Architectural Programs & Culture

Architectural Programs & Culture

Introduction

A close observation of ancient artifacts and artchitecture will reveal that they are often the actual reflection of their times. The way tombs, buildings and artifacts are designed say a lot about the culture which prevailed during the earlier times. From Pantheon in Rome to Hagia Sophia, and the dancing girl of Moenjo Daro to Doom of the Rock in Jerusalam, testifies the richness of the different cultures at different eras of human civilization.

Thesis Statement

Tombs, temples, palaces and all other elements present in Architectural Programs are related to the culture that prevailed on the soil of the region during their times.

The Pantheon in Rome

The Pantheon is present in Rome. It is one of the most recognizable and iconic buildings of Hadrian. At this time, it is the product of the great innovation of technology of Roman Construction. It is a uniquely designed building, and pantheon's magnificent dome contains a span of 43.3 metres and it is the largest dome in this world. People had been using the Pantheon for the worship of former emperors and Hadrian was famous to hold the court at Pantheon. Marcus Agrippa built the original temple, after 27 BC, during the period of influence of the emperor Augustus; however, the temple was burned down in 80 AD. Later on, Hadrian built this temple again (Kleiner, 2008).

Brick and material constituted The base however, its front covered entrance has the support of colossal columns. Their brickwork was dig-out in farther deserts, in Upper Egypt, at high cost. In the same way, the interior surface of the Pantheon's brick walls is embellished with coloured marbles and rare stones from different parts of the empire. Pantheon exhibits the culture of Deities, a hierarchical structure, in which goddess and Gods live in a sanctified community. In this culture, human interact with this world, which takes the form of contact with sanctified people, Gods or Goddess. In the Pantheons culture, the downgraded deities are given mission of being helpers like angels or saints (Ramsey, 1999).

Hierarchical structure of the pantheons most of the time reflect many different functions of deities, as a result, this sanctified structure reflects and creates the structure of human society and life itself. The top most order of deities, normally connected with the sky, they serve as creators and guardians of societal and cosmic order. The deities most of the time take the role of warriors and protectors that are associated with meteorological activities (Kleiner, 2008).

Hagia Sophia

The Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527-565) commissioned the church of Hagia Sophia; the holy wisdom in Greek. The mathematicians Anthemius of Tralles and Isidore of Miletus built this church. In 562, subsequent to more than five years of labor by ten thousand workers, the church was inaugurated. This church was rebuilt after the destruction of the Great church done with the fire by the rebellions in 532. The former building was a traditional timber roofed basilica. In replacing it Justinian and his architects ...