The Greek Temple Trivia Quiz

Answer: Column

Columns have been used in architecture since the time of the ancient Egyptians. While the Egyptians used the column to hold up the roof inside a building, the Greeks used them on the outside of the building as well. These columns were made of stone - either a single piece, which is called a monolithic column, or many pieces that are mortared together.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus, shown in the picture, is located in Athens, Greece. It was hoped that the greatness of this temple would surpass the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus; however, construction halted when the tyranny of Hippias was overthrown, and was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian over three hundred years later.

Answer: Capital

The capital forms the topmost part of a column. Because it is one of the most visible parts of a column, the capital is a part that is often more decorated. There are three different orders of capitals on which all columns are based. The Doric order capitals are convex, while the Corinthian order is an inverted bell. Lastly, the Ionic order capitals are decorated with scrolling.

The picture shows the detail on one of the capitals in the Corinthian style on the Temple of Olympian Zeus in Athens.

Answer: Volutes

The term "volute" comes from the Latin meaning "scrolls". Its origins in architecture have long been debated; some believe the scroll was designed from the shape of a native clover, while others believe it copies the shape of a ram's horns.

One of the most famous examples of this Order of Architecture is the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis in Athens; it is also the earliest Ionic temple built on the site. Athena Nike was the goddess of wisdom and victory in war. Perhaps the Athenians came to pray at this temple, built in 420 BC, during the Peloponnesian War with Sparta.

Answer: Rain

A cornice is generally considered to be any horizontal molding that "crowns" a building - hence the term "crown molding". House eaves are also considered to be cornices as long as they are primarily functional and not decorative. The cornice was added to the building so that rainwater could be thrown free of the supporting structure.

Answer: Frieze

A frieze may be plain or decorated with bas-reliefs, and situated on the interior or exterior of a building. Usually positioned above eye-level, the frieze may also be painted or sculpted.

In the case of the frieze on the Parthenon, historians believe it was both painted and sculpted. Probably the most famous frieze from ancient Greece adorned the Parthenon, the temple of Athena, on the Acropolis in Athens. Sculpted during the Golden Age under the supervision of the great Phidias, only 80% of the frieze survives today, but very little can be viewed in its original position as shown above. The majority of what remains, called the Elgin Marbles, can be seen at the British Museum in London.

Answer: Acroterion

Also found in Gothic architecture, the acroterion can have many different forms including statues, discs, palmettes, or urns. It may also be located at the corners of the pediment.

The acroterion shown in the picture is from the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Commissioned by Artemisia after her husband, Mausolus, died, the tomb was adorned with columns and statues. It is believed that the acroterion at the apex of the pediment consisted of statues of the couple standing in a chariot drawn by horses.

Answer: Pedestal

A pedestal supports a column, as shown on the lowest level of the picture, and usually rests on the ground. It can also support a statue or vase. The Romans used pedestals for free-standing columns, such as Trajan's Column, to make them stand out. During the Renaissance pedestals became more commonly used.

Answer: Atlantide

Named after Atlas, who was strong enough to bear the heavens on his shoulders, an Atlantide is a sculpted male figure acting as a column to support an entablature.

The Temple of Olympian Zeus in Agrigento, Sicily, was to be the largest Doric temple ever built, but it was never completed. Construction began approximately 480 BC, and, according to Diodorus Siculus, Carthaginian slave labor was used. The Atlantide figures, each standing 7.5 meters tall, were sculpted so that they supported the entablature with their upheld hands.

Answer: Dipteral Temple

The Dipteral style of temple had a double row of columns that ran around all four sides. This allowed for the construction of two peristyles, or a veranda.

The Parthenon has eight outer columns at either end and seventeen outer columns on each side. There are six inner columns on the front and back. Made of Pentelic marble, the columns are of the Doric order. It took approximately 22,000 tons of marble to build the Parthenon; never before had so much marble been used to build a Greek temple. With a very innovative design, the temple also included new Ionic features.

Answer: Tholos

The term "tholos" is used to describe a beehive tomb, as well as a circular temple. During the Mycenaean period, large beehive tombs were built, sometimes into hillsides. The famous mask of Agamemnon was found in one of these tombs in 1876 by the famous archaeologist, Heinrich Schliemann.

There are many examples of the circularly designed temples, but the tholos at Delphi is probably the most famous. The tholos, began in 380 BC, was at the sanctuary of "Athena Pronoia". The exterior had twenty Doric columns, while the interior was decorated with ten Corinthian columns.

It was located about one-half mile from the main Temple of Apollo, where people could hear prophesies about their future.