"Study the past, if you would divine the future."
- Confucius
Architecture came a long way, and there's still a long way to go. From simple tree shelter, to building structures that reach higher than the clouds above. Decades, or even centuries of perfections and errors can either be studied in books or to be in awe as they still stand till date as architecture is defined as frozen music by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
So to start things off, a random ancient building is given to a group of 5 for us to study. A group is required to submit an online forum filled with information gathered by all the members which includes:
- Who was the founder, where and when was the building built?
- What is the form or shape of the building?
- What is the function or purpose of the building?
- What Materials / Methods Are Used For Construction?
- What Makes Your Building Historically Significant/ Meaningful
I've chosen the first question for my part, and below this sentence is the information I've placed in the online forum.
Who is the Architect or Founder of the Building?It was found and named after King Attalos II of Pergamon [159 BC and 138 BC.] Also known as "Attalus the brother-loving", lived from 220–138 B.C. Also known as the founder of the Turkish city Antalya.
He has been a accomplished military commander and made frequent diplomatic visits to Rome, and gained the esteem of the Romans. The Romans once offered him assistance to overthrow his brother, but he declined. He was well known as a patron of the arts and sciences, and was the inventor of a new kind of embroidery which involves gold threads.
Where and When was the Building Built?
Located at the capital of Greece, Agora of Athens. In the west side of the Agora Square, over the Square Peristyle and other earlier buildings
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| Athens, the main capital of Greece. |
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| Agora, a central spot in Greek city-states, and a center of athletic, artistic, spiritual and political life of the city. [Literal meaning of the word is "Gathering Place" or "Assembly".] |
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| Location of the Stoa of Attalos |
The Stoa of Attalos was built around the period of 150 B.C. as a gift to the Athenians in appreciation of the time he spent in Athens studying under the philosopher Karneades. But was later destroyed by a raid by the Herulians, a East Germanic tribe in year A.D. 267. Many years later, a reconstruction of the Stoa of Attalos was built to its original form and the Ancient Agora Museum was created by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens from 1953-1956.
| The Stoa of Attalos in November of 1952 |
| The Stoa of Attalos in December of 1956 |
Funded by John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. from the Rockweller family as considered to be one of the most powerful families in the history of the United States. As many as 150 workmen were employed, including 50 master masons, 20 carpenters, and 5 steelworkers.
