vitruvian orders - the terms of architecture

all flashcards taken from Vitruvius' 'De Architectura' and 'Architecture in Ancient Greece' by the Museum

taxis

ordering

diathesis

design

oikonomia

shapeliness and symmetry/ correctness and allocation

what is ordering

the proportion to scale of the work’s individual components taken separately, as well as their correspondence to an overall proportional scheme of symmetry

according to Vitruvius, what is ordering achieved through

quantity

posotes

quantity

what is quantity

establishment of modules taken from the elements of the work itself and the agreeable execution of the work as a whole on the basis of the elements’ individual parts

what is design

the apt placement of things and the elegant effect obtained by their arrangement according to the nature of their work (how well do they symbolise or represent function, and beauty)

ideai

the species of design

what are the three species of design

ichnography, orthography, and scenography

what is ichnography

plan

what is orthography

elevation

what is scenography

the shaded rendering of the front and the receding sides as the latter converge on a point

eurythmia

shapeliness

what is shapeliness

an attractive appearance and a coherent aspect in the composition of the elements

what is correctness (decor)

the refined appearance of a building with respect given to its function, and elements designed accordingly

thematismos

function

what is an example that Vitruvius gives of function

when temples dedicated to Jupiter the Thunderer and Heaven or the Sun and Moon are made with open-air shrines

why would temples to deities such as Jupiter the Thunderer need to be built as open-air shrines, according to Vitruvius

because we see the appearance and effect of these divinities in the light of the outdoor world

what style would temples to Minerva, Mars, and Hercules be

Doric

why would temples to Minerva, Mars, and Hercules be Doric

because respect should be shown to their success in battle, meaning that their temples should be built with no embellishment

what style would temples to Venus, Proserpina, and the Fountain Spirits be built in

Corinthian

why would Corinthian be used for temples dedicated to Venus, Proserpina, and the nymphs

to suit their delicate nature

what does the Corinthian style consist of

slender, ornamental, and decoration with elements such as leaves

what style would temples to Juno, Diana, Father, and Liber be constructed in

Ionic

how does Vitruvius describe the Ionic style

as striking a balance between the stern lines of the Doric and the delicacy of the Corinthian

what is correctness of tradition

when the interior and exterior of a building are equally harmonius

what is correctness of nature

the selection of a correct and appropriate location for architecture

what is an example Vitruvius gives of natural correctness with regards to temples

temples to Gods such as Asclepius should be constructed in the most healthful regions, as Asclepius was the God of healing

how does Vitruvius describe natural correctness through light

the light for bedrooms should come from the East

the light for galleries should come from the North (to achieve the most constant illumination)

what is allocation

the efficient management of resources and site and the frugal, principled supervision of working expenses

what is the second definition of allocation

when the building befits its patronage - ‘when buildings are designed differently according to the habits of the heads of families’ etc

what are the two principal orders in Archaic and Classical Greek architecture

Doric and Ionic

what are the five architectural orders

Doric, Ionic, Corinthian, Composite, and Tuscan

what do Doric columns try to represent

the perfection and the attractiveness of the male form

what are the defining features of Doric columns

they are fluted and have no base

what are the two parts of a Doric capital

the abacus (flat) and the echinus (cushion-like)

what rests on the Doric capital

the entablature

what is the Doric entablature comprised of

the architrave, the frieze, and the cornice

describe the Doric architrave

typically undecorated, has a narrow band to which are attached pegs, known as guttae

what decorates the frieze of a Doric column

alternating sets of triglyphs (three bars) and metopes

what are metopes

stone slabs that are frequently decorated with relief sculpture

what is a pediment

a triangular space enclosed by the gables at either end of the building (can also be seen as part of a door)

how was the pediment of Doric architecture often decorated

with sculpture (early on in relief and later in the round)

what are some of the best preserved examples of Doric architecture

the temple of Apollo at Corinth and the temple of Aphaia at Aegina

(why was Doric architecture used in worship of Aphaia, a mother goddess)

what are the defining features of Ionic columns

they have more vertical flutes than Doric architecture and they have bases

describe the Ionic capital

it has two volutes that rest atop a band of palm leaf ornaments

how does the entablature of an Ionic capital differ from that of a Doric capital

it generally has three horizontal bands in place of the architrave, frieze, and cornice of Doric capitals

describe the frieze of Ionic architecture

carved with relief sculpture arranged in a continuous pattern around the building

where does the Doric order most frequently occur

on the Greek mainland and at sites on the Italian peninsula, where there were many Greek colonies

where was the Ionic order most popular

among Greeks in Asia Minor and the Greek Islands