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=Why Greek Architecture? = = = Have you ever wondered about how some buildings look alike, but may be made during another century? Ancient Greek is known for its history, gods and their religion. It is also known for its extraordinary architecture.

Ancient Greek architecture has influenced a lot of modern day buildings. In Washington D.C., there are a lot of buildings that are similar to Ancient Greek Architecture. There are also many different columns in Ancient Greek Architecture which includes the following: Doric, Corinthian, and Ionic. Doric is sturdy and the capital (the top or crown) is plain. The shaft is the tall part of the Doric which has 20 sides and has no base. This style was mainly used in mainland Greece and the colonies in Southern Italy and Sicily. Ionic is thinner and more fancy. Its shaft is taller than the Doric. Ionic has a design that is called flutes. Flutes are done by making lines that start at the top and go to the bottom. Its capital is decorated with a stroll-like design. The Erechtheum is a building with a lot of Ionic which is located in Greece. Corinthian is seldom used in the Greece. It is mainly used in modern day buildings. When looking at its capital, it is very luxurious and is decorated with acanthus leaves.

When comparing the Parthenon and The Old Shawnee Town-Bank buildings, they have a lot in common. Both buildings are made with of Doric's.

The Parthenon has some very interesting facts. The temples during this era were mostly made with six columns, but the Parthenon was made with eight. Some of the temples structures in Greece have a frieze, which is a band of sculpture, and metopes which are individual panels. The Parthenon has both of these structures. The Parthenon was used long ago for protection when the Greece was being invaded by the enemy. It was eventually destroyed in 489 BC during the Persian invasion. When it was rebuilt, the structure was primarily Doric like it is today.

The Old Shawnee Town-Bank structure is a lot like the Parthenon Temple. The Town-Bank is made out of brick and the Doric's are made out of limestone. It also has a rectangle shape. The structure of the Old Shawnee building has six Doric's and is very plain looking.

Greek Architecture can be found in different areas of the world. The two buildings illustrate similarities and differences throughout the world.

Written By: Christa Bryant