<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The mainland and islands of Greece are rocky, with deeply indented coastline, and rugged mountain ranges with few substantial forests . The most freely available building material is stone . Limestone was readily available and easily worked . There is an abundance of high quality white marble both on the mainland and islands, particularly Paros and Naxos . This finely grained material was a major contributing factor to precision of detail, both architectural and sculptural, that adorned ancient Greek architecture . Deposits of high quality potter's clay were found throughout Greece and the Islands, with major deposits near Athens . It was used not only for pottery vessels, but also roof tiles and architectural decoration . </P> <P> The climate of Greece is maritime, with both the coldness of winter and the heat of summer tempered by sea breezes . This led to a lifestyle where many activities took place outdoors . Hence temples were placed on hilltops, their exteriors designed as a visual focus of gatherings and processions, while theatres were often an enhancement of a naturally occurring sloping site where people could sit, rather than a containing structure . Colonnades encircling buildings, or surrounding courtyards provided shelter from the sun and from sudden winter storms . </P>

What materials were used in ancient greek architecture