Introduction
Ancient Greek architecture is one of the most iconic in the world, utilizing many elements that are used in the modern day. At the same time, Greek scholars were also some of the most advanced; building on the foundations of Egyptians and Persians, the Greeks made significant advances in mathematics. From a historical standpoint, architecture has always been part of mathematics, with the two disciplines closely aligned, which is not surprising given that math is, at its core, a study of patterns. Ancient Greek architecture was influenced by mathematical advancements at its time, particularly the Pythagorean theorem and the Euclidian system.
Pythagorean Mathematics
Pythagoras was one of the initial major mathematical breakthroughs for the Greeks. At first, he established a connection between music and numbers, determining the ratios of the sequence of notes in a scale. This resulted in the principle of ratios of small integers, which led to the creation of a ‘module,’ a basic unit of length in a building with the dimensions being small integer multiples of basic length. Furthermore, for Pythagoras, numbers took on geometrical properties. He is known for developing the Pythagorean theorem. It was after his death, and the war with Persia did the Greeks begin the reconstruction of the destroyed Pantheon, using ideas of ratios as well as Pythagorean triangles to determine the accuracy of right angles and measurements (Chiotis 57). The combination of these Pythagorean shapes and ratios allowed us to construct the much bigger elements and shapes of the building.
Euclidean Geometry
Euclid’s Elements was a breakthrough publication gathering and organizing already existing knowledge in geometry and mathematics and contributing his own. Many of these concepts are the foundation of modern-day geometry studied at the school level. Euclid ordered prepositions and created a logical structure to work, and it is considered a masterpiece of Greek intellectual tradition. The Euclidian geometry system became the basis for most of the architecture from antiquity to the Romanesque period. The geometry was applied in the construction of temples, as it served as vital to defining the proportions of the component parts of the buildings. Euclid further contributed to the proportions discovered by Pythagoreans by ultimately calculating them and applying them in the so-called ‘golden ratio’ utilized by Greek architects, where the ratio is repeated multiple times in the façade (Artmann 59). This is believed to be intentional, as described in the next section, to achieve symmetry.
Symmetry
One of the key principles of Greek architecture is known as symmetric or mathematical harmony. It is believed that the number, measure, and proportion in the architecture conferred beauty. Therefore, this perfection to perfect measurements, ratios, and symmetry was an obsession for both architects and builders. Symmetry was the basic organizing principle, with some great examples of balance and symmetry, including the Temple of Artemis at Corfu. It was present throughout the Greek Pantheon. Largely, symmetry had a much broader and symbolic meaning in classical Greece than in the modern-day. It is believed that the Pantheon was designed to an accuracy of 0.15%, and there are extensive measurements, in a theme of 4-7-9, to ensure there is ongoing symmetry and aesthetic beauty in the construction (Wilson Jones 275). This approach continued to apply to architecture through the next several millennia.
Conclusion
It becomes evident that some of the greatest works of architecture were based on the mathematical discoveries achieved by Greek scholars. Notably, the Greeks were able to take the theoretical aspects and practically apply them to the complexities of architectural design, which once again highlights the integration between the disciplines in ancient times. This connection provides insight into the development of civilizations, which tied scientific progress in areas such as mathematics to practical applications in areas like architecture.
Works Cited
Artmann, Benno. Euclid – The Creation of Mathematics. New York, Springer Science and Business Media, 2012.
Chiotis, Eustathios. “Pythagoras’ Mathematics in Architecture and His Influence On Great Cultural Works.” Scientific Culture, vol. 7, no. 1, 2021, pp. 57–77, Web.
Wilson Jones, Mark. “Ancient Architecture and Mathematics: Methodology and the Doric Temple.” Architecture and Mathematics from Antiquity to the Future, 2014, pp. 271–295.