Greek Temples: Colorful Shrines

Posted by Robin Fowler Jan 23, 2007

The ruins of many of the Greek temples and buildings that one can think of: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion, the Hephaisteion, all share something. They are all gleaming white marble. But, when these structures were built over 2,000 years ago, they would not have been the shining white marble buildings that we see today. They would have been painted well, and painted with a lot of vibrant color.

Nearly every inch of a Greek temple would have been covered in vivid colors. From the sculptures of the metopes, friezes, and pediments, to the triglyphs and columns, color would have been a very important aspect of the temple design. Reds, blues, greens, and blacks were used generously to adorn the buildings. A major reason was to add a touch of realism to the human and animal representations. Another could have been to cut down on the glare that would have been given off in the hot Mediterranean sunlight.

Another interesting thing to note: statues were painted as well, including cult statues. It might seem a shame to cover the beautiful marble with what we might consider as garish color, but to the Greeks, it was high art.

Though much of the color on the ruins has faded over time and thanks to the environment of the region, small fragments of color can be seen on well-preserved remnants of the buildings.

So, the next time you see a picture of the Parthenon, or any other Greek temple or building, try to picture it in brilliant color!