Architecture Quiz Questions

Please examine the plan of a typical Greek Temple shown below, and then choose the best description of the basic arrangement of parts from the possible answers.

A cella (shaded in gray) is surrounded by a peristyle of columns.

What is a Stoa?

A large Greek temple to Athena on the Acropolis in Athens. *A long, thin building with a row of columns in front and a series of small rooms behind the columns. A menacing temple building located at the edge of a Greek city to frighten lost pets and small children. One of the three greek orders, along with Doric and Ionic.

Which of the following best describes the structural system of the Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheater) in Rome?

A wooden "shell vault" built over thick masonry walls containing lion, tiger and bear bones for added strength. *Rows of curving barrel-vaults supported by masonry arcades stacked one-upon-another to form the oval "bowl shape." A double-shelled groin vault with large arches springing from a series of Flavian walls and beams trusses. A vast dome resting on massive, solid, round walls nearly 16 feet thick enclosed the Colosseum space completely.

Who may legally call themselves Architects

Professional Degree, Internships,

Where would one expect to find tension forces at work in a simple beam spanning between two columns?

Stone makes an excellent spanning member because very good at resisting tension (the "pulling" force).

Which of the following best describes the structural system of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul)?

Tall barrel vaults spanning across a series of thick walls *An ascending series of partial domes supporting an enormous central dome. A series of heavy stone lintels and slabs spanning across the tops of slender columns. Tall and slender groin vaults with reed-like ribbing resting on short round columns.

What is the name of the largest and most famous Greek Temple on the Acropolis? (hint; this is a Doric Temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena).

The Parthenon

Which of the following best describes the "Golden Section" or "Golden Rectangle" proportioning system?

The ancient Greeks used a constantly changing system of proportion with few predictable qualities. *The "Golden Section" is a proportioning system divisible into squares and yet more golden sections. The ancient Greeks believed that the square was the ideal shape for buildings - with all sides equal. The "Golden Section" is used to designate the proper area in the city for "the one percent."

Please look at the Greek Column "capitol" (the top of a Classical Greek column) depicted below. We discussed the three Greek "Orders" in Module 01 last week. What is the specific name of this column order?

This is an Ionic Order column capitol.

Please examine the floor plan of a Roman House (or Domus) below. The spaces marked "A" and "B" have specific names discussed in the Weekend House 01 materials. Which of the following best describe the names of those spaces?

"A" is the Frigidarium and "B" is the Tepidarium. "A" is an Oikos and "B" is an Atrium. "A" is Doric while "B" is Ionic. *"A" is an Atrium and "B" is a Peristyle court.

Which of the following best describes the basic parts of a small Roman city?

*A north/south street, an east/west street and a forum near the intersection. A series of concentric arched walls connected by curving barrel vaults. An Agora, an Acropolis, and a "sacred way." A series of slender stoa structures creating the principal market space and major streets.

Gothic buildings were constructed by teams of masons who's structural concepts were based on experience and estimation rather than on careful calculation or tested scientific principles. Which of the events below called that "pre-engineering" building method into question near the end of the Gothic period?

*The catastrophic failure of two vaults in 1284 at the Cathedral of St. Pierre d' Beauvais. The development of arched systems of spanning such as those used in Greek Temples. The success of flying buttresses in supporting the lateral loads of pointed arch groin vaults. The introduction of "drone assisted structural systems"—buildings held aloft by squadrons of Amazon.com delivery drones.

The dome of the Pantheon was an extraordinary technological achievement in Ancient Rome and its span was not equalled for another 1500 years. The dome admits a single source of natural light into the enormous space below it, what is the name given to the opening at the top of the dome to allow light into the interior?

Coffer *Oculus Drum light Roman skylight

Which of the following best describes the change in the classical orders from the Pantheon to Hagia Sophia?

Both Hagia Sophia and the Pantheon use correct Ionic Order columns and capitols. *Classical Orders, based on ancient Greek models, were no longer thought to be important or relevant when Hagia Sophia was built. Hagia Sophia does not use columns at all, whereas the Pantheon has all kinds of columns throughout.