Ictinus
Ictinus (Iktinos) was an architect active in the mid 5th century BC. Ancient sources identify Ictinus and Callicrates as co-architects of the Parthenon. He co-wrote a book on the project – which is now lost – in collaboration with Carpion. Pausanias identifies Ictinus as architect of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.
Also recorded as Iktinos · Ictinos
Ictinus
George E. Koronaios · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 500. · Classical Athens.
- Nationality
- Classical Athens.
- Occupation
- architect.
- Known for
- Parthenon and Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Bassae.
- Languages
- Ancient Greek.
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Documentary summary
Ictinus (Iktinos) was an architect active in the mid 5th century BC. Ancient sources identify Ictinus and Callicrates as co-architects of the Parthenon. He co-wrote a book on the project – which is now lost – in collaboration with Carpion. Pausanias identifies Ictinus as architect of the Temple of Apollo at Bassae.
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wikipedia incomplete · checked 25 September 2026
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wikidata · Q311502 · wikipedia · Ictinus
In this article
Biography
That temple was Doric on the exterior, Ionic on the interior, and incorporated a Corinthian column, the earliest known, at the center rear of the cella. Sources also identify Ictinus as architect of the Telesterion at Eleusis, a gigantic hall used in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Pericles also commissioned Ictinus to design the Telesterion ("Hall of Final Things") at Eleusis, but his involvement was terminated when Pericles fell from power. Three other architects took over instead. It seems likely that Ictinus's reputation was harmed by his links with the fallen ruler, as he is singled out for condemnation by Aristophanes in his play The Birds, dated to around 414 BC. It depicts the royal kite or ictinus – a play on the architect's name – not as a noble bird of prey but as a scavenger stealing sacrifices from the gods and money from men. The artist Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres painted a scene showing Ictinus together with the lyric poet Pindar. The painting is known as Pindar and Ictinus and is exhibited at the National Gallery, London.
The recorded working language is Ancient Greek. Works named in the authority record are Parthenon and Temple of Apollo Epicurius in Bassae.
Ictinus crater (center) and Scopas crater (upper right) on Mercury. MESSENGER Narrow Angle Camera image. Approximate south is at top. Emission
NASA · PILOT, Planetary Image Locator Tool, USGS Astrogeology Science Center
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Roth, Leland M. Understanding Architecture: Its Elements, History and Meaning. Westview Press. 203. 1993. 0-06-430158-3.
- 2.Winter, F. E. Tradition and innovation in Doric design: the work of Iktinos. American Journal of Archaeology. American Journal of Archaeology, Vol. 84, No. 4. 84. 4. 399–416. 1980. 10.2307/504069.
- 3.Penguin. The Penguin Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 277. 1999. 978-0-14-051323-3.
- 4.14. 275.
- 5.Bishop, C. (2017) 'The dissemblance of the constructed landscape in Ausonius' Mosella', Journal of the Australian Early Medieval Association, vol. 13, pp. 1-17
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