The Woodwork of Greek Roofs

Originally published in 1960, Dr Hodge’s study deals with the construction of the wooden parts of the roofing of classical Greek temples of the era 600-400 BC in Greece, southern Italy and Sicily. There were no fragments remaining of these wooden members (rafters, ridge-beams and purlins), so Dr Hodge demonstrates the original position and function of the timbers from the way the stonework was cut to fit round them, and to a lesser extent from ancient documents. Dr Hodge is able to define a widely used type of roof (the Gaggera roof) and ceiling (the slot ceiling) not hitherto noticed, and makes a suggestion about the possible origin of the triangular tie-beam truss, as well as collating existing knowledge of the time. There are about 50 photographs and a number of detailed architectural drawings.