Existing comment:
Courthouse Architecture:
The idea of using the temple form in monumental public buildings is not new. The architecture of ancient Greece and Rome was adapted by subsequent Western cultures in their public buildings to convey the authority of the ruling establishment. In many European countries, these styles were applied to courts of law, thus becoming "Palaces of Justice," where the temple form was used to honor the law. In America, the architecture of public buildings was less elaborate than that of their European counterparts, as first seen in Thomas Jefferson's 1786 design for the Virginia State Capitol. Subsequently, many courthouses drew upon the same classical sources, especially during the Greek Revival period of the 1830s and 1840s. The result was hundreds of classically inspired courthouses with columned porticos throughout the country, symbolizing democratic government based on the Rule of Law. |