Text 6. Orders of architecture

Words and word combinations:

replacement – замена;

pillar – столб, колонна, опора;

eventually – в конце концов;

arrangement – расположение;

to define – определять;

pattern – модель, образец;

shell – (зд.) оболочка, каркас;

spreading – простирающийся, распространяющийся;

alternating – чередующийся;

The first step in architecture was simply the replacement of wooden pillars with stone ones, and the translation of the carpentry and brick structural forms into stone equivalents. This provided an opportunity for the expression of proportion and pattern. This expressio eventually took the form of the invention or evolution of the stone “orders”of architecture. These orders, or arrangements of specific types of columns supporting an upper section called an entablature, defined the pattern of the columnar facades and upperworks that formed the basic decorative shell of building.

The Greeks invented the Doric, Ionic, and Corithian orders. The Romans added the Tuscan and the Composite.

The oldest order, the Doric, is subdivided into Greek Doric and Roman Doric. The first is the simplest and has baseless columns as those of the Parthenon. Roman Doric has a base and was less massive.

The parts of Greek Doric – the simple, baseless columns, the spreading capitals, and triglyph – metope (alternating vertically ridged and plain blocks) frieze above the columns – constitute an aesthetic development in stone incorporating variants on themes used functionally in earlier wood and brick construction. Doric long remained the favourite order of the Greek mainland and western colonies, and it changed little throughout its history.

The Ionic order evolved later, in eastern Greece. About 600 BC, in Asia Minor, the first intimation of the the style appeared in stone columns with capitals elaborately carved in floral hoops – an Orientalizing pattern familiar mainly on smaller objects and furniture and enlarged for architecture.

(to be continued …)

Exercises:

1.Give Russian equivalents of the following phrases:

the replacement of wooden pillars; the translation of the carpentry; the translation of the carpentry; supporting an upper section; decorative shellof building;, the first intimation of the style; on smaller objects and furniture.

2.Give English equivalents of the following phrases:

замена деревянных столбов; выражение пропорции и образа; специфические типы колонн, поддерживающие верхнюю часть; подразделяется на; появился в каменных колоннах.

3. Insert missing words, use the text’s vocabulary:

1. This provided an opportunity for the … of proportion and pattern.

2.The Greeks … the Doric, Ionic, and Corithian orders.

3. The oldest order, the Doric, is subdivided into … Doric and …Doric.

4. The Ionic order evolved later, in … Greece.

5. The Romans … the Tuscan and the Composite.

6. Doric long … the favourite order of the Greek mainland and western colonies, and it changed little throughout its history.

4. Translate these sentences into Russian:

1. This provided an opportunity for the expression of proportion and pattern. 2. This expressio eventually took the form of the invention or evolution of the stone “orders”of architecture. 3. These orders, or arrangements of specific types of columns supporting an upper section called an entablature, defined the pattern of the columnar facades and upperworks that formed the basic decorative shell of building.4. The first is the simplest and has baseless columns as those of the Parthenon. Roman Doric has a base and was less massive.5. Doric long remained the favourite order of the Greek mainland and western colonies, and it changed little throughout its history.

5. Retell the text.