How did the Greeks change architecture for the following generations?

The Greeks were said to be the masters of art and architecture. The Greeks not only created beautiful works but they revolutionized architecture for following generations. With examples such as the Parthenon and a few of the temples, who wouldn't want to follow in the footsteps of these mastermind architects?

One example is in the pillars they used to support their buildings. Many college campuses and government buildings have these kinds of columns at their entrances, just as the Greeks had done. A perfect example would be our capitol or the White House. Both structures have jagged pillars holding up themselves.

Another example is the use of marble. Before that time, the main building material was a stone found in the mountains or one made of a mud – clay type mixture. The Greeks really introduced marble in to the building world. Most of todays prominent structures are made of marble.

The last example is the friezes carved into the temples in Greece. These friezes are found all over Greece, Egypt, and parts of Europe. Many can be found in college campuses all over the country, along with government buildings and museums and other places such as those.

As you can see, Greek architecture has made quite an impact on the way buildings and structures such as have been designed today. From college campuses to government buildings to ancient temples, the Greeks took part in it all, one way or another.

Ancient Greek Art

Ancient Greece is not only known for its architecture, military tactics, and intriguing history. It is also known for its art and sculpting. The Greeks had a very distinct style of art, recognized by all.
The first thing about Greek art and sculpture is the look of their bodies. Greeks depicted the people they drew or sculpted as perfect. Six pack abs and perfect proportions. Long and flowing hair for women. They wanted to be pictured as a generation of beautiful, strong, and intellectual individuals and they used their art to do that.
Another distinct feature of Greek art is the colors and stone. Most Greek sculptures or stone carvings were made of marble. On things such as pottery and painting, they used colors such as orange and black. This gave almost an Egyptian feel to paintings and such.
Most time in this kind of art, we see younger people. Also, they were usually naked with a smirk on their face. In many Greek paintings, they also represented some sort of sexuality. The Greeks were a very sexual society obsessed with human perfection. They also had many scenes from glorious battles of men with spears, swords and large metal shields, showing the sheer power of Grecian society.
As you can see, there are many different aspects of Greeks art. All of these different aspects make Greek art recognizable and very powerful.

Why was the era of Pericles so important in Greek History?

Pericles was the Athenian ruler at the apex of Athenian society. He was put in power after Themistocles. During his reign, he built up Athens and made significant alteration to the Delian League.
Pericles was born in 495 B.C.. He was raised in an upper-class environment. Surrounded by nobility and wealth, Pericles was inspired to pursue higher education. In his time, he was able to train with some of Greek's best scholars and philosophers. At this time, education was at its highest.
Also in his time, many military advances were made. With the massive navy that had recently been built and many victories under former ruler Themistocles, Athens made astounding military advances. Pericles took part in wars such as The First Peloponnesian War, Second Sacred War, and the Samian War.
Also, while he was in power, Pericles built up Athens. He embarked on a massive construction project, including full employment (meaning; jobs for almost everyone). At this time was when the Parthenon was built. The Parthenon was the temple to Athena, the virgin. This temple marked the apex of Athenian power, it was the ultimate display of Athens greatness under Pericles.
Pericles ruled for about 15 years. In 129 B.C., at about age 65, Pericles died. But, he did leave a legacy. Marking the Apex of Athens, he is revered as one of early Greeks greatest rulers.

Test Essay - backup.

Test Essay.

Hatshesput was an accomplished female ruler in Ancient Egypt's 18_th dynasty. She was probably the fifth ruler to take the throne at this time. Her greatest achievements include the disguise that she had fooled a nation with, her introduction to trading versus large armies and advanced war tactics, and her building projects.
Hatshesput's first major accomplishment is the large trick she had played on her entire nation. At that time, female rulers weren't as revered as males. She wanted to endure a long. Powerful reign, therefore, she has disguised herself as a male pharaoh. Despite the physical problems with that, she managed to play it out. No one had discovered that she was a woman until many years after she had died.
The second significant accomplishment was her successful trading. In the past, Egypt was successful because of its army and its advanced military techniques, lead by the pharaoh. Because she wanted to keep her gender a secret, it was clear that Hatshesput could not lead the army. She then decided to make Egypt successful in another area, trade. Egypt had much to offer other nations and other nations had much to offer Egypt. Her plan was later disrupted when the Hyksos occupied Egypt.
Her last great accomplishment was her building projects. Hatshesput had conducted a series of projects during her reign. Such as introducing obelisks and her very own mortuary temple, the Djeser-Djeseru. This tomb was carved into the mountains and has courtyards and stone carvings along the site ground. This mortuary temple is located in the Valley of the Kings, opposite the city of Luxor. A few other things she had built were the Temple of Pakhet, momunments at the Temple of Karnak, and the broken obelisk, now known as the Unfinished Obelisk.
Hatshesput's greatest achievements are her disguise which lengthened her reign. Also, her introduction of trade versus war. Plus, the last great one, her significant building jobs. These all made her reign very important to the shaping Ancient Egypt.

Tomb of Hatshepsut

(Read Egyptologist Zahi Hawass's views on the mummy and tomb of Hateshepsut here.)

The mortuary temple of Hatshepsut is located at Deir el-Bhari. Dier el-Bhari is a complex of tombs located opposite the city of Luxor. The temple, titled Djeser-Djeseru ("Splendor of Splendors"), is the focal point of this complex. (source)
Hatshesput was the 5th pharoah to rule in Egypts 18th dyansty. She was one of the most successful pharaohs, as said by most Egyptologists. This is because she ruled longer than any female ruler Egypt had ever seen. Another unique aspect about her reign is that she disguised hersalf as a man. She imposed as a male pharaoh for her entire reign because female rulers were looked down upon at that time.
Hatshepsut composed a large series of building projects while she was in power. One her most signifacant projects being her own mortuary temple, Djeser-Djeseru. This tomb had been built in in the cliffs to detour grave robbers. Yet, the actaul tomb itself had the same layout as most temples located in the Valley of Kings. Once you pass through the entrance, you will reach a door leading to the first corridor of the tomb. This leads to an antechamber, another corridor and then the actual burial chamber, which was never finished. (source)
A 100foot courtyard surrounded the entrance of the tomb, consisting of three smaller courtyards. These courtyards have many stone carvings in them. Most of the carvings of the queen herself were destroyed by her stepson and some of his workers. These courtyards were once filled with trees and lush gardens, and even a man-made oasis. Another unique aspect of this tomb is the fact that if you stood on the cliff above the tomb and looked onto the temple, you would see the Egyptian hieroglyphic for Nun. (source)
Hatshepssuts tomb was found by Howard Carter in 1916. He was alerted at night when he heard what sounded like grave robbers. When he reached the work site, he found the looters at work. The robbers were then scared away but what they were looting led to the discovery of the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut.

Tutankhamun. (in progress)

Tutankhamun, or King Tut, is most likely the most famous Egyptian ruler. His name is renown beyond Egypt, and he even has his own exhibit. It is believed that Tutankhamun ruled Egypt between 1334 and 1325 BC. He was probably the 12th ruler of Egypt's 18th Dynasty.
Tutankahmun (Tut) was not given that name at birth. His father, Akhenaten, named him Tutankhaten, after himself and the god of the sun disk. Tut changed his name in the second year of his name to Tutankhamen to show reverance to Amun, his main god. Another thing that his father did that he changed was the introduction of monotheism. He did not believe in this as his father did.
He was only a young boy, so his reign was taken over by advisors. Older, wiser officials told him what to do and led him in the right direction. He restored all the temples his father destroyed. And was the keeper of peace.
At age 18, he was murdered. Many people believe that this is what happened because his skull was smashed and only one person was close enough to hurt him. His reign was not exactly significant, he is most famous for his tomb and artifacts which were virtually intact. Most tombs fell to grave robbers. His tomb was found by an archaelogoist named Howard Carter in 1922. His grave was located in the Valley of Kings.
King Tutankhamen has a rather famous name. A museum exhibit, numerous websites and extra special care for his artifacts are just a few tributes to this great king. His reign will be renown for years to come.

Ramses II

Ramses II is one of the most renown pharaohs of his time. He was the third pharaoh that ruled during the 19th dynasty. Ramses II has been known for his expansive building projects. He also know for his importance in the book of Exodus in the Bible.
Ramses II was born to Queen Tuy and King Seti I. At around age 20 he was given the throne. During his reign, he was determined to overthrow territory in Africa and Western Asia. After a long time of fighting, a treaty was produced. Then, Ramses II agreed to marry the daughter of the Hittite king as a part of the treaty.
Another aspect that popularized his reign was his love for architecture and his lust for power. This caused him to build many monuments and temples such as the temple of Abu Simbel. And some of his more famous work would be the Luxor and the Karnak. These monuments were symbols of his wealth and power. He made it very clear that he was going to make a mark on history.
After reigning for 67 years, Ramses II died. His tomb was located in the Valley of the Kings and remains empty but, it has been looted and a victim of erosion. Therefore, it is in bad shape, many efforts have been made to get it to a somewhat presentable stage. Although his tomb remains empty, the body has been found. This mummy has been classified as one of the best preserved bodies ever found by archaeologists.
Ramses II was a great ruler in his time. Accomplishing much, he most likely died with a lightened heart. He has out his stamp on history. Ramses II is a rather popular topic when discussing Ancient History.

SOURCES;
http://www.kingtutone.com/pharaohs/ramses2/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramesses_II
http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/treaty.htm
http://www.fruitofthenile.com/ramses.htm
http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/2815/ramses.html
Oakes, Lorna, Gahlin, Lucia. Ancient Egypt,
Amnes Publishing Limited: New York, 2003.
Hart, Dr. George. Discoveries: Ancient Egypt,
Fog City Press: San Fransisco, 2003.

Pharoah Akhenaten.

Pharaoh Akhenaten was a great ruler of Egypt, in the 18th dynasty. He is best known for the introduction of monotheism in a polytheistic culture. Akhenaten was also also an object of controversy because of his strange mannerism, rumors about his daughter, and his peculiar appearance. This man was very influential in Egypt and is still well-known among historians today.
Akhenaten originally grew up as Amenhotep IV, named after his father Amenhotep III. Amenhotep III was also a pharaoh and his mother was Queen Tiy, making this famly was a royal dynasty. He went by his birth name until the 5th year of his reign. He changed his name to Akhenaten, "horizon of the sun". Setting himself up to be depicted as close the sun disk, Aten. Akhenaten revered the sun disk with such reverence, he decided to close off all other temples and exculde all gods except Aten, intorducing montheism. (source)
This man was also an object of controversy because of his peculiar appearance in art. He was potrayed as having very slender limbs, wide hips, and a proturding stomach which gave the appearance that he was a woman disguised as a man or was born with an intersex condition. Until his mummy was located and researched, no one knew if these abnormalities were literal or not.
At the beginning of his reign, he was married to Nefertiti and had six known daughters; Meretaten, Meketaten, Ankhesenpaatan (later the Queen Of Tutankahmen, Neferneferuaten-Tasherit, Neferneferure, and Setepenre. He was alo married to a women named Kiya and it has been rumored that his daughter Ankhesenpaatan gave birth to a child of his.
Ahkenaten was a great and peculiar ruler, with quite a lasting effect. His introduction of monotheism was undone at the end of his reign and years later his mummy was found. Ending the story of Pharaoh Akhenaten was his death, which no one is sure of the cause. This interesting man had a lasting affect on Egypt.


online book summary, no publisher/date/city. http://www.heptune.com/art.html
movie source.

The Great Pyramids of Giza.

Think about Egypt. What comes to mind? The dry, golden desert sand, the flowing Nile River, the great Sphinx, elaborate costumes and culture, and the great Pyramids of Giza (also known as the Giza Necropolis). These marvelous wonders have enduring through time and erosion and radiate power and beauty still today. But, how were magnificent artifacts built? Why are they so important to Egyptian culture? And most importantly, what are they for?

"From atop these pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you."
- Napoleon Bonaparte, 1798

The Great Pyramids are made up of three main pyramids and are surrounded by many littler ones. the three main ones are; Kahfre, Kuhfu and Menkaure. These great monuments of Egyptian culture are located only a few miles away from the city of Cairo. Egypt has built up around them, they have been standing for hundreds of years. These pyramids are the last of the 7 wonders of the world. (Haffner)

In ancient Egypt, Pharaohs ruled with an iron fist and were revered in the highest. These leaders were the shapers of ancient Egypt. The second that these men were in power, the first commanded to have a grand burial site built. A grand site, such as the pyramids. These pyramids are full of artifacts and sarcophagi. The pyramids are temples of the after life. (Speilvogel, 37)
Originally, the pyramids were covered in a shiny limestone. This smooth surface reflected the sun and caused the pyramids to look
heavenly. Most of this covering has been has been disintegrated or has been stolen. The only remaining limestone is on top of the pyramid of Kuhfu and even that has been battling with erosion. These pyramids were made of stacked stones, giving way to a pyramid shape.

"Packing blocks are stacked until the dimensions were right, and then finishing blocks (usually limestone) were the last touch." (source)

In conclusion, these grand structures have passed the test of time and are still admired and revered today. Without these pyramids, Egyptian culture wouldn't be the same. These artifacts are full of mystery and wonder, there is so much to be learned from these magnificent stone monuments.

Haffner, Craig and Donna E. Lusitana. Mummies and the Wonders of Ancient Egypt. A&E Television Network: New York, 1996.

Speilvogel, Jackson J. World History; The Human Odyssey. National Textbook Company: Illinois. (no date given)