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The monumental architecture of the Cyclades in the classical and Hellenistic periods

The aim of this study is to establish the existence of a distinct regional architecture on the Cycladic islands during the Classical and Hellenistic periods. It presents a record of materials and of certain constructional techniques, proportions and forms of Cycladic monumental architecture, from which it is possible to establish and explain the differences and similarities of Cycladic practice with other Greek architectural traditions. It is based on a close examination of all the known major buildings and many fortifications on the Cyclades and Thasos, a colony of Pares with certain similar architectural traits. The first section of the thesis (Chapters 2-4) treats the principal constructional techniques, with separate detailed examinations of the various materials employed, the types and nature of foundation, euthynteria and wall construction. The materials available to the builders played a major part in the nature of these parts, all of which display a pronounced conservatism in technique despite strong influences from outside the archipelago. The second section (Chapters 5-6) looks at a number of significant proportions within Doric colonnades and entablatures, principally outlining the Cycladic tendency for slender columns and a less well established tendency for relatively low architraves throughout the Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods; accompanying tables and graphs detail and illustrate the proportions discussed. The final section (Chapters 7-8) studies two particular architectural forms - the tops of triglyphs and Ionic capitals; in the former, particular regional preferences of form are noted, while in the latter there are both conservative and innovative tendencies, as well as strong outside influences. There emerges from this study a local architecture that is conservative in many aspects of its architecture while being receptive to outside influences and even having a certain notable originality of its own. Appendix 1 lists many of the typical traits of essentially Archaic Cycladic architecture, some of which continue into the Classical period. Appendix 2 includes graphs detailing the effect of lower column diameter and column height upon column slenderness. A Catalogue of the Classical and Hellenistic Cycladic and Thasian monuments, together with their bibliography, is included at the end of Volume I.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:339010
Date January 1996
CreatorsLodwick, Marcus Vale
PublisherUniversity of Oxford
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:7df6aa69-4e56-42b7-a581-e786507467a1

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