Greek temples (Ancient Greek: ὁ ναός, ho naós "dwelling", on stupidness distinct from Latin templum "temple") were structures built to house deity statues within Greek sanctuaries in Greek paganism. The temples themselves did usually not directly serve a cult purpose, since the sacrifices and rituals dedicated to the respective deity took place outside them.
Greek Temple were frequently used to store votive offerings. They are the most important and most widespread building type in Greek architecture. In the Hellenistic kingdoms of Southwest Asia and of North Africa, buildings erected to fulfil the functions of a temple often continued to follow local traditions.
Even where a Greek influence is visible, such structures are not normally considered as Greek temples. This applies, for example, to the Graeco-Parthian and Bactrian temples, or to the Ptolemaic examples, which follow Egyptian tradition. Some Greek temples were oriented astronomically.
Within a few centuries, the Greeks developed the temple from the small mudbrick structures of the 9th century BC and the 8th century
BC into the monumental double porticos of the 6th century, often reaching more than 20 m in height (not including the roof).
For their execution, they relied on the regionally specific architectural orders. Originally, the distinction was between the Doric and Ionic orders; since the late 3rd century BC, the Corinthian order provided a third alternative.
A multitude of different ground plans were developed, each of which could be combined with a superstructure in the different orders.
From the 3rd century BC onwards, the construction of large temples became less common; after a short 2nd century BC flourish, it ceased nearly entirely in the 1st century BC. Thereafter, only smaller structures were newly begun, older temples continued to be renovated or (if incomplete) completed.
Greek temples were designed and constructed according to set rules, mostly determined by the lower diameter of the columns or by the dimensions of the foundation levels. The nearly mathematical strictness of the basic designs thus reached was lightened by optical refinements.
In spite of the still widespread idealised image, Greek temples were painted, so that bright reds and blues contrasted with the white of the building stones or of stucco. The more elaborate temples were equipped with very rich figural decoration in the form of reliefs and pedimental sculpture.
The construction of temples was usually organised and financed by cities or by the administrations of sanctuaries. Private individuals, especially Hellenistic rulers, could also sponsor such buildings.
In the late Hellenistic period, their decreasing financial wealth, along with the progressive incorporation of the Greek world within the Roman State, whose officials and rulers took over as sponsors, led to the end of Greek temple construction.
New temples now belonged to the tradition of Roman architecture, which, in spite of the Greek Temples influence on it, aimed for different goals and followed different aesthetic principles.
In the early 1st century BC, the Mithridatic Wars led to changes of architectural practice. The role of sponsor was increasingly taken by Roman magistrates of the Eastern provinces, who rarely demonstrated their generosity by building temples.
Nevertheless, some temples were erected at this time, eg. the Temple of Aphrodite at Aphrodisias.
