bouleterion - ironic during these times of the
  loss of local autonomy.

14
Theater of Dionysos at Athens

• 5th century theater was simple, without marble
  seats and structure.
• Mid. 4th c BCE Lykourgos responsible form marble
  crystallization of its form.

15
Theater at Pergamon

• Site planned and built in 3rd c. BCE. Bequeathed
  to Rome in 133 BCE.
• Theater dominates, underlying theatrical
  setting.
• Great Altar platform looms over theater.