Possible Syrian Influences on the Emergence of the Greek Monumental Temple

Abstract

Abstract In this article, the Greek temple is set into a larger historical and cultural context, comparing it with Near Eastern and especially Syrian temples. The author argues that the Syrian temple in antis played a significant role in the development of the Greek prostyle temple. This is demonstrated by briefly highlighting the mostly overlooked aspects of Oriental or Syrian building traditions, which, in addition to other traditions in the Mediterranean, could have played an influential role in the conception of the Greek temple cella.