Classical - Greek & Roman Innovations

The buildings of the Athenian Acropolis, along with Rome's Pantheon and Colosseum, are magnificent examples of the Classical style--the collective term describing the architecture of ancient Greece and Rome.

The Greeks developed rational, clearly defined forms and rules of use for such elements as columns, using proportions based on the geometry of an ideal human body. The Romans adapted these rules and contributed additional innovations such as extensive use of arches and domes.

After being all but lost during the Middle Ages, these forms and rules, especially the Roman ones, were rediscovered by Renaissance architects. From that time on, Classicism has been one of the most studied, imitated, and adapted concepts of western architecture.