Ancient Greek Architecture

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Temples of Hera

The Temples of Hera are both found in Paestum , Italy . As with all other Greek temples , they are oriented towards east with an entrance to the east . The temples although adjacent are made in two different periods The Temple of Hera I was built on 550 B .C .E . while the Temple of Hera II was built on 470-460 B .C .E (Seindal , 2003

Temple of Hera I is also known as the `Basilica ' while Temple of Hera II is previously called Temple of

Poseidon . Both the two temples are part of a sanctuary made for Hera called the Heraion . Both the two temples are of the Doric . The Basilica is made up of `local sandstone while Temple of Hera II is composed of `local travertine ' that is also believed to be covered by stucco before to produce a marble-like effect Both of the temples are also peripteral and have a three step stylobate and frieze . However while the entasis of the columns of Temple of Hera I are pronounced and its echinus shape have more curvature , the entasis are only slightly visible and the echinus is not as curved in the Temple of Hera II (Janson and Janson , 2003

Metopes are not to be found in the frieze of Temple of Hera I but it is prominent in Temple of Hera two along with triglyps . Under the echinus in the Temple of Hera I there are decorations , these are hardly present in the second temple (Seindal , 2003

The internal structure of the first temple 's pronaos is characterized with three columns in antis . The columns are symmetrical to the antae which composed the cella walls . A double doorway then leads into the naos which is divided into two symmetrical parts by seven columns in the middle of the cella walls (Seindal , 2003 . At the far end of the naos lies the adyton which is used by Greeks in storing important scrolls and things that are used in the temple . The roof is believed to be made of wood with tile covering . The only evidence of this belief is the holes seen in the wooden beams

The internal structure of the second temple is somehow similar to the first , only that the pronaos has two Doric columns instead of three . The inside part of the naos is divided by two rows of Doric columns which are symmetrical . While the first temple has an adyton within the cella the second temple has . The roof is also believed to have been supported by wooden beams since holes are also visible covered with terracotta tiles . The first temple has a 9x18 columns while the second temple only 6x14 (Seindal , 2003

The reason for the division inside the naos of the first temple is connected to the possibility that the temple is also dedicated to Zeus However , when the same logic is applied to the second temple it raises the question of who might...