In Search of the Module in the Architectural Design of the ‘Hellenistic’ House in Nea Paphos, Cyprus

Abstract

Ancient Graeco-Roman architecture was designed with the application of mathematical harmony as a key compositional principle used in planning the dimensions and proportions of particular elements, larger parts of buildings or whole edifices. Therefore, application of metrology studies based on a cosine quantogram supports architectural analysis leading to an indication of the predominant stylistic influence on any particular building. Such a dual approach helps to establish the origins of the major artistic tradition in architectural design, especially of buildings excavated in a complex multicultural archaeological context. The aim of this paper is to determine the existence and nature of a module in the architectural decoration as well as in the general design of the ‘Hellenistic’ House, a spacious residence in Nea Paphos, Cyprus, erected in Roman times, but according to the artistic Ptolemaic tradition.