La arquitectura griega: el teatro y otras tipologías arquitectónicas

Introduction to Greek Architecture

This section provides an introduction to Greek architecture, focusing on the different types of buildings and their significance in Greek culture.

Characteristics of Greek Architecture

• The temple is the most characteristic construction of Greek architecture.

• Other common constructions included civil buildings such as theaters, gyms, and stoas.

• The development of palaces and monumental tombs was limited until the Hellenistic period.

The Importance of Agora

• Alongside the acropolis (high city), the agora was the most important space in a Greek city.

• The agora served as a public gathering place for transactions, business, and civic life.

• It housed official buildings, markets, recreational spaces, and religious structures like altars and temples.

Evolution of Agora

• Agoras gradually replaced acropolises as the main centers of cities.

• They became more organized and architecturally impressive with monumental porticos, large public fountains, and government buildings.

• One notable feature of agoras were stoas - long galleries with columns that provided shelter from sun and rain.

Buleuterion and Palestras

• Buleuterion was a building where the council or assembly met to discuss public affairs. It had a square plan with rows of seats for representatives.

• Palestras were used for physical exercise. They consisted of rectangular arenas surrounded by porticos housing facilities like baths, changing rooms, classrooms, etc.

Stadiums and Hippodromes

• Stadiums were elongated rectangular tracks used for races and athletic competitions. They had parallel sides ending in a semicircle at one end.

• Hippodromes were larger versions similar to stadiums but specifically designed for horse racing. They had posts at each end where chariots turned.

Emergence of Theater

• Theater originated in Attica around the 6th century BC from choral dances and songs dedicated to the god Dionysus.

• Initially performed in open spaces near altars, a circular area called orchestra was later prepared with a central altar.

• The introduction of dialogue by lyric poets led to the development of tragedy and the emergence of theater as a distinct art form.

Greek Theater

• Greek theater was an outdoor spectacle that attracted people from all social classes.

• Actors, dressed in elaborate costumes for tragedies and simple ones for comedies, performed on a stage enclosed by a wall or booth.

• Masks with exaggerated features were worn to amplify voices, and actors wore platform shoes called coturnos.

• Tragedies had up to 4 actors while comedies had more. Choruses consisted of 15 members in tragedies and 24 in comedies.

Conclusion

Greek architecture encompassed various types of buildings such as temples, theaters, gyms, stoas, etc. The agora served as the central public space in cities. The emergence of theater brought about new forms of artistic expression.

The Structure of Greek Theaters

This section discusses the layout and structure of Greek theaters, including the seating arrangement and different sections.

Seating Arrangement

• The theater was separated from the surrounding area by a small wall called "analemma."

• The seats closest to the orchestra were called "proedria" and were reserved for important individuals such as city authorities or priests.

• Proedria was separated from the orchestra by a small wall called "balteus."

Theater Layout

• The chorus, which was the main element of Greek theater, sat in a circular area called the orchestra.

• In the center of the orchestra, there was an altar dedicated to Dionysus called "thymele."

• To provide access for chorus members to the orchestra, side passages called "parodoi" were created.

Stage Structure

• Actors needed an elevated place to perform, so a raised stage or platform known as "proskenion" was developed. Initially made of wood, it was located at the front of the stage where they performed.

• Behind the proskenion was the skene building, consisting of several compartments where actors changed masks and costumes. It also housed scenery backdrops known as "pinakes" and machinery required for theatrical performances.

Types of Greek Theaters

This section explores different types of Greek theaters and their capacities.

Notable Greek Theaters

• Numerous theaters have been preserved, with some impressive examples being:

• Epidaurus Theater: Built by Polycleitus in the 4th century BC, it could accommodate between 12,000 and 15,000 spectators.

• Great Theater of Dionysus: Located at the foot of Athens' Acropolis with a capacity of around 17,000 spectators.

Odeon Theaters

• Odeons were partially or fully covered theaters used for musical competitions, poetry readings, lectures, and debates.

• They typically had rectangular exterior walls like the Bouleuterion and featured a curved auditorium with tiered seating.

Greek Urbanism and Funerary Architecture

This section discusses Greek urban planning and funerary architecture.

Greek City-State (Polis)

• The Greeks organized themselves into city-states known as "polis," which typically had different parts:

• Acropolis: A high city where important temples were located, serving as a refuge during invasions.

• Asty: Lower city where houses were situated. The central space was the public square or "agora," surrounded by significant buildings such as markets and government institutions.

• Agricultural lands surrounded the city, and if it was coastal, there would be a well-connected port.

Funerary Architecture

• Monumental funerary architecture in Greece emerged during the Hellenistic period.

• Traditional funerary elements included tombstones in Attica, small temples in the Peloponnese and Asia Minor, or rock-cut tombs like those in Lycia.

• Notable among these is the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, adorned with reliefs and statues in memory of Mausolus, king of Caria.

Greek Architectural Concepts

This section explores Greek architectural concepts related to harmonious integration within urban environments.

Harmonious Architecture

• Greeks aimed to create beautiful and harmonious spaces that integrated well with their surroundings.

• Initially, cities and buildings were constructed without any urban planning. However, during colonization efforts in new cities around the Mediterranean and Black Sea, orderly urban planning based on orthogonal designs began to emerge.

• Miletus and Priene developed models of planned cities.

Sculptural Architecture

• Greek architecture had a sculptural conception, aiming to harmonize with the surrounding space and create pleasant environments for citizens.

• Cities and buildings were initially constructed in a disorderly manner, but as time progressed, they started incorporating urban models and building typologies that were both functional and aesthetically pleasing.

The transcript provided does not cover the entire video.