Monday, October 31, 2016

The Temple of Aphia Aegina

The Temple of Aphaia Aegina
                                                        
 Image by Archdaily.com
This structure is located on the top of a pine-clad hill Mesagro hill in Aegina Island of Greece. Its architectural designs are clearly elaborative of its significance as a worship centre in the ancient Greece. The temple is dedicated to a Greek goddess known as Aphaia, were the name was derived from. The Temple is DoricPeripteral, with six columns at the ends and twelve columns at the flanks. It had a 1:2 proportion relationship which was said to be unusual of a Temple of its Era. Compared to a 1:3 proportions which was common in that era? The décor was lavishly done, with detailed and evocative colors of the finest sculptures of the late Archaic and Early Classical period. The pediments had a unique composition which exhibited a unifying theme and a consistency in size of all sculptures. Athena is the main figure in both pediments and stands tall in the center of the triangle.
      It is believed to have been built at around 500 BC.  The basic foundation of the structure was realized by burying the remains of a former temple which was said to have been destroyed by fire. The remains were used to create a large raised terrace that provided a firm foundation for the temple. The hillside provided a rare natural resource which the masons worked on to come up with the structure. Having built at a time when technological advancements and mostly in architecture was only a dream, the architecture has exhibited a desperate attempt to expose his both expertise and talent in his work. From the stone carvings outside the structure, he gave it confidence and reasons to be spared by man, a reason that surpasses the selfish reasons, of man to destroy what is old and replace it with new constructions instead.
 
Image by ancientgreece.com floor plan
 
Image by ancientgreece.com east elevation is displayed
      The basic material of construction was carving local limestone, which was locally available in the area, with a coating of Stucco. The temple was decorated with sculptures in the two pediments; it had a (East Pediment 2 and West pediment 2). These are triangular shaped roofs at the end of the temple. They are considered as very important as they signify a bridge from the archaic and early Classical periods of ancient Greek history with their sculptural technique.
      It’s both fascinating and admirable how architects of ancient times did so much with very little resources and little or no education. While the modern day construction relies on modern technology, which makes construction more efficient and work is finished within a very short duration. The ancient architects relied on traditional tools like chisels and pulleys for efficiency of production.
Though ancient tools of production were said to be less efficient, and time consuming in a single construction. Though, the modern day architectural designs were developed from the ancient designs. And with all the resources being invested, at least I would have expected more than it is today when it comes to the final outcome. The Temple of Apaia inspired new architectural designs through its proportions and dimensions and it was from this that many temples in Greece were built, including the Parthenon of Athens.

Work Cited:
1.

Robertson, M. (1978). Munich. Glyptothek. Die Aegineten: die Marmorskulpturen des Tempels der Aphaia auf Aegina. Ein Katalog der Glyptothek München. By D. Ohly. 1. Die Ostgiebelgruppe. Munich: Beck. 1976. Pp. xvi+ 116, 85 text figs., 5 folding diagrams, 76 plates. DM 190. The Journal of Hellenic Studies, 98, 208-210.

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