Architectural mythology
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Architectural mythology means the
symbol A symbol is a mark, sign, or word that indicates, signifies, or is understood as representing an idea, object, or relationship. Symbols allow people to go beyond what is known or seen by creating linkages between otherwise very different conc ...
ism of real-world
architecture Architecture is the art and technique of designing and building, as distinguished from the skills associated with construction. It is both the process and the product of sketching, conceiving, planning, designing, and constructing building ...
, as well as architecture described in
mythological Myth is a folklore genre consisting of narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not objectively true, the identification of a narrat ...
stories.W.R. Lethaby, 1892 In addition to language, a myth could be represented by a painting, a sculpture or a building. It is about the overall story of an architectural work, often revealed through art. Not all stories surrounding an architectural work incorporate a level of
myth Myth is a folklore genre consisting of Narrative, narratives that play a fundamental role in a society, such as foundational tales or Origin myth, origin myths. Since "myth" is widely used to imply that a story is not Objectivity (philosophy), ...
. These stories can also be well hidden to the casual viewer and are often built into the conceptual design of the architectural statement.


Ancient Greek architecture

Before 600 BC worship was done in the open, but when the Greeks began to represent their Gods by large statues, it was necessary to provide a building for this purpose. This led to the development of temples.Donald E. Strong, pp. 35-36 The ancient Greek temples were often enhanced with mythological decorations from the columns to the roof. The architectural functions of the temple mainly concentrated on the
cella A cella (from Latin for small chamber) or naos (from the Ancient Greek, Greek ναός, "temple") is the inner chamber of an ancient Greek temple, Greek or Roman temple in classical antiquity. Its enclosure within walls has given rise to extende ...
with the cult statue. The architectural elaboration served to stress the dignity of the cella.


See also

*
Folly In architecture, a folly is a building constructed primarily for decoration, but suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or of such extravagant appearance that it transcends the range of usual garden buildings. Eighteenth-cent ...


Books

* Giedion, S.: The Beginnings of Architecture: The Eternal Present: A Contribution on Constancy and Change, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1981 *Lethaby, William Richard: ''Architecture, Mysticism and Myth'' Cosimo (first published 1892), English, 288 pages,
Online PDF
* Mann, A.: ''Sacred Architecture'', Shaftesbury: Element, 1993 * Donald E. Strong, ''The Classical World'', Paul Hamlyn, London (1965)


References


External links


Bruno Queysanne: Architecture and Mythology
(Southern California Institute of Architecture: Media Archive) Architectural history Mythography {{myth-stub