Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

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No matter where you are in the world today, chances are you have come across a piece ofGreek-inspired architecture.

Buildings, monuments, and even houses have always borrowed ideas from some of Greece’smost famous landmarks throughout history, and as time goes on, the thoughts used for theseonce-traditional structures have begun to take a turn for the contemporary.

Modern Greek architecture is commonly defined as architecture which has followedinternational and cultural trends; however, real modern Greek architecture actually began whenthe Modern Greek state was established after the country’s war of independence in 1821.

The materials mostly used by Greeks when it came to constructing their structures primarilyconsisted of wood, unbaked bricks, limestone and marble, and terracotta and metals. Today,these supplies are still used by contractors who build edifices, whether they are structuressignifying religion, politics, or recreation.

Of all the architectural designs used by ancient Greeks throughout history, three major systemshave withstood the test of time and are today still used. These include the Doric, Ionic andCorinthian styles. Each order has its own definitive characteristics, however they can also beeasily confused to the untrained eye.

The first order is the Doric style of architecture. This style is arguably the most famous Greeksystem used around the world today. It is what you will find when visiting the Parthenon andAcropolis, distinguished by vertical columns and a plain roof. It has also been used historicallyby colonies of southern Italy and Sicily, and is one of the oldest architectural orders that existstoday.

The second style is known as the Ionic order. This style is described as more delicate, intricate,

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

and elegant than Doric architecture. Having originated in eastern Greece, Ionic structures arebelieved to have become dominant during the Hellenistic period.

Lastly we have the Corinthian style of architecture. Corinthian architecture is intended to be analtered version of the Ionic style. There is much detail used in the Corinthian order, althoughsurprisingly it is not commonly found in Greece.

Check out our gallery of both ancient and modern structures using the blueprints discussedabove:

The Acropolis in Athens

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

The White House in Washington, D.C.

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

A rendering of the Temple of Zeus in Athens, Greece

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

The Temple of Apollo in Bassae

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

The Oslo Trading Building in Norway

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

A house-style cottage somewhere in the United States

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

The Coliseum in Rome, featuring all three orders of Greek architecture

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

Corinthian architecture at the Fontana di Trevi in Rome

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

Several balconies using Doric columns

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

A detailed Corinthian column at the Temple of Zeus

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

The Temple of Poseidon in Paestum, Italy

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

Ionic columns at the Chamber of Commerce in Dougherty County, Georgia

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

And who can forget the house from Hollywood’s “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”…

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Ancient Greek to Modern Architecture with Greek Influence - News - Greek GatewayWednesday, 05 October 2011 22:20

By Staff Writer – Jonathan Bliangas

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