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Quizzes > History

Greek architecture quiz: columns, orders, and temples

Quick, free Greek architectural orders quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Topforty MasterhitsUpdated Aug 24, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper cutout illustration of ancient Greek temple pillars and laurel wreath on teal background for Greek architecture quiz

This Greek architecture quiz helps you spot Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns, read simple plans, and name key parts like pediments and friezes. If you want to compare styles, try our roman architecture quiz or explore broader history with the ancient Greece quiz. For art context, check out the classical sculpture quiz.

Which classical order is characterized by simple, sturdy columns with plain capitals?
Tuscan
Corinthian
Doric
Ionic
The Doric order is the earliest and simplest of the classical Greek architectural orders, distinguished by its heavy fluted columns and plain capitals. Doric columns typically sit directly on the stylobate without a base. This order was commonly used in mainland Greece and colonies during the Archaic and Classical periods.
What is the name of the triangular space at the end of a building, formed by the sloping roof and horizontal cornice?
Frieze
Stylobate
Pediment
Architrave
A pediment is the triangular gable found above the entablature of a classical building. It is formed by the intersection of the sloping roof and the horizontal cornice. Pediments often contain sculptural decoration in Greek temples.
The Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis is dedicated to which deity?
Athena
Demeter
Artemis
Hera
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BCE to honor and worship Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. It housed a massive chryselephantine statue of Athena crafted by Phidias. The temple served both religious and symbolic civic functions in ancient Athens.
Which covered walkway or portico, typically with a roof supported by columns, is commonly found in Greek public spaces?
Odeon
Acropolis
Agora
Stoa
A stoa is a long, covered walkway or portico, usually on the side of a public square known as an agora. Stoas provided sheltered spaces for merchants, philosophers, and citizens to gather. They often featured rows of columns in Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian styles.
What is the term for the uppermost step or platform on which a Greek temple rests?
Stylobate
Podium
Stereobate
Cella
The stylobate is the top step of the crepidoma, forming the platform on which the columns of a Greek temple stand. Below the stylobate is the stereobate, composed of the lower steps. This elevated platform ensures a level base and visual harmony for the structure.
What term describes a temple surrounded by a single row of columns on all sides?
Dipteral
Peripteral
Amphiprostyle
Prostyle
A peripteral temple is one that has a single continuous row of columns (the peristyle) surrounding the central chamber or cella. This layout was common in major Greek temples such as the Parthenon. It allowed for both structural support and a grand exterior colonnade.
Which part of the entablature rests directly on top of the columns?
Architrave
Pediment
Cornice
Frieze
The architrave is the lowermost element of the entablature and sits directly on the capitals of the columns. Above it lies the frieze and then the cornice. Together, these elements form the horizontal structure that spans the columns in classical architecture.
Which classical order is known for its ornate capitals decorated with acanthus leaves?
Ionic
Tuscan
Doric
Corinthian
The Corinthian order is the most elaborate of the Greek orders, characterized by slender fluted columns and ornate capitals adorned with stylized acanthus leaves. It became popular in the late Classical and Hellenistic periods. The design was later adopted by Roman architects across their empire.
What is the main inner chamber of a Greek temple called?
Opisthodomos
Stylobate
Pronaos
Cella
The cella, also known as the naos, is the central enclosed space within a Greek temple where the cult statue and offerings were housed. It was typically surrounded by a colonnade if the temple was peripteral. The cella's proportions and design were central to the temple's overall symmetry and function.
Which building, often associated with musical and poetic performances, is a smaller, covered theatre in ancient Greece?
Bouleuterion
Tholos
Gymnasium
Odeon
An odeon was a small, roofed building used for musical performances, poetry readings, and gatherings in ancient Greece. Unlike the open-air theatres, odeons had vaulted ceilings and better acoustics for smaller audiences. Famous examples include the Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens.
Which subtle bulge in Greek column shafts was introduced to counteract the optical illusion of concavity?
Abacus
Entasis
Fluting
Dentils
Entasis is a slight convex curve applied to the shaft of a column to prevent the appearance of concavity when viewed from a distance. This technique was first perfected by Greek architects in the Classical period, most notably on the Parthenon. It contributes to the visual harmony and strength of the structure.
The Erechtheion temple on the Acropolis is renowned for featuring which sculptural columns?
Atlantes
Caryatids
Telamones
Herms
The south porch of the Erechtheion is famous for its six Caryatids, sculpted female figures that serve as supporting columns. These figures replaced traditional columns and added a unique artistic element. Caryatids exemplify the Late Classical innovation in combining sculpture and architecture.
What is the continuous horizontal decorative band that often carries sculpted reliefs in Greek temples?
Frieze
Pediment
Base
Soffit
The frieze is the middle section of the entablature, located above the architrave and below the cornice. In Ionic and Corinthian orders, it is often continuous and decorated with relief sculpture. In the Doric order, the frieze is divided into alternating triglyphs and metopes.
Which monumental gateway with Doric columns serves as the main entrance to the Athenian Acropolis?
Parthenon
Propylaea
Erechtheion
Temple of Athena Nike
The Propylaea is the grand entrance to the Acropolis of Athens, designed by architect Mnesicles. It features a central hall flanked by wings and massive Doric columns. The structure was built to complement the ceremonial approach to the sacred complex.
The small Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis is an example of which order?
Composite
Ionic
Doric
Corinthian
The Temple of Athena Nike is a tetrastyle Ionic temple erected around 427 - 424 BCE. Ionic columns stand on bases and feature volute capitals and a continuous frieze. Its delicate proportions and decorative details distinguish it from larger Doric structures.
Who are the two architects credited with designing the Parthenon?
Iktinos and Kallikrates
Hippodamus and Sostratus
Mnesicles and Polyclitus
Phidias and Mnesicles
Iktinos and Kallikrates were the principal architects appointed by Pericles to design the Parthenon. Phidias was responsible for the sculptural program and oversaw the temple's artistic decoration. Their collaboration resulted in one of the most perfect examples of Classical Greek architecture.
In Ionic columns, what element supports the shaft and is not present in Doric columns?
Entasis
Stylobate
Base
Echinus
Ionic columns rest on a separate base, which elevates and distinguishes them from the Doric order, where columns sit directly on the stylobate. The Ionic base often consists of several molded rings, adding to the decorative complexity. This structural difference is one of the key characteristics of the Ionic style.
A dipteral Greek temple features how many rows of columns surrounding the cella?
Two
Three
One
Four
Dipteral temples have two rows of columns on all sides of the cella, creating a double peristyle. This layout provided a grander and more complex exterior compared to the simpler peripteral design. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus is a famous example of a dipteral temple.
What is the function of the 'opisthodomos' in Greek temple architecture?
Rear porch
Inner sanctuary
Column base
Front vestibule
The opisthodomos is the rear porch or back chamber of a Greek temple, mirroring the pronaos at the front. It sometimes housed offerings or served as a treasury. Unlike the cella, it was accessible from outside the temple's colonnade.
Which ancient Greek theatre is renowned for its extraordinary acoustics and is located in the Peloponnese?
Odeon of Herodes Atticus
Theatre of Epidaurus
Theatre of Dionysus
Amphitheatre of Colosseum
The Theatre of Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BCE, is celebrated for its remarkable acoustics and symmetry. The design allows even sounds from the stage to be heard clearly at the top rows without amplification. It remains one of the best-preserved ancient theatres.
Which architectural order was first prominently used in the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus?
Corinthian
Ionic
Composite
Doric
The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders, primarily featured the Ionic order characterized by slender fluted columns with volute capitals. Constructed around the 6th century BCE, it became an early and grand example of Ionic architecture. Its rich ornamentation influenced subsequent Greek and Hellenistic temples.
What term describes a temple with columns only at its front entrance?
Amphiprostyle
Prostyle
Peripteral
Dipteral
A prostyle temple has a colonnade at its front portico but no columns on the sides or back. This simpler form contrasts with peripteral and dipteral layouts, which have columns on all sides. Prostyle designs were often used for smaller or more specialized cult buildings.
Which element of the Doric frieze consists of three vertical grooves and alternates with metopes?
Triglyph
Mutule
Antefix
Dentil
In the Doric order, triglyphs are rectangular members of the frieze with three vertical grooves. They alternate with metopes and are located above each column and coordinate with the intercolumniation. This rhythmic pattern is a distinctive feature of Doric entablatures.
Which element sits directly above the capital in a Corinthian column, forming its uppermost slab?
Abacus
Annulet
Volute
Echinus
The abacus is the flat slab atop the capital of a column, serving as the transition to the horizontal architrave. In the Corinthian order, the abacus often has concave sides to accommodate the ornate acanthus leaves beneath it. It provides structural support and completes the capital design.
What is the collective term for the row of vertical grooves running along a column shaft?
Rhythmicesis
Colonnade
Anathyrosis
Fluting
Fluting refers to the shallow grooves cut vertically along the shaft of columns in many classical orders. These grooves enhanced the play of light and shadow, giving columns a lighter appearance. Fluting also emphasized the column's verticality and refined its aesthetic.
In Greek architecture, what term refers to columns that are partially embedded in a wall?
Caryatids
Engaged columns
Antae
Pilasters
Engaged columns are half-columns or pillars attached to a wall, serving primarily a decorative role rather than a structural one. They differ from antae, which are the slightly projecting piers forming the sides of a pronaos. Engaged columns were commonly used in later Greek and Roman architecture.
The well-preserved Temple of Hephaestus in Athens is located in which historic site?
Agora
Pnyx
Kerameikos
Acropolis
The Temple of Hephaestus stands on the northwest side of the Ancient Agora of Athens. Built around 449 - 415 BCE, it is one of the best-preserved Greek temples. Its Doric peripteral design and raised platform reflect typical Classical Greek temple architecture.
What is the term for the clear space between two columns in classical architecture?
Columbarium
Metope
Intercolumniation
Entasis
Intercolumniation refers to the distance or space between the centers of adjacent columns. Vitruvius formalized several standard intercolumniation proportions used in Greek and Roman architecture based on the column diameter. Proper spacing ensures structural integrity and aesthetic harmony.
What is the projecting uppermost section of an entablature that directs rainwater away from the structure?
Architrave
Dentil
Frieze
Cornice
The cornice is the topmost part of the entablature, projecting outward to throw rainwater clear of the building walls. It often includes decorative moldings and serves both functional and aesthetic purposes. In Greek architecture, the cornice completes the entablature's vertical hierarchy.
Which spiral scroll element is characteristic of Ionic capitals?
Acanthus
Fillet
Abacus
Volute
The volute is the spiral, scroll-like ornament that defines Ionic capitals. It consists of two large spirals that frame the capital's face. This decorative feature makes the Ionic order distinct from the simpler Doric and more elaborate Corinthian orders.
The ornate acanthus leaf motifs on Corinthian capitals are believed to be inspired by which plant species?
Laurel
Palmette
Ivy
Acanthus mollis
The distinctive leafy ornamentation of the Corinthian capital is modeled after the acanthus mollis plant. According to Vitruvius, this design was inspired by a basket placed on a young girl's grave, overgrown by acanthus leaves. The motif became a hallmark of the order's elegance.
Which mathematical ratio, famously associated with the Parthenon's proportions, is often cited in Greek architecture for its aesthetic appeal?
Fibonacci Sequence
Pi
Square Root of Two
Golden Ratio
The Golden Ratio (approximately 1.618) has been linked to the Parthenon's façade proportions, although debate continues among scholars. This ratio, present in many natural forms, was believed to create visually pleasing harmony. Its application in Greek architecture reflects their pursuit of mathematical beauty.
Which prehistoric construction technique, characterized by massive limestone boulders fitted together without mortar, influenced early Greek citadel walls?
Isodomic masonry
Opus incertum
Cyclopean masonry
Ashlar masonry
Cyclopean masonry employs large, irregular stones fitted closely without the use of mortar, producing massive defensive walls. Mycenaean citadels such as Mycenae and Tiryns showcase this technique, believed to be so immense only mythical Cyclopes could have built them. It set a precedent for monumental Greek architecture.
What structural innovation in Greek temple roofs allowed for wider interior spans without interior supports?
Flying buttresses
Barrel vaults
Wooden trusses
Cast iron beams
Greek architects employed wooden trusses in temple roofs to span broad spaces without intermediate columns. These timber frameworks distributed weight outward to the exterior walls and columns, enabling larger open interiors. This innovation predates and differs from later Roman arches and vaults.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Classical Orders -

    Identify the distinguishing features of Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian columns and how they inform temple design.

  2. Describe Temple Components -

    Explain the roles of pediments, friezes, entablatures, and other elements in Greek temple architecture.

  3. Differentiate Greek and Egyptian Styles -

    Compare key characteristics of Greek architecture to those in Egyptian architecture quiz topics, highlighting unique design principles.

  4. Recall Iconic Monuments -

    Recall the historical significance and architectural features of landmarks like the Parthenon and Temple of Hephaestus.

  5. Analyze Architectural Influence -

    Analyze how ancient Greek design principles have shaped Western architectural history and later structures.

  6. Apply Knowledge in Trivia -

    Apply your understanding to confidently answer questions in the Greek architecture quiz, architecture trivia quiz, and architecture history quiz.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Greek Column Orders (Doric, Ionic, Corinthian) -

    Review the three classical orders by their capitals: Doric's simple cushion, Ionic's scrolls, and Corinthian's acanthus leaves. Sharpening this detail will boost your score on the greek architecture quiz.

  2. Temple Floor Plan & Key Spaces -

    Greek temples are typically peripteral, with a single-ring colonnade around the cella and pronaos; dipteral temples use a double-ring layout. Recognizing the pronaos, opisthodomos, and adyton will prepare you for any ancient architecture quiz.

  3. Golden Ratio & Divine Proportions -

    The Parthenon employs the golden ratio (approximately 1.618), where a/b = b/(a+b), creating harmonious façades. Remember "divine proportion" to identify its use in pediments and column spacing during your architecture history quiz.

  4. Entablature Components (Architrave, Frieze, Cornice) -

    Each order supports an entablature divided into the architrave, decorative frieze (with Doric triglyphs and metopes), and projecting cornice. Use the ARC mnemonic - Architrave, Frieze, Cornice - to recall this in any architecture trivia quiz.

  5. Neoclassical Legacy & Global Influence -

    Greek design inspired landmark buildings like the U.S. Capitol and the British Museum, marking a revival of classical ideals. Linking Parthenon forms to Palladian façades helps you ace questions on the greek architecture quiz and beyond.

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