Temple
Temples are significant structures used for worship across various religious traditions, including Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Jainism, and ancient pagan practices. The term "temple" originates from the Latin word "templum," referring to sacred spaces designed to house deities. Historically, temples served as both residences for gods and venues for followers to honor these deities. The earliest known temple, Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, dates back approximately 11,500 years and showcases ornate carvings, setting a precedent for temple designs that followed.
Different cultures have distinct architectural styles and functions for their temples. For example, ancient Egyptian temples were intricately designed spaces that included multiple sections, such as courtyards and sanctuaries, intended for various levels of access based on social and religious hierarchies. Greek and Roman temples, which heavily influenced later architecture, are characterized by their columns and specific design orders, namely Doric and Ionic. In Japan, Shinto temples honor spirits of places rather than housing them, indicating a diverse understanding of the divine across cultures. Temples continue to play vital roles in the spiritual and social lives of communities worldwide, reflecting deep traditions and beliefs.
Temple
Temples are structures used by Hindus, Jews, Buddhists, Jains, pagans, and members of other religions for worship. The origin of the word temple is in Latin, templum, which describes a sacred space. A temple is generally regarded as a place that houses a deity.
Temples in History
To ancient people, a temple was a structure where a god or gods lived. Temples were meant to both house deities and provide a place for followers to worship and honor gods.
The oldest known temple is in Turkey. The Göbekli Tepe is about 11,500 years old. The floor plan, which features a large front room that may have been used as public space, is echoed in many later temple designs. The temple is ornately engraved with images of animals and plants.
Ancient Roman temples generally face east, the direction of the rising sun. Any building that honored a Roman deity was a templum, while a structure dedicated to a foreign god was called a fanum. Although the Eastern Orthodox Church calls houses of worship temples, most early Christians rejected the term because of its pagan origins. Most Christians describe their places of worship as churches or cathedrals.
Mesopotamian temples were both the homes of the divine and the centers of government. Long after the priests relinquished civil authority to secular kings, temples retained their function at the center of city life.
The two ancient temples of Jerusalem were called Beit Hamikdash, or "the Holy House." Jews regarded them as the houses of God. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies. Eventually the Greek word synagogue, meaning "to gather together," was adopted and is still used.
Ancient Greek pagans called a sacred or holy space associated with a deity a temple. The place itself, not any building that might be constructed, was the temple and was the reason for any structure to exist. The deity resided in this place when on Earth.
Shinto temples in Japan honor the spirits of a place, although these spirits are not believed to live in the temples. Hindu temples are likewise located in places associated with gods.
Early Chinese temples represented heaven, or Xi'an. The Temple of Confucius in Qufu, however, honors the philosopher and was built in 478 B.C.E. in his hometown. It is not regarded as a home for Confucius but is believed to be a place where visitors can find peace.
The Maya people of Mesoamerica, the area that includes modern Mexico and Central America, built many temples. These stone structures are stepped pyramids and rose more than 61 m (200 ft). Some were used for human sacrifices. Archaeologists believe that some of these pyramids were constructed by and for kings, while others were built by ordinary people.
Ancient Egyptian temples were believed to be the places where deities came to be. These temples were linked to creation stories. The temples all followed the same basic design. A public area in the front was used for gatherings. Inclines and rows of columns known as colonnades led to higher and increasingly smaller rooms. The final room was the home of the deity on Earth. The priests and priestesses lived in the temple, where they cared for the deity as if he or she were a living person. Only the high priest or priestess could enter the most sacred rooms.
Temples of the New Kingdom (c. 1550 B.C.E. to 1069 B.C.) of Egypt include six parts: the pylon, courtyard, hypostyle hall, second hall, sanctuary, and sacred lake.
The pylon is a gate at the front. The pylon's walls are carved and painted with images of gods, goddesses, and the pharaoh. Statues and obelisks are located in front of the pylon.
The courtyard is a large, open-air room that was accessible to visitors on festival days. The outer and inner walls were decorated—inside were scenes of the pharaoh making offerings to the deities, while images outside showed the heroic pharaoh fighting battles.
The hypostyle hall is a large, dark, columned room that only high priests and the pharaoh could enter. The only light from windows in the roof fell on the center aisle. The room is meant to represent creation; therefore, the columns look like papyrus plants growing in a marsh. Those in the darkened corners seem to have closed flowers, while those in the sunny, central area appear to be in bloom. Religious ceremonies were performed in this room. Like the hypostyle hall, the second hall is a dark room full of columns. It was only open to high priests and the pharaoh.
The sanctuary is another room only the high priests and pharaoh could enter. It is the most important area and housed the statue of the honored god or goddess. The Egyptians believed deities could inhabit these statues during rituals.
The sacred lake is a pool located beside the temple. Water from the sacred lake was used by the priests in temple rituals. The pool represents the world before time began.
Impact on Architecture
The classic examples of temples are those of the ancient Greeks and Romans. These styles have influenced architecture for centuries. They are primarily classified as belonging to the Doric order and Ionic order. Although they have much in common, including columns and cornices, they differ in details.
Temples of the Doric order are known for triglyph and metope details on the frieze faces. The triglyphs are vertical raised bars set between smooth areas. (In the earliest temples, which would have been made of wood, the metope would have been gaps between ceiling beams.) The shafts of the columns rise directly from the stylobate, or top step of the base, and are topped by rounded capitals.
Temples of the Ionic order have smooth frieze faces atop horizontally ridged architraves. The column shafts rise from rounded bases resting on the stylobate. They are topped by capitals decorated by volutes, or spirals framing the face.
Bibliography
Choi, Charles Q. "Ancient Mayans: Temples for Everyone!" LiveScience. Purch. 25 Feb. 2008. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. http://www.livescience.com/2321-ancient-mayans-temples.html
"Greek Orders and Parts of the Temple." SUNY Oneonta Art History Department. SUNY Oneonta. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. https://www.oneonta.edu/faculty/farberas/arth/ARTH209/orders.html
Mark, Joshua J. "Temple." Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited. 2 Sept. 2009. Web. 4 Mar. 2016. http://www.ancient.eu/temple/
"Temples." The British Museum. The British Museum. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. http://www.ancientegypt.co.uk/temples/explore/main.html