The Temple of Apollo at Bassae:Problems Surrounding the Plan,

Orientation and LocationAmy Porter

Archaeology

Overview

• Short Description of Bassae• Theory– Use of Space

• Questions surrounding – Location within Greece and the surrounding area– The plan– The orientation

• Summary

Bassae

Short Description of Bassae• Built around 420-400BC• Dedicated to Apollo

Epicurus• Originally described by

Pausanias 8.41• This site is relatively

unknown• Pausanias notes it for its

beauty and innovation of design

Use of Space• Usually considered in

domestic sites• Conscious manipulations by

humans• The function of a building

can change over time• This change can be invisible

in the archaeological record

N

Use of Space

Location in Greece

Temple of Apollo at Bassae

Athens

Sparta

MesseniaLaconia

Elis

Achaea

Arcadia

Argolis

Cornithia

Attica

Closer view

Temple of Apollo Epicurus

Elliniko

Megalopolis

Tripolis

Tegea

Location

Plan and Orientation

copyright C. H. Smith 1989, based on D.S. Robertson, Greek and Roman Architecture, 1943 fig. 58, in A.W. Lawrence 1983 232 fig. 203

N

Opisthodomos Adyton Naos/Cella Pronaos

Axis of sunlight

Summary• This site is spatially important

in the archaeological record through location, plan and orientation

• This site does not follow the general laws of orientation

• The plan of the building does not follow Iktinos’, the architect, other buildings

• But, there are still many questions

• It is an experimental site

Any Questions?

References• Cooper, F. A. 1968. The Temple of Apollo at Bassae : New Observations on Its Plan and

Orientation American Journal of Archaeology 72(2): 103-111. [Online: www.jstor.org/stable/502832] [Accessed: 21/01/2013]

• Kelly, N. 1995. The Archaic Temple of Apollo at Bassae: Correspondences to the Classical Temple Hesperia: The Journal of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens 64 (2): 227-277. [online: www.jstor.org/stable/148056] [Accessed: 21/01/2013]

• Kent, S. 1993. Domestic architecture and the use of space: An interdisciplinary cross-cultural study Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

• Pearson, M. P. and Richards C. 1994. Architecture and Order: Approaches to Social Space London: Routledge.

• Pausanias, Guide to Greece: Volume 2: Southern Greece. P. Levi (trans.). 1971. London: Penguin Group.

• Spawforth, T. 2006. The Complete Greek Temples London: Thames and Hudson Ltd.• Winter, F. E. 1980. Tradition and Innovation in Doric Design III: The Work of Iktinos

American Journal of Archaeology 84(4): 399-416. [online: www.jstor.org/stable/504069] [Accessed: 21/01/2013]

Photographical References• Slide 1 and 2

– TSD Classics Department

• Slide 3–

http://rolfgross.dreamhosters.com/Greece-Web/Peleponnes/Peleponnisos.htm

– TSD Classics Department

• Slide 4– TSD Classics Department

• Slide 5– http://www.sacred-destinations.com/greece/bassae-

temple-of-apollo-epicurius

• Slide 6– Page 10: Pearson, M. P. and Richards C. 1994.

Architecture and Order: Approaches to Social Space London: Routledge.

• Slide 7– Google Maps copyright 2013– Based off

http://sharemap.org/public/Ancient_peloponnese#!flash

• Slide 8– Google Maps copyright 2013

• Slide 9– TSD Classics Department

• Slide 10– Plan, Bassae, Temple of Apollo copyright C. H.

Smith 1989, based on D.S. Robertson, Greek and Roman Architecture, 1943 fig. 58, in A.W. Lawrence 1983 232 fig. 203 Available at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1990.33.0108a

– http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/corinthian%20columns

• Slide 11– TSD Classics Department

• Slide 12– TSD Classics Department– Plan, Bassae, Temple of Apollo copyright C. H.

Smith 1989, based on D.S. Robertson, Greek and Roman Architecture, 1943 fig. 58, in A.W. Lawrence 1983 232 fig. 203 Available at: http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/image?img=Perseus:image:1990.33.0108a

Bibliography• Corbett, P. 1965. Echoes from Bassae The Annual British School at Athens 60:

156-158. [online: www.jstor.org/stable/30103152] [Accessed: 14/01/13]• Dinsmoor, W. B. 1933. The Temple of Apollo at Bassae Metropolitan Museum

Studies 4(2): 204-227. [online: www.jstor.org/stable/1522802] [Accessed: 14/01/13]

• Dinsmoor, W. B. 1956. The Sculptured Frieze from Bassae (A Revised Sequence) American Journal of Archaeology 60(4): 401-452. [online: www.jstor.org/stable/500879] [Accessed: 14/01/13]

• Marinatos, N. and Hägg, R. (eds) 1995. Greek Santuaries: New Approaches Great Britain: Routledge.

• Mikalson, J. D. 2010. Ancient Greek Religion Chichester: John Wiley and Sons Ltd. • Tomlinson, R. A. 1976. Greek Sanctuaries London: Book Club Associates.• Whitley, J. 2001. The Archaeology of Ancient Greece United Kingdom: Cambridge

University Press.