Greek Revival Architectural Style
Greek Revival
Sometime around 1820, classic Greek proportions and ornament made a comeback in architecture abroad, and then swept across the ocean to America and spread rapidly along the coast and into the frontier. A reminder of the ideals of ancient Greek democracy, Greek Revival design was a natural for civic monuments, and even the most modest farmhouse felt the influence.
Columns--Doric, Ionic, or Corinthian--are a predominant feature of Greek Revival style, commonly used to support a triangular pediment, the type you might see on an ancient Greek temple. On everyday homes, such columns might boost a rectangular transom over the door. Greek Revival exterior details include Ionic swirls atop a Doric column, the anthenium decorations based on a honeysuckle pattern, and the repeating angular patterns of a "Greek key" pattern on trim.
Indoors, ancient Greece inspired smaller-scale pilasters and columns, arched doorways, and gracefully winding spiral staircases.
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