Temple of Artemis at Ephesus - Term Paper Example

Temple of Artemis at Ephesus I. INTRODUCTION Architecture of the Ancient World is one the crucial things that highlighted the innovative capacity of the humanity since time immemorial. The construction of the ancient buildings has shown the capacity of humans to advance technology to suit their lifestyle and standards. On its face value, the prowess, mastery and creativity of the ancient people when it comes to their architectural design is indeed astounding and remarkable since it fully encapsulates the fields of arts and sciences. In its totality, the intricate focus of this paper is to highlight and assess the form, style, and genre of the architectural forms and conventions. At the very least, this paper aims to subjugate, criticize and analyse the aesthetic standards of the ancient people in terms of architecture and representations that pertain to worship and religious iconography since these things have played a very vital role in thriving of the artistic culture that time. What seems to be so significant about this paper is it tries to revive to the consciousness of the modern people the importance and contributions of the ancient knowledge and culture that have become one of the guiding conventions of the modern people in generating new concepts and designs related to architecture. At the same time, it tries to highlight the pivotal conditions that surround the architectural design of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the wonders of the Ancient World. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was designed by the architect Chersiphron and is said to be the very first temple built out of marble and the largest Greek temple erected and measures 377 feet long and 180 feet wide (Temple of Artemis). The very first shrine was constructed around 800 B.C.E. and had major reconstructions during the 600 B.C.E., 550 B.C.E. and 356 B.C.E. (unmusem.org). However, during the reconstruction period of the temple, Theodorus, Scopas of Paros became contributing architects for Temple of Artemis (clevelys.co.uk). The Temple of Artemis was erected at the marshy fields of the Ephesus at the Asia Minor (greatbuildings.com). This temple is regarded to be one of the wonders of the ancient world (yousigma.com). Its highlights several conventions of architecture and culture present during the early human times. This architectural edifice is a treasure damaged due to several complexities that have risen during that time. Also, the historical relevance of the temple is crucial to determine the cultural influences that have penetrated the construction of the said majestic wonder of the world. Form, Style and Genre are the main points of discussion about the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Form will focus more on the conventions of the architectural edifice like the shape, colour and the like. The style will focus more on the artistic historical time frame it is confined and tries to achieve a clear conclusion about the intricacies that surrounds the Temple’s architectural design and concept. Genre will be focusing more on the external factors that surround the architectural work like the social, psychological, political and religious contexts of both the artist who designed the building and society which relates to it. These three levels will be carefully scrutinized. II. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION There are certain issues that surround the very nature and condition of the Temple of Artemis as an architectural structure that pertains to religious practices and iconographic activities. At the same time, the status of the temple as an Ancient Wonder of the World provides another level of analysis between the relation of the form, style and genre with its status. In assessing the form of the Temple of Artemis, there is a need to focus first on the overall appearance of the temple. The image on the left (Fig. 1) provides a digitally rendered image of the Temple since it is already non-existent as of the modern times. However, this image provides a brief idea of the overall appearance of the Temple that can be considered similar to its original form despite of digital rendition. The said architectural style is actually patterned after the Greek Style called Ionic Architecture (Evans 16). The Ionic Architecture of the Greeks focuses on constructing high levels of pillars with intricate designs at the topmost part of the pillar (Evans 16). The Greeks implemented this manner in constructing several pillars to support a huge roof to showcase proportionality and perfection of form. Also, by carefully observing the overall design, it is highly quadrilateral in nature with some inclusions of circular designs patterned at the top of the pillars that supported the whole roof of the architecture. Next component of form to assess is the pillars since they provide the most intricate concept of design making by the Greeks when it comes to construction of buildings. The image on the left (Fig 2.) provides an overview of the intricate designs present in the pillars of the temple. This intricate form of the designs of the pillar is not only isolated in the case of Temple of Artemis but also to other architectural designs like the Parthenon of Athena, Temple of Hera and Temple of Apollo (Evans 14). In its totality, the form of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus adheres more to the high conventional architectural design pertaining to perfection of form, symmetrical appearance and geometric shapes which have been present as well in most of the Greek temples. From the form of the Greek Architecture, it is inherent that the style of temple must be assessed since there are still differences that underlie with the construction of the Temple of Artemis and the other Greek temples. The most obvious deviation from the Doric to the Ionic architectural style is seen in the colonnades of the temple edifice. In its complexity being an intricate colonnade design, this design present in the Temple of Artemis is not of an Ionic Architectural concept in nature but more of a Doric Architecture style (Evans 16). Given the case of the colonnade, what is the most intricate component of the Ionic form that separates it from the Doric? The image on the left (Fig. 3) provides the most intricate difference when it comes to the colonnade style of Doric and Ionic. Figure 2 highlights a more intricate design conceptualization present in the Ionic unlike the Figure 3 which surfaces the simplicity of most temples which are more Doric in nature. This diversion from style emphasizes that the Greek Architecture, despite of its already astute and perfect appearance, still undergo changes that suits the high prioritization of Greece when it comes to culture. Another stark change from the Doric to Ionic architectural design is seen on Figure 4 (to the left). This shows that the conventional, simple design of the Greeks when it comes to the temple pillars has undergone a major change when the Ionic architecture has been developed. The incorporation of carvings in the pillar provides an inherent condition that the aesthetic standards of Greeks when it comes to pottery have been incorporated as well in architecture (Evans 16). Inevitably, it has been understood that the interest of the Greeks in the arts has been rich and vibrant that it is able to influence other areas near to it since they are able to establish an empire of their own as well. Also, basing on the intricate artistic conventions, it can be understood well that there is a premium on arts since it has been used a means of recording their historical contributions, their daily activities and practices that are really important in highlighting their cultural magnificence. Overall, the Greek style and conventions have been a dynamic one since it has undergone major changes as well. On the other hand, has the context of Greece back then played a very crucial role in defining and redefining cultural practices that transcends into art as a medium of expression? This will be scrutinized carefully on the genre that espouses the Temple of Artemis. The genre of the Temple of Artemis must be assessed on these certain levels: the political, economic, social, and religious spheres. These four levels provide a very clear condition and explanation about the whole intricate and intriguing architectural construction. In terms of the political sphere, the Greek Empire starts to grow since the location of the said temple is in Ephesus, located in the Asia Minor (clevelys.co.uk). At the same time, Alexander the Great, during his rule, tried to restore the temple to its original stature (yousigma.com). This evokes the notion that the Temple has been subjected to the Hellenistic period of the Arts since it flourished and spread the conventions of the Greek Architecture (Barletta 615). The political influence of the Greeks when it comes to art has dominated the cultural arena during that time. This political condition is unavoidably related to the economic perspective of the architecture back then. The temple has been subjected to several reconstructions due to unexpected events like the burning of the temple committed by a madman named Herostratus (clevelys.co.uk). This only shows that the temple is not just a mere assertion of the power of the Greeks when it comes to promoting their culture but the temple has also become a tool to reinforce the rich economic status of Greece as an empire. When assessing the social sphere of the temple, there are purely implications that can be inferred based on its standing and condition. First implication is that the temple is a manifestation of the interest of people in the arts which emphasized superiority of their culture. This is seen with the construction of several temples and the presence of other artefacts (Evan 14). Second is that the temple has emphasized the advance knowledge of the Greeks in terms of arts and sciences that have been the foundations of the construction of the architectural masterpiece. This is emphasized in the dimensions of the temple which are enormous. In terms of religious context, the major complexity of the Temple of Artemis lies in it due to the relation of several factors. The image to the right (Fig. 5) provides a very complex explanation about the religious context. This statue is found inside the premises of the Temple of Artemis. There has been a different representation of the Goddess Diana in this case. The iconic goddess of the hunt and the moon became a goddess of fertility under the Ephesian context (Temple of Artemis). There is an inherent parallelism with the representation of Diana with the context of the Hellenistic period. The Hellenistic period, in terms of the arts, glorifies major diversion through incorporation of movements in the manner of construction and representation of the arts (Evan 16). At the same time, there is a dominance of a highly hedonistic culture in the Hellenistic period that has catered to human sensibilities and desires that have played a crucial role in the fomenting of the arts and culture during that time (Evans 14). Despite the complexity of the whole architectural structure of the Temple of Artemis of Ephesus, there is one thing that cannot be denied about it: the temple has been a proof of the great contributions of the Greeks in the field of arts and culture and to the modern society which traces it foundations from these innovations made. These things are still commendable despite their condition which are gone and just a landmark in the history of the Greeks and the world. Also, it is considered a breakthrough in the field of arts and architecture since these fields have gave birth to this majestic structure that has the stunned the world. III. CONCLUSION Upon analysing and understanding the intricacies that surround the majestic architectural design of the Temple of Artemis, it has been clear that the political, social, economic and religious sphere, together with the breakthrough in the fields of arts and sciences have rendered a very different manner of form and style in representing the Greek culture in its full scale. These innovations have recreated art and brought into a new level the same way that the field of science has flourished because of its ability in putting an unparalleled logic in the manner of construction of the building. This has transcended to the modern times since the influences of the Greek architecture are still relevant and existent until now. These influences have become guides in the field or architecture and art in terms of representation and construction of style. As an architect, artist and art critique, the subject has provide an avenue to further discuss and dissect the inherent and cohesive conventions that have been formulated by the construction of the said architecture. In terms of architecture, the building will serve as a guide in constructing new edifices which are of remarkable effect to the world and can be considered a breakthrough to showcase the relevance and success of culture. In terms of art, the Temple of Artemis serves as a framework for me as an artist in making new conventions and constructing new ideas about art that can help people in all their practices since the Temple of Artemis has a social relevance. In its totality, art is something that is used to reflect and represent the intricacies that surround humans and their manner of living and being an artist, it will be my driving force to advocate art. As a critique of art, this will be a stepping stone to advance my critical thinking about the things that surround me and observe all the important aspects of things instead being confined by the codified conventions that most people adheres to. Being a critique, I will be a guide in reconstructing knowledge that surround the architecture and incorporate to the minds of the people that art is still something that we need since it gives us a sense of who we are as humans. Lastly, in the contemporary world, the Temple of Artemis must serve as a reminder of the importance of the fields of arts and humanities since these gives us reasons to be more humane being humans. Most of us forget the importance of these fields since we have been succumbed to the vortex of the black hole which is globalization which inevitably takes almost everything from us being a driving force that controls almost everything in this world. Art and architecture are fields that showcase the creative and critical thinking capacity of humans. We must use these to fully understand that there is still a need for us to be creative since it is needed to survive in our world full of uncertainties and be more sensible as humans again. WORKS CITED Evans, James Allan. Arts and Humanities: Through the Ages. Vol. 2. Thomson Gale. 2005. Barletta, Barbara. Greek Architecture. American Journal of Archaelogy. 2011. 611 – 640. Temple of Artemis. Temple of Artemis. 21 Nov. 2011. penelope.uchicago.edu. Goddess Artemis. Temple of Artemis. 21 Nov. 2011. penelope.uchicago.edu. Statue of Artemis. Statue of Artemis. 21 Nov. 2011. clevelys.co.uk. Temple of Artemis. Great Buildings. 21 Nov. 2011. greatbuildings.com. Colonnade of Artemis. Great Buildings. 21 Nov. 2011. greatbuildings.com. Colonnade of Artemis 2. Great Buildings. 21 Nov. 2011. greatbuildings.com. Seven Wonders of The Ancient World. 21 Nov. 2011. yousigma.com. Temple of Artemis. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 21 Nov. 2011. unmuseum.org. Temple of Artemis at Ephesus. Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. 21 Nov. 2011. unmuseum.org. Read More