Politics of the Ancient House: Classical Greek Houses of West Anatolia

Abstract

The domestic architecture and urban planning in the Classical Era are discussed in relation to the notions of democracy and equality in most studies. In these researches, usually both sides of the Aegean are considered without any distinction despite the fact that the political and social structure and thus the organization of domestic layout differed in Anatolia and Greece. Just as it is not possible to identify a single, homogenous Greek culture until the Hellenistic Era, it is also not sensible to claim that there was a consistent democratic governance in West Anatolia which remained under the Persian rule between 546-334.² The Greek houses of West Anatolia are discussed in terms of how the political ideas of democracy and equality might have been influential in their architectural layout within this background. The grid plan, equal house plots (Insulae,) and identical type-houses are considered as aspects of the principle of equality while the oikos is considered as a space pursuing the spatial tradition of the Mycenaean palaces and the andron as a sign of shared political power among citizens.