Callicrates
Callicrates was a prominent ancient Greek architect known for his significant contributions to classical architecture in Athens during the 5th century BCE. He, along with Ictinus, is best remembered as the architect of the Parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena Polias, constructed between 447 and 432 BCE as part of Pericles' extensive rebuilding of the Acropolis. This grand structure is celebrated for its architectural precision and is a symbol of ancient Greek culture. Callicrates is also credited with designing the Temple of Athena Nike, an Ionic temple completed between 427 and 424 BCE, which exemplifies the elegant style of the period. Additionally, he is believed to have influenced other structures, including a temple on the Illissus River and a Doric temple on the island of Delos. His architectural innovations have left a lasting legacy, influencing not only subsequent Greek and Roman temple designs but also the architecture of the Renaissance and beyond. Overall, Callicrates’ work is a vital part of understanding the evolution of classical architecture and its enduring impact on Western architectural traditions.
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Callicrates
Related civilization: Classical Greece
Major role/position: Architect
Life
Callicrates (kuh-LIHK-ruh-teez) and Ictinus (Iktinos) were the architects of the Parthenon (temple of Athena Polias) on the Acropolis in Athens, built between 447 and 432 b.c.e. The Parthenon was the first building erected on the Acropolis in Pericles’ grand rebuilding plan. Work on the Parthenon was described in a lost book by Ictinus and Carpion. Callicrates is also credited with the plan of the temple of Athena Nike (“Victory”) or Athena Asteros (“Without Wings”), authorized by the Athenian senate in 449 b.c.e. and constructed between 427 and 424 b.c.e. This Ionic temple was the fourth and last building constructed in Pericles’ rebuilding plan.
The Athenian temple on the Illissus River also appears to have been designed by Callicrates, on the plan of the temple of Athena Nike. A Doric temple built on the island of Delos has also been attributed to Callicrates on the basis of its style and affinities with the Parthenon. This temple was dedicated by the Athenians in 425 b.c.e.
Influence
The classical style of architecture created by Callicrates influenced temple design of the Greeks and Romans and architecture of the Renaissance and beyond.
Bibliography
Biers, William R. The Archaeology of Greece: An Introduction. 2d ed. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1996.
Dinsmoor, William Bell. The Architecture of Ancient Greece. New York: W. W. Norton, 1975.