什麼是古典建築

在古代希臘和羅馬--特別是從西元前5世紀的希臘到西元3世紀的羅馬--強調柱和山形牆的建築。希臘建築主要奠基於樑柱體系（建議改「樑」為「樑」），以柱子支撐建築的重量。大理石和石材的建築取代木造建築。作為與人類成比例之單元的圓柱，在神殿的全部比例中作為模數。可能是最早出現的多里斯柱式，仍然是希臘本土與西部殖民地最喜愛採用的柱式。愛奧尼亞柱式則發展於希臘東部；希臘本土，它主要運用在較小的神殿與室內。希臘建築最偉大的成就是雅典衞城。在西元前5世紀晚期之前，柱式運用在柱廊和劇院這類結構中。希臘化時代則產生更為精緻與裝飾富麗的建築風格，通常興建巨大的建築物。這許多巨大的建築物是世俗性的，而非宗教性；愛奧尼亞柱式，以及特別更推陳出新的科林斯柱式，受到廣泛運用。羅馬人採用希臘的柱式，並增加兩種新的類型（多斯加尼柱式〔Tuscan〕以及組合柱式〔Composite〕）；科林斯柱式在當時仍最受到歡迎。羅馬的建築師不只是採用圓柱作為功能的承載成份，也將它們應用於裝飾上。雖然羅馬人嚴格地尊奉平衡，他們仍採用各種不同的空間形式。而希臘的神殿則較為孤立，並且幾乎都東西座向；羅馬的神殿則帶着敬意指向其他建築物。羅馬的圓柱同時支撐拱與檐部，因而在空間上容許更大的自由度。混凝土的發現大幅推進採用拱、拱頂和圓屋頂來興造建築物，一如在萬神廟中所使用的方式。其他的公共建築包括巴西利卡、澡堂（參閲thermae）、圓形劇場；圓形競技場和凱旋門。古典主義建築也可意指後世運用希臘或羅馬之形式的建築。

Classical architecture

Architecture of ancient greece and Rome, especially from the 5th century BC in Greece to the 3rd century AD in Rome, that emphasized the column and pediment. Greek architecture was based chiefly on the post-and-beam system, with columns carrying the load. Timber construction was superseded by construction in marble and stone. The column, a unit human in scale, was used as a module for all of a temple's proportions. The Doric order, probably the earliest, remained the favorite of the Greek mainland and western colonies. The Ionic order developed in eastern Greece; on the mainland, it was used chiefly for smaller temples and interiors. The greatest Greek architectural achievement was the Athens acropolis. By the late 5th century BC, the orders were applied to such structures as stoas and theaters. The Hellenistic Age produced more elaborate and richly decorated architecture, with often colossal buildings. Many of the great buildings were secular rather than religious, and the Ionic and especially the newer Corinthian orders were widely used. The Romans used the Greek orders and added two new ones (Tuscan and Composite); the Corinthian was by far the most popular. Roman architects used columns not only as functional bearing elements, but also as applied (engaged) decoration. Though rigidly adhering to symmetry, the Romans used a variety of spatial forms. Whereas Greek temples were isolated and almost always faced east-west, Roman temples were oriented with respect to other buildings. Roman columns carried arches as well as entablatures, permitting greater spatial freedom. The discovery of concrete enormously facilitated construction using the arch, vault, and dome, as in the Pantheon. Other public buildings included basilicas, baths (see thermae), amphitheaters, and triumphal arches. Classical architecture may also refer to architecture of later periods that employs Greek or Roman forms.