Lori Cole
Mr. Brooten
Honors English II
October 21, 2011
Greek Influence on U.S Architecture and Philosophy
Is there evidence to support the contention that Greek culture has influenced the present U.S society through architecture and philosophies? From my research there appears to be some evidence that the Greek culture has influenced the present U.S society. Architecture is only one thing we have adopted from the ancient Greeks; people in the U.S. still employ many of their philosophies as well.
In Greek architecture buildings have a recognizable design. Many of the columns used in Greek architecture are easily differentiated by their designs. These designs progress with Greek advancement. The more accurate the building’s measurements are, the further along the Greek culture is in their mathematical discoveries.
The architectural orders (styles) of columns are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Each order is native to certain parts of Greece. They ranged from the very plain Doric order to the elaborate Corinthian style. The columns of buildings in ancient Greece were most commonly made of marble. The time put into these building is extraordinary. The Parthenon is an amazing building that took years to complete and is precise to a fraction of an inch.
The Doric style is sturdy and its capital (the top) is plain. The style is cylindrical with simple squares at the base and crown. The Parthenon is an example of a Doric style building. Many southern colonial homes also have the Doric style integrated into their design. A well-known example of the Doric order is the Lincoln Memorial. Henry Bacon, a New York architect, modeled the building in the style of a Greek temple. (Abraham Lincoln Online) The classic Greek design features thirty-six, forty-four foot columns in the Doric order.
The Ionic style is found here is the U.S. and is more elegant than the Doric style. Its capital is decorated with a scroll like design called a volute....