In
classical architecture
Classical architecture usually denotes architecture which is more or less consciously derived from the principles of Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, or sometimes even more specifically, from the works of the Roman architect ...
, amphiprostyle (from the Greek (''amphi''), on both sides, and (''prostylos''), a portico) denotes an
ancient temple
A temple (from the Latin ) is a building reserved for spiritual rituals and activities such as prayer and sacrifice. Religions which erect temples include Christianity (whose temples are typically called church (building), churches), Hindui ...
with a
portico
A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many c ...
both at the front and the rear,
where the columns on the narrow sides are not between
antae. The number of columns rarely exceeded four in the front and four in the rear. The best-known example is the
tetrastyle small
Temple of Athena Nike at Athens. Other known examples are the Temple of
Artemis
In ancient Greek mythology and Ancient Greek religion, religion, Artemis (; grc-gre, Ἄρτεμις) is the goddess of the hunt, the wilderness, wild animals, nature, vegetation, childbirth, Kourotrophos, care of children, and chastity. ...
Agrotera outside Athens, and the
hexastyle Temple of the Athenians at
Delos
The island of Delos (; el, Δήλος ; Attic: , Doric: ), near Mykonos, near the centre of the Cyclades archipelago, is one of the most important mythological, historical, and archaeological sites in Greece. The excavations in the island ar ...
.
Amphiprostyle temples without columns on the sides may be termed "apteral" (from the Greek απτερος, "wingless": α-, "without" + πτερον, "wing"). The
Athena Nike temple is one such example.
See also
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Prostyle
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Distyle in antis
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Temple of Venus and Roma
Notes
References
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Sources
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Ancient Greek architecture
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