e now on a monumental scale, its squares assumed an architectural unity hitherto unknown and a new aesthetic standard was applied to the streets.
The role of Greek housing, which had heretofore been of a haphazard, then austere, nature began to reflect the wealth and aesthetic vision of the polis or kingdom. Early Greek housing, like that of peasants in other parts of Europe, had used the circular, elliptical and/or rectangular shapes depending upon materials available, size of house desired and intended use. The circular form, dictated to a degree by the use of wattles, mud and sticks as building materials, may also represent the logical evolution of housing from cave to above-ground dwellings. The logical transition to races accustomed to building in the round is the elliptical shape of house, allowing for greater expansiveness than the round form. As size of settlements increased, leading to use of common walls and where timber and stone become available as building materials, the shape of the house assumes a rectangular appearance. This was found i
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