The Parthenon is a famous ancient Greek monument. It was constructed between 447 BCE and 438 BCE. It is the most important example of Greek architectural, historical, and religious works. The ruins of this ancient building still dominate Athens. They continue to represent the wealth and power of Greece.
The Parthenon began construction in 447 BC. It was built on Acropolis and replaced a destroyed temple by the Persians. Pericles, who wished to display the wealth and fervor of Athenian powers to rival nations, had the Parthenon built at a cost of 469 silver stars. The name “Parthenon”, which was originally a cult sculpture called “Athena Parthenos”, that would be located in the east of the building, came from this statue. Phidias was the master sculptor who sculpted this ivory and golden Parthenon. Parthenon, like most other buildings on Acropolis, is dedicated to Athena. Pericles, as mentioned earlier, was the most important politician of his time. Phidias was responsible for the decoration and sculptures. Ictinus Calibrates was the project’s chief architect. Most of what was used to build Parthenon, went to transporting materials.
It is a very similar design to the Doric style with many of its iconic features. Ictinus & Calibrates created models of the Parthenon that were incredibly symmetrical. It was popular enough to be used in Roman architecture and other later centuries. The Parthenon contains many different elements, like the colonnade. It is made up of square capitals on fluted baseless columns. Eight columns can be found on each of the east, west and north sides and seventeen on the south side. The colonnade was made up of all these columns to surround the rectangular cella. In the Cella’s west corner, there was a smaller room. This small space wasn’t linked to the Cella. The frieze is a mosaic of blocks with grooves and blocks without grooves that helps to relieve the decoration of the wall. The only light entering the Parthenon came from the east, except some of it that crept in through marble tiles on the ceiling and roof.
As you can see, there are many architectural details that combine to give the Parthenon a sculptural, plastic appearance. The Parthenon’s interior and exterior sculptures gave it an even more beautiful appearance compared to its overpowering and large exterior. On the Parthenon building were depicted many different images. For example, a fight between gods. All of the decorations from the north were destroyed. The frieze at the top of the wall represents the Panathenaic procession, an annual celebration of Athena by the citizens. At the eastern end are a priestess, flanked with two groups of gods. On the east side, the pediment, in a round shape, depicts the birthing of Athena. The west side shows her battle with Poseidon, the sea god for dominion over the area around Athens. The entire composition is fantastic, and was later enhanced by bronze accessories.
The Parthenon did not change until the 5th cent. CE. This was the time when Phidias removed his colossal statuary and converted the temple into a Christian cathedral. In the 7th Century, the Parthenon’s interior was also changed. In 1456, Turks seized Acropolis. They also took the Parthenon. It was transformed into a Muslim mosque. Venetians who were fighting Turks destroyed the entire building in 1687. Thomas Bruce, an English nobleman, removed the large sculptures that were left over after the battle in 1801-1803. The British Museum in London purchased the pieces in 1816. The Louvre museum is located in Paris. Copenhagen is another famous museum.
I’d like to talk about some more fun facts related to this historical monument. The Parthenon is often considered a temple dedicated to Athena. However, it was used by the Greeks as a bank to store all the wealth of Athens. The Greeks viewed it as their bank and so placed a huge sculpture of Athena dressed up in gold and chryselephantine. This was one the most precious pieces of art at that time. The Parthenon measured 111 feet by 228, or 30.9 meters by 69.5 metres.
Even though it was damaged, the Parthenon remains one of Athens’ most beautiful and impressive architectural pieces. Tourists travel from all over the world to see the Parthenon’s beauty. It still stands tall over Athens, reminding all of its former power and wealth.
