5th century BCEReputable sourceWell documented
Greek Architecture and the Orders
On the timeline · around 5th century BCE · The Ancient World
What happened
The ancient Greeks perfected the temple as a form of ideal beauty, governed by careful mathematical proportion. They developed the classical 'orders' — Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian — defined by their column styles. The Parthenon in Athens, begun in 447 BCE, is the supreme example, its subtle refinements creating an impression of perfect harmony.
Why it matters
Greek architecture established the classical vocabulary of columns, proportion, and symmetry that has been revived again and again for 2,500 years, from Roman temples to the world's capitol buildings.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Greek Architecture · Reputable source
Related timelines
- Ancient Greece → — The classical ideal of the Parthenon