From the towering columns of the Parthenon to the sprawling Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, Greek architects were masters of their craft, creating enduring monuments that continue to inspire and awe us today.
At the heart of Greek architecture was the principle of symmetry, balance, and harmony. The most famous example is the world-renowned Parthenon, located in the Acropolis of Athens. Following the rugged stone steps and going through the gate, the Parthenon leaps into your
eyes with rolling mountains behind it. It follows a ratio of 4:9–the golden ratio–and ingeniously utilized optical illusions to combine aesthetics with practicality. When you look closely, you can hardly see any right angles and straight lines; however, when you inspect afar, despite the base of the facade being about 6 cm higher at its center than at the corners, the temple looks perfectly rectangular and symmetrical. Thanks to the mastery of geometry and engineering of the Ancient Greeks, Parthenon survived through the damage of fire, people, and even a bomb. Standing in front of the unyielding stone columns which went through more than two thousand years, I can barely believe that the grandeur, precision, and elegance of the remains only allow us to peek into a fraction of the past splendor of these architectures in ancient times.
As we revere the beauty of the temple, it is hard to imagine how the workers brought millions of Pentelic marbles from the flanks of Mt. Pentelikon, 16 km away from Athens. At least 20 thousand tons of Pentelian marble were transported through “Lithagogias Street.” Approximately 20 carriages covered the route ten times a day, with complex and precise coordination to ensure the timely delivery of the marbles. When the buildings were finally completed after ten years, rumors were saying that the horses continued to move between Mt. Pentelikon and Athens, since that was the only thing they knew. To lift the marbles onto the Parthenon, the workers built makeshift cranes with huge pulleys, along with wooden cranes. The physics of levers and pulleys enabled them to raise a ten-ton marble to a height of 15 meters in just twenty minutes.
Beyond their aesthetic beauty, Greek buildings also had a practical purpose. Many were used as public gathering places, where citizens could come together to participate in political and cultural events. Others served as religious shrines, where people could offer prayers and sacrifices to the gods.
Although some structures have lost their original purpose, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus remains a functioning theater due to the yearly Athens and Epidaurus Festival, which has taken place there since 1955. The festival’s goal is to acquaint audiences with ancient Greek concepts and commemorate the accomplishments of ancient Greek dramatists. The seating area consists of a corrugated surface that serves as an acoustic filter, capturing sounds emanating from the theater rather than ambient sounds from the surroundings. The layout was well-designed, as the acoustics are excellent for all places within the theater.
It feels like nothing has changed, but also everything has changed: sitting on the marble where ancestors sat, appreciating dramas performed thousands of years ago. The most precious legacy and culture were passed on through these ice-cold stones. The whole theater provides a serene space for physical and spiritual healing that harmonizes seamlessly with the landscape encircling Epidaurus. Upon ascending to the highest level of the theater to experience its unparalleled acoustics, one can gaze out towards the horizon and behold a breathtaking vista.
What cannot stop me from pausing in awe is that the theater is situated within the Sanctuary of Asklepios, an extraordinary tribute to the healing practices of ancient civilizations. Things always get their beauty from contradiction and complexity: the most fatal serpent became the symbol of medicine; nestled within the sacred land of medicine, representative of rational wisdom lies an art theater imbued with vivid emotional hues.
Despite the passage of time, the structure, philosophy, engineering, and aesthetics of the architecture of Ancient Greece continue to inspire and influence architects and designers around the world. Its enduring legacy is a testament to the skill, creativity, and vision of the people who built these magnificent structures, and a reminder of the enduring power of human creativity and ingenuity.
