Architecture, particularly throughout the Greek world, was inspired by temple design. Initially, temple buildings housed the statue of a chosen deity, constructed from wood and clay bricks. They were humble in appearance compared to the stone structures that followed. The early Greek stone temples remained basic, consisting of a 'portico' design: a simple covered porch, lined by columns. These gave way to more intricate and opulent layouts, which expanded the number of columns used. The 'peripteral' design featured a line of columns, or a 'colonnade', all around the structure. Multi-storey and circular designs were also developed, as were monumental gateways and multiple-entrance temple structures.
