GREEK ARCHITECTURE

Evening Star, Issue 23025, 2 August 1938, Page 3

GREEK ARCHITECTURE

DORIC TEMPLES ADDRESS TO CLASSICAL ASSOCIATION The origin and development of the Doric order of architecture* was the subject of an interesting' address by Miss Lawson at the monthly meeting of the Classical Association last night. Miss M. L. Turnbull occupied the chair, and there was a good attendance. The lecture was delivered under the title of ‘ Doric Temples,’ and Miss Lawson, in stopping at the Parthenon, stated it was a suitable place to conclude, as being the culmination of an evolution lasting some two centuries. ‘‘A study of this and any other style of architecture,” Miss Lawson said, “ is not only intellectually and aesthetically satisfying, but it brings also an understanding of the people who originated and developed the style. Monuments are an expression of the culture of a people, of their nature as a community, and this is especially so of the ancient Greeks. Their temples were important politically, socially, and religiously in the life of the community, and' upon them wealth was lavished for adornment.” Greek ideals as expressed in literature were observable also in architeo* ture. Their maxim, “ Nothing in excess,” was carried out in both structure and tone in building as well aa in poetry. This was noticeable in extravagant designs borrowed from the East, and modified to fit the Greek love of order, of harmony, and proportion—to make up tv complete and artistio whole. A Greek temple, or the sculptures upon it, might seem formal on paper, but one had to remember that there they were seen as one-dimensional only and away from atmospheric or landscape setting. So before considering them in detail one must be . transported to vivid skies—to_ Greece and her western colonies in Sicily and Italy. Miss Lawson proceeded to describe in detail the features of a Doric temple* - illustrating her talk with slides. She mentioned the Doric Order as a typical product of the ancient Greek CityState “ The Doric temple,” she said, “ seems to have come from the log cabin. For evidence of this there are the features of the temple which point to a wooden origin. Evidence, or the development of the temple from the Bronze Age ’ house is provided at .various excavated sites. The Dorio Order seems to have assumed its form about the middle of the seventh century b.c. in the district south of Corinth and in other districts under Corinthian influence. Excavation again provided, evidence of this. The first complete example we have of a regular Doric temple is the T em Pl e °f Hera at Olympia built in tho last quarter of the seventh century. Greek colonial temples should be particularly interesting for us and interesting, too, for the characteristics they demonstrate—greater freedom and originality than their motherland structures.” The lecture concluded with a brief comparison between Doric architecture —as representative of classical Greece —and the architecture of ancient Rome, and with some references to tha difference of the spirit in the people that produced them. On the motion of Miss Turnbull Miss Lawson was accorded a vote of thanks-