The ancient Greek world was one of the most dynamic, innovative and progressive artistic periods of Western civilization. The Greeks were a people who fought for naturalism and perfection in their art. In his buildings, the exterior structure and aesthetics were a primary concern. The Greeks considered beauty a distinctive feature of the gods and their search for beauty was almost a religious exercise. The ancient Greek architect’s job was to make a beautiful temple for the god. The development of the design of the Greek temples also brought about the three orders of columns; Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian, which were widely used in Greek buildings and have greatly influenced other cultures.

The Romans were the first builders in Europe and probably the first in the world to recognize the advantages of the arch, vault and cupola. The structures they left behind are a reminder of the genius of Roman engineering. They invented concrete and loved building arches and monuments for themselves. They also loved to be entertained. The Romans enjoyed everything from chariot races to gladiatorial contests, musical plays, and ballet. Three of the most important buildings designed for mass entertainment were the theater, the amphitheater, and the circus.

The Hepaisteion, Athens

The main function of a Greek temple was to house the god for whom it was built. That is why the temples were decorated on the outside, nobody entered. No part of a Greek temple was symbolic or meant anything other than what it was, a temple for a god, with a protected colonnade for worshipers. Greek architects did not live for individuality, the ancient Greek builder could erect a standard temple with a short verbal description.

Early Roman temples differed from Greek temples both on the inside and in their relationship to their surroundings. Often up to three gods were housed together, while their rooms were narrow, the temple as a whole tended to be taller and grander than Greek temples.

The Hepaisteion is a typical peripteral-style temple. It is massive in appearance with simple Doric capitals and thick, heavy columns made of stone drums built around it. Its mass and volume shapes are simple rectangles, cylinders, and cones with a triangular roof. The temple is isolated resting on a low base, accessible from all sides by three steps. The site of the temple was almost as important as the temple itself. Unlike the Greeks, Roman temples had a focus and most only had front access.

The Hepaisteion is basically a room called a cella with a front and back porch, which is enclosed within a colonnade that supports the roof, which in turn protects the cella from rain and sun. Many early Roman pagan temples are similar to the Hepaisteion, but with the difference that they push the cella to one end of the room and decoration within the temple.

Stone was the main building material used in the construction of Greek temples. Wood was used on the roof and roof. Terracotta tiles were also used. Everything that was marble was cut into large blocks and held together with clamps and dowels. Paint was used to highlight the moldings to strengthen the contrasting elements of the frieze.

The Theater of Marcellus, Rome

The Greeks may have invented the theater, but the Romans revolutionized theater design. They changed the Greek theater, a structure that was usually built on the side of a hill, with its circular orchestra and a separate stage building into a separate structure that linked the auditorium and the stage. The back of the stage was as high as the auditorium so that the audience could not see outside as they would in a Greek theater. Many Roman theaters, like Roman amphitheaters, had a velarium or awning that was arranged to protect the audience from the sun. Roman theaters were regularly built on concrete vaults that supported the auditorium and allowed easy access to seating, as crowd control was of great concern to the Roman builder.

The Theater of Marcellus in Rome was first commissioned by Julius Caesar and was completed during the reign of his great-nephew and adopted son Augustus. The façade was made of travertine and had forty-one openings with a half column on either side of each. This style was widely copied after the construction of the theater. Similarities can be seen in the Colosseum, which was built much later. Like many Roman structures, the Teatro de Marcelo was built with concrete and fired bricks 3.5 to 4.5 centimeters thick. The bricks were too bulky to absorb the mortar and give a better adhesion. The semicircle-shaped structure that was a standard design for Roman theaters. The back of the stage area or the scaena frons was decorated with a continuous row of columns three levels high that ran the width of the stage. The scaena frons was another Roman innovation that was first used in the 4th century BC but did not reach its ideal until the 2nd century AD.

In Roman theaters, the orchestra was part of the auditorium. It was often set up with mobile chairs for VIPs. The Greeks used the orchestra as a stage.

Resume

There are many differences between Greek and Roman architecture. The Greeks built many structures on top of the hills, the Romans transformed the hills into architectural structures. The early Greeks used the post and lintel system, while the Romans used the arch, vault and cupola extensively. Concrete was an important building material for the Romans, the Greeks were always trying to find better building materials and they used huge stones held together with clamps and dowels.

In the design of theaters, both Greeks and Romans preferred to use the slopes, but due to large cities, the Romans were forced to build their theaters on flat ground. This practice brought the revolutionary design of a freestanding theater structure.

The Greeks took their religion seriously and built their temples for the gods. The Romans took the view, took it inside the temple and declared that what was happening inside was very important, so the temple should also look good from the inside.