Final answer:
The Lincoln Memorial emulates an ancient Greek temple design, reflecting the democratic ideals that Abraham Lincoln represented and the American admiration for Greek democracy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The building that houses the Lincoln Memorial was inspired by ancient Greek architecture, embodying the form of a classic Greek temple, specifically, a Doric temple. This design approach was chosen because it symbolizes the principles of democracy and the respect for Greek culture's contribution to political and architectural thought.
The architectural features include massive columns with broad flutes, a simple capital consisting of a flare that rises to a block called an abacus, and a series of triglyphs and metopes. The monument incorporates Greek architectural elements to convey the ideals of democracy that Abraham Lincoln embodied and for which he is memorialized.
In the 19th century, Greece's democratic legacy influenced the construction of American government buildings, using the Greek Revival style to symbolize the fledgling nation's values.
The prevalence of Greek temples in Republican Roman architecture, admired for their frontality and symmetry, also inspired American neoclassical architecture. The Lincoln Memorial's designers adopted these elements to create a national symbol of unity, law, and democratic governance.