Architecture of Power

Dhimini

5000 BCE

Late Neolithic megaron, early example of social hierarchy because of walls that separated the high and low parts of the settlement

Lerna

2600 BCE

Early bronze age settlement best know for the House of Tiles, which is believed to have been a community space on the first floor and a private residence on the second floor

Neopalatial Knossos

2100 BCE

First palace built in the middle Minoan age. The palaces had a strong political and especially religious importance and had a large central court for religious ceremonies. It also stored extra food and supplies for the community in case of a poor harvest.

Pylos

1600 BCE

Late Helladic palace that had a large megaron as well as storage and residential rooms. Like Minoan palaces, the palace at Pylos served a large religious role in the community, hosting festivals and ceremonies. The palace was built around the throne room, possibly signaling that this room was the most important one. Evidence of a hierarchy is present in the separate dining halls that were reserved for the upper class guests.

Lefkandi

1000 BCE

Early Iron Age site, location of the Heroon. The Heroon was a large tomb where a man, his wife, and several horses were buried. This shows evidence of a hierarchy in burials - the man's importance in life is shown in the size and grandeur of his tomb.

Archaic Period

800 BCE

There is less evidence of government buildings in the archaic period. This may be due to the motives of the despots. They may have tried to show their wealth in different ways, such as public works, temples, and community festivals.

Classical Athens (pt 1)

550 BCE

Classical Athens had several buildings that can be used as evidence for a hierarchy. The Agora was the site of many government buildings such as the Bouleuterion, where the Council of 500 met to prepare legislature that would be voted on. There were also stoas in the agors, one of which depicted the battle of Marathon where the Greeks defeated the Persians. The artwork is meant to show the power of the people and the power of democracy, fighting not for a king but for their own people.

Classical Athens (pt 2)

400 BCE

Classical Athens spent more on religion than on other architecture. Some examples of religious buildings are the Temple to Hephaistos, the Erechtheum, and the Parthenon. Athens was able to finance construction of these buildings through the Delian League, a defensive alliance that Athens took money from following the Persian War.

Classical Athens (pt 3)

350 BCE

The Theater of Dionysos is an example of the importance that Athenians placed on drama and theater. Plays were almost treated as ceremonies where the whole community would come together. The theater was deliberately placed within sight of temples, showing its religious and ritualistic importance.

Hellenistic Macedonia

300 BCE

Hellenistic Macedonia's architecture was inspired by many different civilizations such as Persia and Greece. The palace's extravagance was used to show off the power of Macedonia.