Architecture, the Timeless Gem

Architectural history can take you through theThe Romans inherited from the Greeks most of their
evolution of those structures that served as atraditions, beliefs and customs, including architecture,
landmark to remote civilizations, such as thebut they also developed their own, as an example
Phoenicians and the legendary Tower of Babel, or thethe Via Appia in Rome, and other surviving structures
Egyptians and their incredible mortuary architecture,running from Italy to Great Britain.
reflected in pyramids, tombs and many other ancientArchitectural history was influenced by artistic,
buildings along the Nile River.economic, politic and socio-cultural events throughout
In fact, the first big architectural design recorded inthe centuries, and Europe became the cradle of
history was the work of Imhotep, Egyptian vizier,many renowned architects in the years following the
doctor, high priest and scribe to King Djoser. Imhotepfall of the Roman Empire.
designed and built the complex that took the nameFrom Baroque to Art Nouveau, passing through
of his king, between the years 2630 to 2611 BC.Gothic, Romanesque, Renaissance, Churrigueresque,
Vestiges of the most varied architecture speak forand many other architectural styles, we can enjoy
themselves about the most varied civilizations,today an eclectic blending of buildings, homes, and
traditions and beliefs around the world. Withoutother structures that present to us their past.
architecture, the history of mankind would beCuriously, other human disciplines have been also
incomplete.associated with architecture, such as metaphysics, by
Many surviving buildings of the ancient world arethe hand of fraternal organizations such as the
examples of the great things that architecture canFreemasonry, established in London as a secret
do for the world. Among them, we can name thesociety in 1717.
Great Pyramid of Giza, listed as one of the sevenNaming themselves the Order of the Free and
wonders of the ancient world, and the Great Wall ofAccepted Masons, this fraternity encompasses
China, built between the years 221 to 206 BC.nowadays a large number of international lodges
Time evolved and all buildings and design began tounder the symbol of a square and compasses with a
take special characteristics, becoming symbols ofletter "G" associated with the building of the Temple
different eras identified as architectural styles. Inof King Solomon.
ancient Greece, where buildings seemed to always beAs time passes, the actual architecture differs in
the same, there were three types of columns toshape, materials, construction methods, and designing
identified each period of time: Doric, Ionic, andgoals, but the work of the architects will endure for
Corinthian.generations to come.