Virginia Experience 3rd Grade Solution Focus on Ancient World Cultures

Ancient Greece: Architecture
Ancient Greece is famous for its unique style of
architecture. The Greeks used tall columns in
the construction of their temples and government
buildings. The columns supported the weight of a
building’s roof. Greek columns also gave buildings a
look of strength, order, and balance.
Vocabulary
architecture: the design of
buildings
Sample
The Greeks built three
types of columns:
Many ancient Greek temples and public buildings can still
be seen today. The Parthenon in Athens, Greece, is an
example of Greek columns and architecture. It was built
as a temple to honor the goddess Athena.
The Greeks also built other types of buildings and structures. One example is the
amphitheater. Amphitheaters were theaters built into the side of a hill with rows of
seats surrounding a central stage. They were specially designed so that even people
in the back rows could hear the actors speaking!
Greek architecture has influenced architecture today. Many banks and government
buildings in the United States use Greek columns. Examples include buildings in
Washington, D.C., such as the U.S. Capitol and the U.S. Supreme Court building!
Assess Your Understanding
Circle the correct answers.
1. The design and construction of buildings is known as:
composting
architecture landscaping
2. Greeks used ___________ in temples and government buildings to support roofs.
windows steel beams columns
windowsSample
Sample
Gr
Sample
3. The Parthenon is a ___________ and an excellent example of Greek architecture.
bank temple government building
4. In what U.S. city can you see examples of the influence of Greek architecture?
Atlanta, Georgia Miami, Florida Washington, D.C.
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