Greek architecture
(800–300 B.C.)The first manifestation of this style was a wooden structure of upright posts supporting beams and sloping rafters. The style was later translated into stone elements with a wood roof. It was a “kit of parts” characterized by austerity and free of ornate carvings. The decorative column orders were an integral part of this style: the Doric, which is the simplest and sturdiest, the Ionic, which was more slender, and the Corinthian, which had a very elaborate capital. Greek ornament is refined in character. The materials were limestone and marble, and were prepared with the highest standards of masonry, including sophisticated optical corrections for perspective (entasis).
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