Editing Ancient Greek architecture (section)

==== Masonry ====
Every temple rested on a masonry base called the [[crepidoma]], generally of three steps, of which the upper one which carried the columns was the [[stylobate]]. Masonry walls were employed for temples from about 600 BC onwards. Masonry of all types was used for ancient Greek buildings, including rubble, but the finest [[ashlar]] masonry was usually employed for temple walls, in regular courses and large sizes to minimise the joints.<ref name="BF3" /> The blocks were rough hewn and hauled from quarries to be cut and bedded very precisely, with mortar hardly ever being used. Blocks, particularly those of columns and parts of the building bearing loads were sometimes fixed in place or reinforced with iron clamps, dowels and rods of wood, bronze or iron fixed in lead to minimise corrosion.<ref name="Boardman1" />