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 * = Inside the National Building Museum ||  || Corinthian Columns in the National Building Museum ||


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Lyndsay H Ms. Darrough October 19, 2010 WD-2 CEC

Inspiration, History, and Columns

Corinthian columns are more common in Rome; however, there are some in Greece. I believe that some of America's most known buildings that have columns, have been inspired by Greece. The National Building Museum and the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates can be examples of this. I'm not saying that the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates really did inspire the architects of the National Building Museum; but, I am saying that it's interesting to see two buildings have a similar piece of architecture.

The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates is located in Athens, Greece. It was built around 334 B.C. It's one of the first monuments that the Greeks built with Corinthian columns. The reason it was constructed by Lysicrates to acknowledge “the award of first prize” ( __[|www.mlahanas.de]__ ). The monument itself is circular in shape and is on top of a podium that is square. Sculptures on it show scenes of an ancient Greek myth, Dionysus. The monument used to hold a bronze tripod which was given as a prize.

The National Building Museum was built in the 1980's by an Act of Congress. It's purpose is not really to show historical pictures, sculptures, or documents: it's purpose is to have a public meeting or an assembly gather to discuss development, exploration, and to exchange ideas. Even though it's not technically a museum, people can visit to see some pretty interesting thing. In example, people may find drawings to houses made by famous architects. Also, the National Building Museum has festivals and public programs from Lectures and educational programs to exhibition subjects.

The Choragic Monument of Lysicrates and the National Building Museum, though made in different times, have something in common. They both have Corinthian columns. What are Corinthian columns? Corinthian columns are the most elaborate columns of the three types of columns that Greeks used, which were Doric, Ionic, and, obviously, Corinthian columns. The Corinthian columns are shaped like a bell that has been turned upside down and leaves climb up the sides. They aren't as strong as the Doric or Ionic columns.

Though the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates probably didn't contribute any inspiration to the architects of the National Building Museum, another building that is not from America, but from some ancient civilization has. Buildings all over the U.S.A alone have similar attributes in buildings as those from Rome or Greece. Modern Society has definitely been affected by the ancient architecture of Rome and Greece.

<span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Ancient Greek Architecture

<span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Comparison Table
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Buildings Being Compared || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Choragic Monument of Lysicrates  || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">National Building Museum  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Location || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Athens, Greece  || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Washington, D.C.  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Years Built || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">334 B.C.  || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">1882-1887 A.D.  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Type of Columns || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Corinthian  || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Corinthian  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Materials Used to Build || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Stone from Poros Island and Hymettos marble  || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Terra Cotta  ||
 * <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Purpose || ==“<span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive; font-weight: normal;">It was erected to commemorate the Greater Dionysis series of plays and was one of many that used to line the street of Tripods now called Tripodon St.” - www.greeceathensaegeaninfo.com == || <span style="font-family: Papyrus,cursive;">Used for public meetings or assemblies for open discussion for “development, exploration, and the exchange of ideas.” - www.nbm.org  ||

Works Sited: "Choragic Monument of Lysicrates." //Hellenica//. n.p., N.D. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. [].

"About the National Building Museum." //National Building Museum//. N.p., N.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. [].

Works Sited For Pictures:

"Discover the Park." //Riverside Park Fund//. Riverside Park Fund Inc., 2009. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. [Gallery].

"Ancient Athens: The Plaka & the Monument of Lysicrates 1." //Harry's Greece Travel Guide//. N.P., N.D. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. [].

"National Building Museum." //Trip Advisor//. TripAdvisor LLC. , N.D. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. [].

Cooper, Rachel. "National Building Museum Photos." //About.com//. The New York Times Company, N.D. Web. 18 Oct. 2010. <http://dc.about.com/od/photosofmuseums/ss/NBMPhotos_3.htm>.