What is your favorite kind of architecture from any ancient civilization? For me I am always into Chinese architecture I don't know why I guess I just like the way that their buildings are made and how different they are from the rest of the world. What do you like about ancient architecture? What's your favorite civilization?
Favorite ancient architecture
- Thread starter Civvi
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Ignoring "civilizations" entirely, one of my favorite ancient architectural achievements was the sanctuary of Fortuna Primigenia at Praeneste, funded in large part by the Roman dictator L. Cornelius Sulla in the first part of the first century BC. (A sanctuary existed there earlier, around a grotto, but Sulla expanded it so dramatically that he is usually given credit for having been responsible for the whole thing.) For one thing, it was utterly massive, which has its pluses. In terms of design, it incorporated the standard late-Hellenistic visual-design tactic of consciously attempting to direct the viewer's attention towards a focal point. The site incorporated most of the mix-and-match standards of Greco-Roman architecture, including a few of the major varieties of arch and arcade, the stoa, terracing, and vaulted passages.
Here's an image of a reconstruction of the temple:
Here's an image of a reconstruction of the temple:
Terxpahseyton
Nobody
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- Sep 9, 2006
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Petra comes to my mind. To have the natural surrounding become your architecture rather than assembling stuff from all over the place and putting it somehow together seems a lot cooler to me.
Such a style is relatively speaking of greater workmanship, of course integrates great into the landscape and by being part of the old rock Petra has this character of belonging there and being there since forever.
Also Petra is a German female prename.
Such a style is relatively speaking of greater workmanship, of course integrates great into the landscape and by being part of the old rock Petra has this character of belonging there and being there since forever.
Also Petra is a German female prename.
Expanding on what SiLL has to say about architecture that integrates into the landscape, Indian rock carved architecture is extremely cool. While the cave ones probably integrate more, I also like the temples that are more free standing such as below:
Cynovolans
Not in my dimension.
I like Hatshepsut's mortuary temple, although it would be more awesome if the avenue of sphinxes leading to the temple was still there.
And Ramses III's mortuary temple is awesome but should have been better hidden like Hatshepsut's because now it is covered with graffiti.
Spoiler :
And Ramses III's mortuary temple is awesome but should have been better hidden like Hatshepsut's because now it is covered with graffiti.
Spoiler :
Perfection
The Great Head.
The Pyramids of Giza.
Bigger is better.
Bigger is better.
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
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Byzantine. Not really ancient, but eh, define "ancient".
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/hagia.jpg?a14544
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/hagia.jpg?a14544
Phrossack
Armored Fish and Armored Men
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If Byzantine counts i choose it as well. I have modeled a lot of Byzantine buildings and their design is amazing
Indeed...but then again, you are Greek...
aronnax
Let your spirit be free
It's not Ancient but it's really old! And purdy. The Temple City of Bagan.
Here are some of my own models of Byzantine buildings:
The holy apostles of Thessalonike:
The hagia Eirene of Constantinople:
The Panagia Chalkeon of Thessalonike:
The Theodosian walls of Constantinople:
I had created the Hagia Sophia as well, but that model is now lost...
The holy apostles of Thessalonike:
The hagia Eirene of Constantinople:
The Panagia Chalkeon of Thessalonike:
The Theodosian walls of Constantinople:
I had created the Hagia Sophia as well, but that model is now lost...
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Traitorfish
The Tighnahulish Kid
The Pantheon in Rome, Italy, because it's an amazing feat of precision-engineering.
And Newgrange at Brú na Bóinne, County Meath, Ireland, on the one hand because it's a very impressive feat of engineering for people so otherwise "primitive", and on the other just because I love the blunt, uncompromising massiveness of the whole thing. (It's what my- coincidentally Irish- tutor used to describe as a "big f**k off building").
And Newgrange at Brú na Bóinne, County Meath, Ireland, on the one hand because it's a very impressive feat of engineering for people so otherwise "primitive", and on the other just because I love the blunt, uncompromising massiveness of the whole thing. (It's what my- coincidentally Irish- tutor used to describe as a "big f**k off building").
Have either of you ever seen the monolithic churches in Ethiopia? They're very cool as well- they pretty much just hacked them straight out of the ground.
Spoiler :
Actually I remember my middle school history book having a picture of that exact church in it. I was fascinated with it even then. I thought about posting one of those churches in the thread but wasn't sure it qualified as "ancient" enough. Cool stuff all the same though.
