...The Parthenon Throughout my career in the United States Navy, I have been fortunate enough to be able to go to the Acropolis and observe the different structures. I was really intrigued with the design and condition of the Parthenon. The Parthenon is one of the largest and most important structure on the Acropolis. It was a temple built between 447 BC and 438 BC, for the virgin goddess, Athena Parthenos. The design illustrates the refinement of ancient Greek architecture, and uses the traditional cella and peristyle plan. During the high classical period, the standard was believed to be excellence. The Parthenon was built to set that standard of excellence. It was built with the finest white marble and was richly decorated inside to include a statue of Athena made of great gold and ivory. The design shows the style of art in classical period, with the Doric building with ionic features mixed in. The Parthenon has 8 columns along the front, and 17 along each side. That made it more than most Doric temples. The decoration of the Parthenon was organized into 3 elements. First was the pediment, then panels called metopes around the outer wall, and then the carved stone frieze that was on the outside of the inner building. Some of the architecture in the Parthenon is similar to that of surrounding buildings. The curvature of the stylobate platform, the plate that the column sits on, is designed the same way. The plate has an upward curvature to assist...
Words: 497 - Pages: 2
...Parthenon in Athens VS Pantheon in Rome The Parthenon and Pantheon are ancient temples found in Athenian Acropolis, Greece and Rome, Italy. While the Parthenon was built between 447-438 BC for the goddess Athena, Pantheon was built in 126 AD to celebrate Roman gods. The Parthenon was built by Iktinos and Kalikrates while Pantheon was built by Publius Aelius Hadrianus. Today, the Pantheon serves as a Roman catholic church while the Parthenon serves as a museum (Langmead, and Christine, 240). This paper identifies similarities and differences between the two structures in terms of design, style, history, and usage. Perhaps, one of the most remarkable and prominent works of architecture; the Parthenon was built under the rule of Pericles as a temple for the goddess Athena of the city of Athens. Today, the temple, which serves as a temple, stands astoundingly intact. This emanates from the fact that its Doric columns that were built in Greek style were formidable. Conversely, the construction of the Pantheon happened much later after the Parthenon for the Roman gods (MacDonald and Lloyd, 158). It contained several architectural designs of the Pantheon. The most conspicuous difference between the two structures lies in their architectural designs. The Pantheon has an immense 4,535 metric tons of concrete rotunda designed in a circular model with a porch held brickwork Corinthian columns. The structure is made from several materials that include concrete, brick, marble, and granite...
Words: 930 - Pages: 4
...The Parthenon and West Front of the Alter from Pergamon look similar due to the specific detail the Pediment displays. The detail of the Pediment that lies on top of the Parthenon follows the traditional Greek architecture as seen in its appearance. The Pediment was a representation of the birth of Athena; Athena the Greek God that according to mythology had come into view fully grown from his head. This was an important structure of the Parthenon because of its relation to the city of Athenian in company with the import Greek Gods that oversaw the city. Some of the important Greek Gods that were included within the Pediment are as listed Zeus,Demeter, Iris, Hestia and Aphrodite. The Parthenon Pediment was known as a Doric peristyle and included Ionic frieze, decorating the upper temple wall. The frieze is a continuous band of the sculptures that decorate the ancient historic building....
Words: 458 - Pages: 2
...The Parthenon was a temple in Greece for celebrating all gods and religious cults. The Greeks built the temple to the goddess Athena, who was the goddess of war. This temple depicts a historic event as opposed to a mythological event and is the most recognized buildings of Ancient Greece. The historical atmosphere of the time greatly contributed to the temple's existence. The Parthenon frieze and the architectural structure combine to make a cohesive whole. The architectural style and the frieze pull everything together on the outside of the temple. It entices your eye to focus on the detailed sculptures at the top of the frieze. When looking on the outside of the Parthenon I noticed the Doric columns all around the temple. This holds the structure of the building all together. This was the first style of classical architecture, which is sophisticated architectural styles of ancient Greece and Rome. Using Doric columns would set harmony, beauty, and strength. They are simple and plain, but the design is powerful looking. This showed that the...
Words: 447 - Pages: 2
...The Parthenon is located in Athens, Greece. The commissioner of the Parthenon was Pericles. The Parthenon was built between 447 and 432 BCE. The Parthenon was a Greek temple. It was used for ceremonies performed by priests or priestesses. Pericles wanted it build when Athens was being reconstructed after the Persian War. The Parthenon was a symbol of the victory of the Greeks over the Persians in the war. A statue of the Goddess Athena, who was the patron deity of Athens, was kept in the Parthenon. The Parthenon is significant today because it is one of the most prominent surviving structures of Ancient Greece. Today, it is mainly a tourist attraction, but throughout history it has had many purposes. The Parthenon was first used as...
Words: 703 - Pages: 3
...The Pantheon vs. The Parthenon The Pantheon and the Parthenon are both ancient temples. While the Pantheon was built in Rome to celebrate all the Roman gods, the Parthenon was built in Ancient Greece for the goddess Athena. The Parthenon pre-dates the Pantheon by about six centuries; it was built around 447-438 BCE, while the Pantheon was built in 126 CE. The Pantheon was originally built by Marcus Agrippa in 27 BC, during this time he was part of the senate for the third time. The entire Pantheon was destroyed except for the facade, then Emperor Hadrian rebuilt it on the same site in 126 AD. The Parthenon was built during the Classical period between 447 and 438 BC by Iktinos and Kallikrates as a temple to Athens to honor the patron goddess, Athena. Romans were particularly skilled at concrete construction, and the Pantheon is the first temple to combine this technique with Greek classical orders. The 142-foot-diameter rotunda is the focal point of the building and reigned for nearly 2 millennia (until 1960) as the largest dome ever built. Today's Pantheon ("Temple of All the Gods") is not the original. Marcus Agrippa's Pantheon burned down in 80 AD, was rebuilt by Domitian, and again burned down in 110 AD. Emperor Hadrian completely restored the building in 126 AD. The Pantheon is the first temple to combine concrete construction, a technique in which the Romans were especially innovative with the more conservative, if not decorative use of Greek...
Words: 918 - Pages: 4
...Argument of the Parthenon Sculptures The debate surrounding the ""Parthenon Marbles" has existed for quite some time now; the debate has created two opinions. There are those who believe Mr. Thomas Bruce, the seventh Earl of Elgin intentions where to rescues the sculptures from the certain destruction of the Turks who ruled Athens at the time. Then there are those who view his actions as disrespectful. It appears Elgin's intentions were dual in nature, him being a lover of art, seized the opportunity to help himself financially as well as an opportunity to gain a positive, (he had hoped), notoriety among his countrymen. The sculptures were first displayed in "London in 1807"(1). The two opinions took flight after a Scottish poet; by the name of Lord Byron condemned his efforts, which cause some to revisit the morality of it all. The Grecian government has persistently requested the sculptures be returned. The sculptures need to be returned to the Grecians. Firstly, as stated by, Jonathan Jones, "The sad truth is that in the British Museum, the Parthenon sculptures are not experienced at their best."(2) Although the sculptures offer insight to the Western world of its history, the Greek people have a moral right to have the symbols of their history on their soil for their people young and old to learn and to have a sense of national pride. Secondly, "It is believable that the Turkish authorities on sight were bribed. Owen Jarus stated, "Elgin never acquired the permission...
Words: 352 - Pages: 2
...The Elgin Marbles / Parthenon Sculptures I read two articles on the internet that provided some very interesting points in regards to the “Elgin Marble” which are better known as the “Parthenon Marbles.” Between 1801 – 1805, Thomas Bruce, Seventh Lord Elgin, procured the marble art and took them to Britain. Lord Elgin’s original intentions were to obtain some sketches and plaster casts made of the great sculptures and reliefs on the Parthenon and other nearby ruins. At the time Greece was under Ottoman rule. When Lord Elgin obtained his permit for his request, he was given access to take whatever he desired. It was further ordered that Lord Elgin and his agents were not to be hindered from taking away any pieces of stone with inscriptions and figures. This is equivalent to today’s political give and take. For many years, the Ottomans were thankful to Britain for assisting with the Napoleon. Eventually, Greece won their independence from Ottoman rule in 1829 and called for the immediate return of the sculptures. Now, back to Lord Elgin: with his all-inclusive permit in hand; he and his little party began to take some of the most renowned symbols of the golden age of classical Greeks. Lord Elgin had allowed greed to manipulate his original mission. He took advantage of the situation to such a degree; many British people thought Elgin had committed acts of cultural vandalism. In 1816, he was forced to sell the sculptures to the British Government to alleviate...
Words: 486 - Pages: 2
...THE BRITISH MUSEUM TO RETURN PARTHENON MARBLES TO GREECE The Acropolis museum gives way for the Parthenon sculptures that are in Athens to be appreciated against ancient Greece’s backdrop. Museums are a valuable resource that provides an opportunity for the world to reexamine the past and the cultural activities associated with the history. The Parthenon sculptures are essential elements in the interconnectedness of the world and the political boundaries. The discussion has an argument on whether the British Museum should return the Parthenon (aka Elgin) Marbles to Greece. The Greek archaeology society was founded in 1830, and there in their first meeting, the president ordered the return of marbles. The people of Greece regard these artifacts as the symbols of their culture and their heritage. Historians also argue that the sculptures are an integral part of the temple structures that are still standing in Athens. The placement of the statues in London is unappealing to the Greeks since it is considered to be the biggest museum to tell us about the development in the ancient Greece. They are being used as significant features of the British identity yet they should be unified and viewed in a larger framework to present the Greek art in a chronological narrative (Fineberg, Amos & Lang, 1985). The British Museum was among the first museums used to enlighten society. The museum was considered beneficial to the public in the fact that it was used to expose the pieces of ancient...
Words: 1130 - Pages: 5
...Acropolis,which located in central Athens acropolis hill, is the most outstanding ancient Greek buildings. Greek for “Acropolis” means “high city” or “Takaoka on the city-state.” As a representative work of ancient Greek architecture, Acropolis of Athens has reached the highest level of sacred buildings, temples, orders and sculptures in ancient Greece. These ancient buildings can be rated as the heritage of mankind and architectural masterpiece, and hold an important position in architecture history. Acropolis, including four greatest ancient Greek art masterpieces—Parthenon Temple, the Propylaea, the Erechtheum and Temple of Athena Nike, is considered to be a symbol of the world’s traditional concepts. Due to the history, there are many Parthenon marbles which they removed from the temple and transported to England in the British museum. Many people require England to return sculptures while others do not want to. It is a controversy topic and different people have very different opinions. In my point of view, returning is necessary because cultural treasures from ancient civilizations belong in the places they come from. Also, the cultural importance of the marbles are very strong, not only do they possess the power to almost unlock the past of ancient Greece but as well they have the power to unite the local Citizens of Greece to their true heritage. The Acropolis is used to prevent foreign invasion of the fortress, surrounded by the walled hilltop, site of the ancient...
Words: 1298 - Pages: 6
...artwork that will be examined will be the Parthenon from the Classical Greece period, The Scraper from the Hellenistic Period, and the tombs from the Etruscan Civilization. The Parthenon is a great example of the Doric style of architecture from the Classical Greek period, as shown in Figure 1. The Parthenon was built by Perikles, the great Athenian leader. It was built on the highest point and was the largest building on the mainland. (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, pp. 66-121) The Parthenon was made of marble and was built in 447-432 BCE. Parthenon is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Athena. ("The Parthenon") An image of Athena made out of gold and ivory stands in the Parthenon. (Benton & DiYanni, 2008, pp. 66-121) The Greeks believed she helped them defeat the Persian Empire during the Persian Wars. The Parthenon is known to symbolize wealth and power of the Athenians. Tax money of the people was used to pay for the building. Ironically, the building was used as a state treasury, which held tax money that the Dalian League collected. The society was proud of its culture and political achievements. ("The Parthenon") The society also formed the first Democracy. The society saw themselves rising to the same level as the Gods. Perfection was very important to this culture. Their representation through the unparalleled precision, mathematical skills, the imposing dimensions, and their visual illusions created the design of the Parthenon. The people of the Classical...
Words: 866 - Pages: 4
...God’s House: Classical and Middle Ages Architecture Western Governors University God’s House: Classical and Middle Ages Architecture In this paper we will compare and contrast the temple/cathedral architecture from classic and Middle Ages art periods. The Classical art period covered a time frame of approximately 480 BC to 300 AD. We will focus on Greek Architecture during the Golden Era of Athens 460-429 BC (Sakoulas, n.d.). The Middle Ages began after the fall of the Roman Empire around 310 AD and lasted approximately 1000 years; therefore we shall concentrate on the architecture of the 10th and 11th centuries. In order to conduct period architecture comparisons we will select the elegant Parthenon to represent the Classical era and the Notre Dame Cathedral Paris to represent the Middle Ages. Let us examine what was going in Athens, Greece during the Golden Era. The Greek people of this period were cultured, religious, thinkers, and industrious in their expression. The democratic citizenry of Athens, in particular, were fond of literature, philosophy, theater, arts and above all their gods. Athens was a democracy lead by a senior politician named Pericles, workers were mostly freeman, slaves were few, craftsmen and wealth abounded (Durant, 1939, p. 110). The people of Athens worshiped all of the gods of Olympus, but none more than Athena the Goddess of Wisdom. Athena was the patron goddess and defender of Athens. Worship and prayers for protection were...
Words: 1630 - Pages: 7
...Temples built in ancient Greece where used for the purpose of holding deity statues dedicated to Greek Gods and Goddess. Temples such as the Parthenon was used for holding Greek treasures. Italian writer and architect Giorgio Vasari use the term Gothic to describe culture that was “rude and barbaric.” Gothic Architecture thrived during the high and late middle ages (medieval period) in 16th century France. This form of architecture would spread throughout northern Europe. Gothic Architecture was common in many of Europe’s important structures, particularly religious churches and cathedrals. Cathedrals such as the Salisbury represented the power of the Catholic Church in Europe during this time period. Both Greek and Gothic architectural styles were often utilized in designing places of worship. Gothic architecture was most commonly found in cathedrals of England and Western Europe, while Greek architecture was common in temple design ("Compare Gothic to Greek Architecture", 2012). This paper will examine the Greek Parthenon Temple and the Gothic Salisbury Cathedral. There were similarities and differences, in design and importance. This examination will compare and contrast the Greek and Gothic architectural styles and give insight on how the different eras influenced their importance. The Parthenon Construction on the Parthenon begun in 447 BC and was finish in 438 BC. The temple was dedicated to Athena the Goddess of war. It replaced the old temple of Athena...
Words: 878 - Pages: 4
...The Parthenon has transitioned through many different uses throughout its history, including a temple for the Greek goddess Athena, a church of the Virgin Mary, and a Mosque. Naturally, this results in it being an important site from Greek history. Thus, in 1801-1802, when Lord Elgin came to the acropolis when Greece was under Ottoman rule, he removed sculptures from the acropolis and took them back to England, where they were called the “Elgin marbles.” In the recent past, there has been some dispute between Greece and England about his justifications in taking the marbles, and whether or not they should be sent back to Greece. After analyzing the two arguments, I argue that the Elgin marbles should remain in the British museum. The first reason these marbles should remain in London is because Lord Elgin was not sporadically taking things from the acropolis, but he did so under the full knowledge and authorities of the Ottoman Empire, who were at this time in control of Greece. Some may argue that the Ottomans didn’t have the right to give away artifacts of Greek history, but if they were the ruling power, who is to say they didn’t? The rulers decide what actions to take,...
Words: 867 - Pages: 4
...Theme of Place – Sacred Places | | | Greece is a country of beautiful and historical architecture and landscape. Some of the historic buildings date back from 2800 BC. The Acropolis in Greece is one of the world’s most significant monuments. The Parthenon, one of the structures within the Acropolis, has become a meaningful sacred place for the people of Greece. The temple is dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, who is the virgin patron of Athens [ (Gray) ]. Athena represents the gifts of intellect and understanding and is the symbol of the universal human aspiration for wisdom. The Parthenon has served as a Greek temple, a treasury, a fortress, a church and a mosque [ (Rhodes) ]. It also functioned to protect the statue of Athena, made of gold and ivory. The physical features of the monument allowed it to become a place of worship for many. The Acropolis is part of a limestone ridge that cuts through the Attica plateau in the northeast to the southwest and includes the hills of Likavitos, Philopappos, Nymphs and the Pnyx [ (Sakoulas) ]. It is located 156 meters above the valley of Ilissos and is essentially a flat-topped rock that measures 300 meters long by 150 meters wide. The construction of the Parthenon began in 447 BC and was only completed in 432 BC. Due to the numerous landfills that have been created to accommodate construction of the temples since the Mycenaean era, the top of the rock is flat [ (Sakoulas) ]. The Acropolis consists of many shallow caves...
Words: 491 - Pages: 2
