Ancient architecture of the world. General history of architecture. Features of the style of Egyptian architecture. Egyptian order. Style features of Egyptian columns

Buildings are among the most impressive works of art. After spending untold sums on construction, you can walk around completed projects and even live inside. Insider has collected 30 structures that stagger the imagination.

The oldest surviving building on Earth is Göbekli Tepe in Turkey. Its age is estimated to be at least the ninth millennium BC. Archaeologists are unsure of the purpose of Göbekli Tepe. Most likely, the building had a religious significance.

Since then, mankind has managed to build many cool structures. For example, just last year the futuristic Fulton Center in New York opened...

...and Penley Grammar School and Essendon in Melbourne, Australia.

The amazing Golden Temple in Amritsar, India seems to have grown straight out of the waters of the Amritsar River.

At night, the religious center of the Sikhs looks just amazing.

The Las Lajas Church in Nariño, Colombia, is at first baffling because the structure seems to defy gravity.

Modernist architect Antonio Gaudi did not live to see the completion of the Sagrada Familia - in fact, its construction continues to this day. From the outside, the temple resembles houses from the Chronicles of Narnia...

...and its interior is even more surreal.

The Flatiron Building was one of the first skyscrapers in New York...

...as was the Woolworth Building, the tallest building in the world between 1913 and 1930.

In Onomichi, Japan, young couples often hold their wedding ceremonies in the Ribbon Chapel ("Ribbon Chapel").

In Seoul, surrounded by greenery, the Light of Life Church rises.

Inside, she looks completely different.

The design of the Marina City skyscrapers in Chicago is, to put it mildly, unique. Built in 1964, they were among the first mixed-use buildings. For the first time in the United States, a high-rise crane was used in construction.

But not all buildings aim for the sky. Church Temppeliaukio, Helsinki, Finland, carved into the rock under the ground, while receiving enough sunlight.

The Church of Saint George in Lalibela, Ethiopia, was carved from a single boulder in the 12th century.

Some of the most beautiful buildings are part of the landscape. Turninn in Reykjavik reflects the wild beauty of Iceland.

Modernist Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used edges and open space to create masterpieces that seem to float in the air - like the New National Gallery in Berlin, built in the 1960s.

In addition, Berlin is home to the mecca of electronic music, the brutal nightclub Berghain.

Unity with the environment is one of the oldest concepts in architecture. The ancient Japanese capital of Kyoto houses the breathtaking Golden Pavilion (Kinkakuji)...

...and the equally stunning Silver.

The Great Mosque of Djenne in Mali is the largest mud structure in the world. It can accommodate 3 thousand believers.

The whimsical Center Pompidou in Paris is a masterpiece of postmodernism.

Built around 1200, Chartres Cathedral in northern France is an excellent example of Gothic architecture. Pay attention to the richly decorated "portals" leading to the building...

...and an amazing organ inside.

Perhaps the only religious building that can compare with it in grandeur is the Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Its construction was completed at the beginning of the 17th century and coincided with the heyday of the Ottoman Empire.

More than 20,000 handmade tiles are used in interior decoration.

Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria is believed to have inspired Walt Disney's Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Trinity College is the gem of Dublin University.

It is famous for its library, the most amazing room of which has the characteristic name "Long Room".

The Imperial Palace - aka the Forbidden City - is the highest form of Chinese architecture.

Between 1420 and 1912 the palace served as the seat of government.

Its interior is truly impressive...

...as well as the attention to detail.

Today, the most exotic examples of modern architecture can be seen in Beijing. For example, the CCTV Tower, also known as "Pants".

With the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the late Zaha Hadid did what only she could do - transforming the rigid, clean lines of modernism into something organic.

High in the Peruvian Andes, Machu Picchu is the finest example of Inca architecture.

Archaeologists believe that the city was built around 1450.

A more detailed photo of the residential area.

In 2007, Parque Biblioteca España opened in Medellin, Colombia. Its design was designed by Colombian architect Giancarlo Mazzanti. Three buildings should look like stones.

The library, located in the Santo Domingo Savio district, overlooks Medellin itself, lying in a valley surrounded by the Andes.

The Sydney Opera House is rightfully considered a cult representative of Australian architecture.

Designed by Danish architect Jorn Utzon and opened in 1973, the theater has become a literal canvas for social expression.

Its interior is also amazing.

As you know, the list of the most famous ancient sights of ancient culture includes only seven miracles. But we mustered up the courage to include three more structures that we think are worthy of your attention. So.

Ajanta or the Ajanta caves is a Buddhist temple and monastery complex located near the village of the same name, 100 km northeast of the city of Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India. It was discovered in 1839. It is a rock in the shape of a horseshoe, in which, starting from the II century BC. e. to the 5th century AD e. 30 (according to other sources 29) caves were carved with columns, Buddha statues and world-famous wall paintings reflecting the life of India of that era. This painting, illustrating Buddhist legends and myths, is not only a work of art, but also a valuable historical source of knowledge about those times.

newgrange

Newgrange - an ancient structure of huge stone blocks, one of the largest and oldest corridor tombs, built by man between about 3000 BC. e. - 2500 BC e. (older than the Great Pyramid of Giza and probably Stonehenge). Located 40.2 km north of the city of Dublin, about one kilometer north of the River Boyne, County Meath, Ireland. The mound is 13.5 meters high and 85 meters in diameter. Ancient people erected it from 200,000 tons of stone, wood and earth. It is a large round mound inside, which is a 19-meter stone corridor leading to the burial chamber. Included in the list of the most mysterious sights of the world.

Derinkuyu

Derinkuyu is an ancient multi-level underground city located under the city of the same name in the province of Nevsehir, Turkey. It was built in the II-I millennium BC. e. Discovered in 1963. The underground city reaches a depth of 60 meters and in ancient times could shelter up to 20 thousand people, along with food and livestock. For centuries, people have been hiding here from nomadic raids, religious persecution and other dangers. Although the underground city of Derinkuyu was intended as a temporary shelter, its scale is impressive. It includes numerous wine cellars, stables, cellars, storerooms, refectories, chapels, numerous ventilation ducts, and a complex network of tunnels and corridors.

7 wonders of the ancient world

Lighthouse of Alexandria - a lighthouse built according to the project of the architect Sostratus of Cnidus approximately in 279-280. BC e. on the island of Pharos, near Alexandria in Egypt, so that the ships could safely pass the reefs on their way to the bay of Alexandria. According to estimates, its light was visible at a distance of 51 km (according to other sources, up to 83 km). It is assumed that the Lighthouse of Alexandria was about 115–120 meters high and at that time was the tallest building in the world. In the XIV century, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake, and in its place, by order of the then Sultan of Egypt, Qaitbey (1416/1418–1496), the Qait-Bey fortress was erected, which today is a maritime museum.

Colossus of Rhodes - a bronze statue of the ancient Greek god of the Sun - Helios, built between 292 BC. e. - 280 BC e. in the harbor of the port city of Rhodes on the island of the same name in the Aegean Sea in Greece. It was built according to the project of the architect Hares, a student of Lysippus, in honor of the victory of the inhabitants of Rhodes over the ruler of Cyprus, Antigonus I One-eyed, who, together with his son and an army of 40,000 people, unsuccessfully besieged the city in 305 BC. The height of the statue is about 30 meters. She stood on a 10-meter pedestal and weighed, according to various estimates, from 30 to 70 tons. Compared to other wonders of the world, the Colossus of Rhodes "lived" a short life. Approximately 50 years after its creation, it was completely destroyed by an earthquake and melted down.

In fifth place on the list is the "Mausoleum at Halicarnassus" - a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC. e. in Halicarnassus (modern city of Bodrum, Turkey) for King Mausolus of Caria and his wife-sister Artemisia III. Well-known masters were involved in the construction and decoration of the tomb, including the famous sculptors Skopas, Briaxides, Timofeos and Leohar. The tomb of Mausolus was a majestic and unusually shaped building, built of brick and lined inside and out with white marble. The mausoleum in Halicarnassus, 45 meters high, stood for about 19 centuries, but in the 13th century it collapsed from a strong earthquake.

The statue of Zeus at Olympia is an ancient Greek statue of Zeus, which was located in the center of the temple of the same name at Olympia in the Peloponnese. It was erected in the 5th century BC by the ancient Greek sculptor and architect Phidias. The statue of the god reached a height of 12-13 meters and was made of wood (according to some sources, from cedar, according to others - from ebony). Details made of ivory, gold and precious stones were attached to this wooden base with the help of bronze and iron nails, special hooks. The circumstances of the possible destruction of the statue are unknown. According to the Byzantine historian George Kedrin, it was transported to Constantinople, where it burned down in a fire in 476.

The Temple of Artemis of Ephesus is a Greek temple located in the city of Ephesus, Asia Minor (near the modern city of Selchuk, Turkey). It was dedicated to Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt. The temple was built in the middle of the VI century BC. e, was a rectangular building 105 meters long and 51 meters wide, consisting of marble and wood, and surrounded on all sides by a double row of 127 columns, the height of which was 18 meters. During its entire existence, it was rebuilt three times until July 21, 356 BC. e. was not set on fire by Herostratus - a resident of Ephesus, who dreamed of becoming famous at any cost.

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, more correctly called the Hanging Gardens of Amitis, is the only one of the seven wonders of the world whose location has not been definitively established. The Hanging Gardens are thought to have been built around 575 BC. e. in the ancient city of Babylon (near the modern city of Hilla, in Iraq), by King Nebuchadnezzar II, for his wife Amitis, who missed the forests of her homeland. They are a pyramid consisting of four tiers-platforms supported by columns up to 25 m high. On these tiers, fertile land lay with a thick carpet, where seeds of various herbs, flowers, shrubs, and trees from Media were planted. The pyramid looked like an evergreen hill. However, after in 331 BC. e. the troops of Alexander the Great captured Babylon, and the great commander himself died, the city gradually fell into decay. The gardens were abandoned and eventually destroyed.

The Pyramid of Cheops is the largest among the Egyptian pyramids, the only one of the "Seven Wonders of the World" that has survived to this day, and also one of the most famous tombs in the world. The pyramid is located on the west bank of the Nile in Egypt on a plateau in Giza, in close proximity to the famous "Great Sphinx". The lion's share of Egyptologists believe that the pyramid was built around 2560 BC. e. and is the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh IV of the Khufu (Cheops) dynasty. It is believed that it was designed by the architect Hemion, the nephew of Cheops. Initially, the pyramid had a height of 146.5 m, but as a result of erosion, today its height is 138.75 m. The total weight of the pyramid is estimated at about 6.25 million tons, the area is ≈ 85,000 m².

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Archaeological finds, as a rule, allow scientists to obtain very detailed information about the past. But it happens that scientists themselves become stumped, because they cannot explain either the origin or the purpose of the artifacts. In our review of 10 amazing architectural objects found by archaeologists in different parts of the world.

1. Templar Buildings (Malta and Gozo)

The Templars lived on the islands of Malta and Gozo in the Mediterranean Sea for 1100 years (from 4000 to 2900 BC), and then simply disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only amazing structures. As far as modern archaeologists can tell, neither invasion nor famine or disease caused their disappearance. It can be argued that these mysterious people were obsessed with the construction of stone temple complexes - about 30 of them were found on 2 small islands. The researchers found numerous evidence of sacrifices and complex rituals in these temples, as well as an abundance of phallic symbols.

3. Etruscan underground pyramids (Italy)

In 2011, archaeologist Claudio Bizzarri came across Etruscan pyramids under the medieval Italian city of Orvieto. Archaeologists first noticed the Etruscan-style steps that were carved into the wall of the wine cellar and went down. After the excavations, a tunnel was discovered that led to a room with walls inclined upwards. Continuing to descend, archaeologists discovered Etruscan ceramics from the 5th-6th centuries BC, a number of other artifacts, whose age was more than 3000 years, and about 150 inscriptions in the Etruscan language. During the excavations, it was discovered that the steps lead even lower, into another tunnel leading to another underground pyramid. Excavations are still ongoing.

4 Ancient Tundra (Greenland)

Until recently, geologists believed that glaciers during their movement play the role of a kind of skating rink, which "erases" plants and soil layers from the surface. act as forces of erosion, clearing away everything they move along from plants and soil to the top layer of bedrock. But now, scientists have to rethink this theory, because under a 3 km thick glacier, tundra has been discovered in its original form. Plants and soil have been frozen for over 2.5 million years.

5. Lost Temple of Musasir (Iraq)

In Kurdistan in northern Iraq, locals have recently unearthed veritable archaeological treasures dating back to the Iron Age (more than 2,500 years ago). Quite by chance, they discovered the bases of the pillars (of the supposedly lost Musashira Temple), as well as other artifacts, including life-size statues of people and a goat. Statues are believed to have been an important part of burial rituals in the Urartu civilization. Further excavation is not safe, as the region is full of unexploded mines from past border conflicts.

6. Palace of the Han Dynasty (Siberia)

When Soviet workers were laying a road near the Mongolian border, they accidentally unearthed the foundations of an ancient palace in the immediate vicinity of the city of Abakan. Archaeologists had completely excavated the site by 1940, but were never able to solve the mystery of the ruins. The age of the ruins of a huge palace with an area of ​​​​about 1500 square meters was determined at 2000 years. However, the palace was built in the style of the Chinese Han Dynasty, which ruled from 206 BC. to 220 AD The catch is that the palace was located right on enemy territory, controlled at that time by the nomadic people of the Xiongnu. Xiongnu raids were so constant that it was to protect against them that the Great Wall of China was built.

7 Seven Provincial Pyramids (Egypt)

In southern Egypt, near the ancient settlement of Edfu, archaeologists have discovered a step pyramid that is several decades older than the Great Pyramid of Giza. Built 4,600 years ago, this three-tiered pyramid belongs to a group of seven "provincial pyramids" that were made from blocks of sandstone and mud mortar. The pyramid of Edfu is only 5 meters high, although earlier its height was about 13 meters. Six of the seven pyramids are nearly identical in size and do not contain internal chambers, so they were not intended to be used as tombs. Their purpose is still unknown.

8. Magical sanctuaries (Armenia)

During excavations in 2003-2011 of the Armenian fortress in the city of Gegharot, archaeologists discovered three sanctuaries, whose age is about 3,300 years. They are believed to have been used for divination, and with the help of these shrines local rulers predicted their future. In the center of each temple, which consisted of one room, there was an earthen basin filled with ash, as well as ceramic vessels.

9 Buddhist Temple (Bangladesh)

A recent archaeological discovery may reveal the early life of Atish Dipankar, a revered Buddhist saint who was born in Bangladesh over 1,000 years ago. In the district of Munshingage, the ruins of a Buddhist city and temple, which are about 10 centuries old, were discovered. Scientists believe that it was in this temple that Dipankar taught his followers before he left for Tibet.

10. Tel Burna (Israel)

In southern Israel, archaeologists have discovered an Iron Age site and numerous artifacts that have led to the assumption that Tel Burna is actually the biblical city of Livna - one of the places where the Israelites stopped during the Exodus, when Moses led them out of Egypt. If this assumption is correct, then Tel Burna is part of the Kingdom of Judah, which also included Jerusalem.

There are mysterious artifacts not only among architectural monuments. Today there is at least .

In different historical periods, different building materials and different structures were used, corresponding to the technical development of their time. Naturally, new designs influenced architectural forms. For example, in ancient Egypt, the main building material was stone and the architects used only one type of construction - post-and-beam. To block a large space with heavy stone beams two meters high, many supports had to be placed under them at a distance of only 3-4 meters from each other. The room turned out to be cramped, similar to a stone forest.

We know a lot about the nature of the dwelling of the Egyptians thanks to images, clay models and archaeological research. In the second millennium BC. e. the residential building had a regular rectangular shape in plan with long corridors, a number of small rooms and halls with internal columns. The most perfect types of housing are found in Thebes and Akhetaten during the New Kingdom. Residential buildings are square or rectangular in plan. Next to the low one-story houses are built on several floors with an internal staircase. The living quarters are oriented to the north, towards the refreshing winds and very often overlook the garden.

The Egyptians also build huge engineering structures. This is primarily a wide network of canals and reservoirs, thanks to which a zone of flowering gardens arose on a relatively small strip of land along the Nile. Egyptian builders also built the first canal connecting the Red Sea with the Nile, and thus with the Mediterranean Sea.

Temple structures were erected both on the surface of the earth and in sheer cliffs, where cave temples with rich architectural interior decoration were cut down. The symmetry of the composition of structures is a kind of law for the architectural creativity of the Egyptians. It was emphasized by both the exaggerated scale and the organization of the approach to the structure along its axis. The main facades of the temples had sloping walls, which, apparently, is an echo of earlier adobe buildings. Behind the facade pylon, a peristyle opened - a square courtyard framed by massive closely spaced columns. Access to the courtyard was open to everyone. Then followed the hypostyle - a hall of columns, illuminated from above through the gaps between the levels of overlapping of various parts of the hall. It was adjoined by other rooms, smaller in area and height, which were considered sanctuaries; the farther they were located from the entrance, the more and more limited circle of priests were available. The entire longitudinal composition is symmetrical about the main axis. The successive alternation of different spaces, the thickening of darkness, the hugeness of the columns should have emphasized the power of the gods and had a strong emotional impact on the incoming person.

The largest and most significant cult complexes include the large temple of Amun in Thebes (currently the villages of Karnak and Luxor), in Edfu and on the island of Philae.
Temple of Amun-Ra. Luxor

Alley of Sphinxes. Luxor

The ancient Egyptians believed that the afterlife awaits a person after death. The ancient Egyptians believed that the soul of a person (ka) continues to live after death only if the body (ba) remains intact. Therefore, it was so important to keep the mummy. For ordinary people, simple tombs are built, for the nobility - mastabas, and for the pharaohs, even during their lifetime - huge pyramids with small hard-to-reach chambers, where a sarcophagus with a mummy and everything needed for "eternal" life were placed.

The "ba" needs a dwelling - a tomb. She is inviolable: anyone who harms her will be cursed by the dead and punished by the gods. So that the deceased did not need anything in the afterlife, the walls of the tomb were covered with numerous reliefs and paintings. Their task is to replace for "ka" what surrounded a person on earth.

The largest (with an area of ​​52,900 sq. m.) and the oldest pyramid of Cheops is 1.5 times higher than, for example, the Cathedral of St. Vita in Prague. It was built from many stone blocks weighing up to 2.5 tons. In total, more than 2.5 million cubic meters were required for its construction. m stone. The tomb of Cheops was built by the architect Hemiun in the 27th century. BC e. near Memphis, the first capital of ancient Egypt. In an effort to express the idea of ​​the exclusivity of the pharaoh, the inviolability of his power, belonging to the rank of gods, unconditional and absolute rulers of man, Hemiun chose a place for construction so that it was visible from everywhere. One hundred thousand people built it for 20 years: they broke out stone blocks, hewed them, dragged them to the construction site with the help of ropes.

Pyramid at Giza

Dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs are the ancient wisdom of ancestors, mysterious stone buildings scattered all over the world, which have kept the secrets of their origin and purpose for several millennia.

These megaliths are found in Russia (Gelendzhik, Sochi, Tuapse, Sayan, Baikal, Khakassia, etc.), Ukraine (Crimea, Transcarpathia), Abkhazia (Sukhumi), England (Stonehenge), France (Brittany - Carnac), Italy (Bishelieu, Lecce), Ireland, Spain, India, Iraq, Syria, Korea, Japan, North America, North Africa (Algeria).

Official science determines the age of megaliths from 3 to 5 thousand years (copper, bronze age), but a number of researchers believe that some stone structures are more than 10 thousand years old and they belong to the Neolithic culture.

Who built the "villages" of dolmens, "alleys" of menhirs, "astronomical observatories" of cromlechs? Atlanta? Priests? Are humans giants? Cyclops?

Geologists have identified a strange pattern: when combining maps of the distribution of megaliths with geological maps, most of the structures turned out to be on the lines of geological faults.

Dolmens are a large stone slab laid horizontally on stone supports, or a closed stone box with a round (most often), triangular or square hole. In some dolmens, stone mushroom-shaped plugs-sleeves have been preserved that close the holes (the weight of some is up to 200 kg).

One of the versions of the construction of dolmens is the method of concrete molding from a sandy-clay cementing mass, which was squeezed out of the bowels to the surface in places of geological discontinuities (thrusts).

Menhirs are huge stone pillars vertically dug into the ground from 3 to 20 meters high (the largest weighs 300 tons). Menhirs were installed both singly and in groups: in oval, rectangular multi-kilometer lines and alleys (from several tens to a thousand stones). On some menhirs there are ornaments and bas-reliefs.

Cromlechs - several oblong stones (menhirs) placed vertically in the ground, forming one or more concentric circles. Sometimes in the center of such structures there is another object: a rock, a menhir, a dolmen.

Legends say that the sage and wizard of Celtic myths Merlin, through levitation, delivered stones weighing up to 50 tons from Ireland for the construction of Stonehenge.

The grandiose monuments testify that the ancient builders had knowledge in architecture, astronomy, mathematics and geology.

A clear geometric plan can be traced in the location of the stone "alleys" of the menhirs, some stone rows, stretching for kilometers from west to east, gradually approach each other according to a complex mathematical law described by a parabolic function. On many megaliths there are traces of machining: recesses and grooves, indicating an ultra-precise fit of the plates, perfectly round holes. Separate slabs of dolmens are connected by grooves with an accuracy of a millimeter.

How and why were dolmens, menhirs, cromlechs built? What tools were used to process stones millennia ago? Who erected these grand structures? How did the builders manage to deliver multi-ton stones for tens and hundreds of kilometers and install them? The answers to these questions are still a mystery.

There are many versions - from myths to scientific hypotheses.

The most interesting of them:

* Cromlechs - megalithic observatories of ancient civilizations. Perhaps, solar and lunar eclipses, the days of the winter and summer solstices were determined by the position of the megaliths? Researchers have found that Stonehenge and other megaliths generate high-frequency vibrations and electromagnetic waves. Their activity increases at sunrise and sunset, and also intensifies on the days of the spring and autumn equinoxes.

* Cromlechs - religious buildings of the Druids - Celtic priests, places of worship for the spirits of nature.
* Dolmens - "houses" for offering gifts to the gods and spirits of ancestors.

* Dolmens - burial places of tribal elders.

* Dolmens - sanctuaries, places of worship to the Sun.

* Dolmens are receptacles for the spirits of great ancestors.

* Dolmens - a place of "imprisonment" of priests - oracles.

* Dolmens - acoustic devices - means of information transmission. Measurements showed that for a dolmen - a monolith, the resonating frequency is 2.8 Hz.

* Menhirs - temples near which sacrifices were made.

* Menhirs - astronomical clocks of the Stone Age. The stones of Carnac (Brittany) are arranged in such a way that they show the position of the Sun at certain times of the year.

* Dolmens are meditation resonator chambers in places of power. Perhaps dolmens served the ancient peoples as chambers to achieve the state of samadhi?

* Menhirs of Indians with images of people in masks of animals, birds - symbols of religious cults.

* Menhirs of the Indians with two heads (human and animal) are symbols of the ancient Toltec doctrine of the nagual and tonal.

Perhaps our ancestors used dolmens to practice the art of stalking - "reviewing personal history" - one of the paths leading to the main goal of the Toltecs - freedom?
Megalithic structures are a kind of "stone books" of the ancients, in which data about the Earth, the Solar system and the Universe are encrypted. Perhaps, in ancient times, people were able to use intuitive knowledge about the special generating structures of megaliths, which are currently being studied by the science of eniology - a forgotten science of antiquity, the science of the processes of energy-information exchange in the Universe.

I believe that the "binding" of humanity to the material world "erased" people's genetic memory of communication with nature, of the ability to "hear" the voice of a stone. The Earth is trying to bring us back to our roots, reminding us of endless natural disasters. Will we hear the voice of the stone and the voice of the Earth?

Source http://www.zhitanska.com/

China is one of the largest countries in Asia, its civilization has existed since the 4th millennium BC. e. and belongs to the most developed in the era of antiquity and the Middle Ages. Over several millennia of existence, Chinese culture has produced wonderful works of art and many useful inventions.

Already in the third millennium BC. e. China had a fairly developed culture. It was a mythological stage in the development of philosophical thought. The main ideas were about the sky, which gives life, and about the earthly beginning, as well as the cult of ancestors, the spirits of heaven and earth, which intricately combined the features of animals, birds and people.

In the VI century. BC e., waging wars of conquest, the Chinese penetrate far beyond the borders of their empire, have an impact on the culture of other peoples, experiencing at the same time their influence. An example of this is the penetration of Buddhism from India, which attracted people of that time by turning to the inner spiritual world of man, by the thought of the inner relationship of all living things. Along with it, new types of religious buildings appear.

In China, the first pagodas are being built, which are brick or stone towers with several tiers with protruding roofs, and rock monasteries, similar to Indian ones, consisting of hundreds of large and small grottoes in the thickness of the rock. The visitor moved along the rickety floorings and looked inside the grottoes, from where the Buddha statues looked at him. Some giants, reaching 15-17 meters in height, can now be seen because of the collapse of the front walls of the grottoes.

Just as in India, in China, under the influence of bamboo structures, some architectural forms took on a peculiar character, for example, the corners of the roof were raised, and the roof itself turned out to be slightly bent.

At the beginning of our era, new large cities arise, and the construction of palaces again becomes an important task, which were entire complexes of buildings with pavilions, gates and pools in the middle of architecturally elaborate parks. The Chinese are characterized by a special love for nature, manifested in a sensitive attitude towards it and perception of it as an important part of the living environment.

An outstanding technical structure was the Great Wall of China, the construction of which began as early as the 4th century BC. BC e. and continued for several generations. Throughout the history of China, there have been three main walls, each 10,000 li (5,000 km) long. The wall was conceived as a fortification against the raids of the militant nomadic Mongols from the north, and also, in all likelihood, as proof of the power and greatness of the emperor. It has withstood the influence of wind and bad weather for many centuries.

The Great Wall of China is a symbol of China. At the entrance to the restored part of the Wall, you can see an inscription made by order of Mao Tse Tung - "If you have not visited the Great Wall of China, you are not a real Chinese."

In the many and varied cultural monuments of China, ancient Chinese architecture occupies a very important place. Outstanding examples of ancient Chinese architecture such as the Gugong Palace, the Temple of Heaven, the Yiheyuan Park in Beijing, the ancient city of Lijiang in Yunnan Province, the ancient living quarters in the southern part of Anhui Province, and others have already been included in the World Directory cultural heritage.

Gugong Imperial Palace

Sky Temple

yiheyuan park

The types of ancient Chinese structures are very diverse: these are palaces, and temples, and garden structures, and graves, and dwellings. In their external appearance, these structures are either solemn and magnificent, or elegant, refined and dynamic. Nevertheless, they have a characteristic feature that somehow brings them closer to each other - these are the building ideas and aesthetic aspirations that are unique to the Chinese nation.

In ancient China, the most typical construction of a house was considered to be frame-and-pillar, using wood for this. Wooden poles were installed on an adobe platform, on which longitudinal transverse beams were attached, and on them - a roof covered with tiles.

In our country they say that "the wall of the house may collapse, but the house will not collapse." This is due to the fact that the weight of the house is supported by the pillars, not the wall. This is the crux of the matter. Such a frame system not only allowed Chinese architects to freely design the walls of the house, but also helped to prevent the destruction of the house during earthquakes. For example, in the northern province of China, Shanxi, there is a Buddhist temple over 60 meters high, the frame of which was wooden. This pagoda is more than 900 years old, but it is very well preserved until today.

Another feature of Chinese ancient architecture is the effect that gives a holistic composition, that is, a certain ensemble of many houses is created. In China, it is not customary to build free-standing buildings: be it palace buildings or private premises, they are always overgrown with additional buildings.

The main building is surrounded by courtyard buildings, which are evenly separated from it and symmetrical.

However, structures in an architectural ensemble are not necessarily placed symmetrically. For example, buildings in the mountainous regions of China or the premises of a landscape gardening complex sometimes deliberately allow violations of the symmetrical shape in order to create a richer variety of building compositions. The pursuit of such a variety of forms during the construction of houses led not only to the creation of a single building style in Chinese ancient architecture, but also demonstrated its diversity at the same time.

The ancient architectural structures of China also have another striking character: they are subjected to artistic development, giving them a specific decorative effect. For example, the roofs of houses were not even, but always concave. And in order to give the building a certain mood, the builders usually carved various pictures of animals and herbs on the beams and cornices. Similar patterns were applied to engraved and wooden pillars of rooms, windows and doors.

In addition, ancient Chinese architecture is characterized by the use of paints. Usually the roofs of the palace were covered with yellow glazed tiles, the cornices were painted blue-green, the walls, pillars and courtyards were red, the rooms were lined with white and dark marble platforms that sparkled under the blue sky. The combination of yellow, red and green colors with white and black in the decoration of houses not only emphasizes the majesty of the buildings, but also pleases the eye.

Compared to palaces, living quarters in southern China are very modest. The houses are covered with dark gray tiled roofs, their walls are covered with white flowers, and their wooden frames are in dark coffee color. Bamboo and bananas grow around the houses. Similar premises still exist in the southern provinces of Anhui, Zhejiang, Fujian and others.

Based on materials and agreement with CRI - China Radio International

The Temple of Heaven, which has survived to this day, is the place where the emperors of the Ming (1368 - 1644) and Qing (1644 - 1911) dynasties performed the ritual of sacrifices to Heaven and prayed for the annual harvest. The temple was built in 1420 on the southern outskirts of the city of Beijing. The main structures of the Temple of Heaven are circular in plan and lie on an axis oriented from south to north. Service buildings have a rectangular plan. This confirms the version of the existence in ancient China of cosmogonic ideas that the Sky is round and the Earth is square.

The Temple of Heaven covers a total area of ​​2.73 million m², which is 4 times the area of ​​the Forbidden City. There are not many buildings in the architectural temple ensemble; trees are planted on most of the territory of the temple. The Temple of Heaven is surrounded by two walls - external and internal. The entire territory of the temple is surrounded by an outer wall, the temple buildings are surrounded by an inner wall. The length of the outer wall from south to north is 1650 m, from east to west - 1725 m; the length of the inner wall from south to north reaches 1243 m, from east to west - 1046 m. ​​The main buildings of the architectural ensemble of the Temple of Heaven are located on the south-north axis. At the extreme southern point is the marble "Altar of Heaven" - "Huanqutan", at the extreme northern point is the "Altar of Harvest Prayers" - "Qigutan". The "Altar of Heaven" is the main building of the architectural ensemble of the Temple of Heaven. Here the emperors performed the ritual of sacrifices to Heaven. The center of the altar is a marble three-tiered terrace 5 m high, round in shape. According to the ritual, sacrifices to Heaven were made in the open air. In the center of the terrace there is a stone disc with a diameter of less than 1 m, which is called the "heart of Heaven". If you say something while standing right on this disc, you can clearly hear the echo of each of your words. The meaning was that when the emperor conducted his dialogue with Heaven, his prayer was echoed by all the people subject to him. A solemn silence always reigns around the "Altar of Heaven". The ceremony of sacrifice to Heaven was held annually before sunrise on the winter solstice (December 21-22). When the emperor ascended the steps of the altar, lanterns hanging on high poles were lit in front of the altar, clouds of incense capable of reaching heavenly heights rose above the censers, and sacrificial food was prepared in 12 cauldrons placed in the southeastern part of the altar. The ceremony was accompanied by music, which created an atmosphere of mystery.

To the north of the "Altar of Heaven" is the "Hall of the Sky" - "Huangqunyu", designed to store memorial tablets of the spirits of Heaven and the luminaries and ancestors of the emperor. The "Hall of the Firmament" is fenced off by the "Wall of Returning Sounds". If, turning to face the wall, say something quietly, then these words will be clearly audible at any point on the opposite side of the wall. The floor of the "Hall of the Heavens" is decorated with a symbolic pattern: in the center - a round stone, around it - 9 rings lined with fan-shaped stones. The first ring is formed by 8 stones, each next ring increases by a multiple of 8, in total -360 stones. The number "8" symbolizes the "wind rose" - north, south, east, west, northeast, southeast, northwest and southwest.
Immediately outside the northern gate of the "Hall of the Heavens" begins a brick-paved road that connects the "Altar of Heaven" with the "Altar of Harvest Prayers". The road 360 m long and 29.4 m wide is called "Danbitsyao" - "Scarlet Steps Bridge". Going from south to north, the road rises slightly, which symbolizes a distant and long journey to Heaven. The "Scarlet Steps Bridge" is subdivided into three parallel lanes: the middle "Sacred Road", intended for the spirits of Heaven; the eastern "Imperial Road", on which only the emperor could walk; the western "Prince's Road", intended for princes and nobles; the lack of a road for ordinary people speaks of a strict class hierarchy. When you step on the "Scarlet Steps Bridge", guarded on both sides by a guard of evergreen pines and cypresses, it seems that you fall into the arms of Heaven. This is exactly the goal set by the designers of the ensemble.
Having passed to the end of the "Scarlet Steps Bridge", you get to the "Altar of Harvest Prayers", where the emperor prayed every year for a rich harvest. Here is the most beautiful building of the ensemble of the Temple of Heaven - "Hall of Harvest Prayers" - "Qinyandian". It rises on a 38-meter three-tiered marble terrace and is crowned with a three-tiered roof covered with blue glazed tiles, distinguished by the elegance of ornamentation and the perfection of the architectural design.

In addition, the ensemble of the Temple of Heaven includes several structures for official purposes, including the "Palace of Fasting" ("Zhai Gong"), in which the emperor fasted before the ritual, the "Pavilion for Slaughtering Sacrificial Animals" ("Xisheng So") and the "Directorate of Sacred Music "(" Shenyue shu "), where they taught temple music. During the construction of the Temple of Heaven, the architects were given the task of creating a temple complex designed both for the ritual of sacrifices to Heaven and prayers for the annual harvest. According to ancient cosmogonic ideas, the Sky was considered a circle, and the Earth - a square, therefore, during the construction of the Temple of Heaven, the shape - round or square - was widely played up. This is evidenced, firstly, by the architectural solution of the wall: the northern part of the wall facing upwards is round, and the southern part of the Temple of Heaven wall looking down is square, since Heaven is above and Earth is below. Secondly, the three main buildings of the Temple - the "Altar of Heaven", the "Hall of the Firmament" and the "Hall of Harvest Prayers" - have a circle in plan, and the walls enclosing them are square.
According to ancient natural philosophy, it was believed that everything and everything in nature is formed from "yang" (male) and "yin" (female). Sky, emperor and odd numbers are yang. Among the odd numbers, "9" occupies the highest position, because in ancient times they believed in the existence of 9 Heavens and that the heavenly gods live in the 9th Heaven. The symbolism of the number "9" was widely used in the construction of the Temple of Heaven. For example, the center of the upper tier of the "Altar of Heaven" is a round stone surrounded by 9 rings of fan-shaped stones. The inner first ring has 9 stones, the second - 18, the last outer - 81. Each tier of the altar is connected to the other by 9 steps.

Numerical symbolism was also widely used during the construction of the "Hall of Harvest Prayers", only in contrast to the "Altar of Heaven" there are even numbers here, which is associated with the annual agricultural and time cycles. 28 massive support pillars made of febe wood supporting the structure of the building are placed in 3 rows. 12 pillars of the outer row symbolize 12 periods of time of the day; 12 pillars of the middle row - 12 months, and together these 24 pillars symbolize the 24 seasons of the annual agricultural cycle. 4 supporting pillars of the inner row symbolize the 4 seasons.
The color scheme of the architectural ensemble of the Temple of Heaven is also symbolic. Yellow symbolizes the Earth, blue - the Sky, therefore, all shades of blue are widely represented in the ornamentation of the Temple of Heaven. The roofs of the "Hall of the Sky" and "Hall of Harvest Prayers" are decorated with blue glazed tiles.
More than 60 thousand cypress trees have been planted on the territory of the temple ensemble, more than 4000 of them have a 100-year history. Arrays of evergreen pines and cypresses, snow-white terraces, carved stone railings, azure sky and blue roofs create a solemn and sacred atmosphere worthy of the ritual of sacrifice to Heaven.
In recognition of the significance of this historical and cultural monument by UNESCO, the following three points are especially emphasized. Firstly, the Temple of Heaven is an outstanding work of architecture and landscape art, a clear and vivid embodiment of the most important cosmogonic ideas that influenced the development of one of the greatest civilizations in the world. Secondly, the symbolism of the spatial planning and architectural design of the structures of the Temple of Heaven ensemble for many centuries had a profound influence on the principles and nature of the architecture of the entire region of the Far East. Thirdly, the Temple of Heaven, due to its unique design features and spatial layout, served as a symbol of the "legitimacy" of the feudal dynastic rule that dominated China for more than two millennia.

You need to know architecture in order to shine with knowledge!

In the history of arts, the dynamics of the development of any kind and genre is more often divided into time periods, because in one era many countries and societies with their original and original cultures appear, develop and die.

The Ancient World includes everything that existed from the 15th to the 1st centuries BC. These are Egypt, the Ancient East (Mesopotamia, Assyria, Persia, Phenicia), India, China and Japan, the Ancient Civilizations of America (Toltecs, Incas, Aztecs, Maya), Aegean (Crete-Mycenaean) and Etruscan cultures. Chronologically, Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome can be attributed to this period. But the development of these cultures is singled out in a separate historical stage - Antiquity. There will be a separate post about this period, if you want.

1. Ancient East
Mesopotamia, Assyria, Persia, Phoenicia. Being in a state of almost unceasing wars, including with each other, located in almost the same climatic and natural conditions, these countries have created very similar and closely intertwined cultures. Their architecture was mainly fortified, with heavy fortified gates, massive walls, arches and columns. The main building material was raw brick, which also served as one of the reasons for the formation of a characteristic monumental style of architecture. The stylistic feature of the construction of cities is the desire to avoid a direct perspective, the application of the principle of "broken axis" when creating cities with an extensive network of streets.

2. Ancient Egypt
For more than three thousand years, the architecture of Egypt has been dominated by a once and for all established tradition. Modification occurs only within the framework of one style, the change in the dominant type of structures corresponds to changes in the social and political spheres of the country: in the era of the Old Kingdom these were rock (cave) tombs, in the era of the Middle Kingdom - pyramids, in the era of the New Kingdom - temples.
The pyramids represent the spirit of Egyptian culture, belief in the afterlife and the power of the pharaoh, as well as the Egyptians' ideas about the universe.
The features of the temples are large halls, a huge number of chapels and the unsurpassed beauty of the paintings on all surfaces, including the outer walls and the ceiling, which is a symbol of the sky and therefore painted blue and painted with golden stars. In addition, an indispensable attribute of the temple is an obelisk and a sacred lake.
Durability, monumentality and decorativeness distinguish the architecture of Ancient Egypt from other examples of architecture of that time.

3. Ancient India
Indian architecture is unusually harmoniously connected with nature. The oldest Indian temples were built right in the caves. About one such temple, in Ellora, I have already made a post. At a later time, the place for places of worship was carefully chosen.
The means of artistic expression are striking in their diversity and colorfulness, reminiscent of the flourishing nature of the country. The idea of ​​the unity of life in all its manifestations permeates philosophical teachings, aesthetics, and art. Sculptures made with great skill from stone, often reaching gigantic sizes, cover the walls of temples, attracting attention to themselves. Religious symbolism and the reflection of the life of that time in all its manifestations are manifested in every work of architecture, and sculpture and relief occupy the first place in Indian art.

4. Ancient China and Japan
The architectural structures of Ancient China are significantly different from the architectural monuments of the rest of the world both in appearance and design. One of the differences is that ancient Chinese structures are dominated by wooden structures, while other architectural monuments are dominated by brick and stone. The main support of any building is a frame of wooden beams, internal and external walls and partitions vary as desired. Another distinctive feature of ancient Chinese architecture is the ensemble-group principle - they built not one building, but a whole complex of structures, whether it was a palace, a monastery or housing.

ancient japan
China was the main landmark in architecture, but Japanese architects have always turned overseas designs into special works. Japanese architecture was mostly wooden. A variety of residential buildings, palaces and temples were erected. A characteristic feature of Japanese architecture can be considered the connection of the building with the surrounding landscape - the water surface, vegetation and relief.

5. Ancient civilizations of America (Toltecs, Aztecs, Mayans and Incas)
The most interesting and important monuments of ancient American culture testify to the high culture of the peoples who created it. In general, they have the same character and represent a picture of the same art, but between them it is impossible not to distinguish two different degrees of development. To the earlier one belong the monuments in Oaxaca, Guatemala and Yucatan, to the later, or Aztec, the monuments preserved in Mexico, but it is impossible to make a more accurate distinction between them according to nationalities and centuries.
The buildings are mostly the remains of temples or fortifications. Their construction is distinguished by the massiveness of the walls, columns and pylons, but at the same time it is of noble taste and bears the stamp of an art that has already reached a certain development. Some of the temples were erected on the upper platforms of huge stepped pyramids, lined with stone blocks on the outside, decorated with horizontal belts with a relief geometric ornament. The overall composition is complemented by sculptural elements, specific ornaments not found anywhere else, and hieroglyphs.

6.Aegean (Cretan-Mycenaean) architecture.
The culture of the Aegean world is the island of Crete with the cities of Knossos, Festus, Triada; dozens of smaller islands, Mycenae, Tiryns, the shores of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor (Troy). It is a link between the early cultures of the East and antiquity and becomes the first mature European civilization in ancient history. The states of Asia Minor, and especially Egypt, had a great influence on the Cretan culture. In turn, the culture of Crete influenced Egypt during the New Kingdom, and even more significantly - the formation of the culture of Ancient Greece. Cities with paved roads, paved streets, bridges and water pipes were founded on Crete, luxurious palaces of rulers were erected. All the buildings of the palaces, partly two-storey, were located on the sides of a large courtyard surrounded by a stone wall. The most famous is the Palace of Knossos with a huge labyrinth in which the Minotaur lived, about which ancient Greek myths speak.