In this book, Alessandro Pierattini offers a comprehensive study of the evolution of pre-archaic Greek temple architecture from the eleventh to mid-seventh century BCE. Demystifying the formative stages of Greek architecture, he traces how temples were transformed from unassuming shrines made of perishable materials into large stone and terracotta monuments. Grounded in archaeological evidence, the volume analyzes the design, function, construction, and aesthetic of the Greek temple. While the book's primary focus is architectural, it also draws on non-architectural material culture, ancient cult practice, and social history, which also defined the context that fostered the Greek temple's initial development. In reconstituting this early history, Pierattini also draws attention to new developments as well as legacies from previous eras. Ultimately, he reveals why the temple's pre-Archaic development is not only of interest in itself, but also a key to the origins of the Greek monumental architecture of the Archaic period.

This first comprehensive study of pre-Archaic Greek temple architecture combines architecture, society, and material culture.

About the Author
Alessandro Pierattini is Assistant Professor in the School of Architecture at the University of Notre Dame. A scholar of ancient Greek and Roman architecture, he is a member of the University of Chicago excavations at Isthmia, Greece.

Reviews
'This welcome study of the earliest known Greek temples uses a fresh methodological approach to generate new insights into complex archaeological evidence. ... Highly recommended.' E. A. Dumser, Choice



Book Information
ISBN 9781108499477
Author Alessandro Pierattini
Format Hardback
Page Count 350
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 850g
Dimensions(mm) 259mm * 182mm * 20mm