Parthenon
Map of the Parthenon from above, drawn by B.R. | The Parthenon is a Doric temple located at the heart of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Consisting of rows of Doric columns on each side and a double row of porches at each end, the Parthenon was built as a dedication to Athena after the Greek war with the Persians had ended in the fifth century B.C.E. It also exemplified the lasting achievement of Pericles as leader of Athens. The Parthenon was built entirely of white Pentelic marble from Attica and was wider than most other buildings constructed around the same time, measuring 69.51 meters by 30.86 meters. The chief architect of the elaborate building was Ictinus. Originally, there were fifty-eight columns: seventeen on the sides, eight at each end, and six in the inner row of each porch. The front and back have an identical design, and there is an inner colonnade supporting the roof of which a few traces remain today. According to Hitchens (1987), there was no evidence of color found on the sculpture of the Parthenon, although this could be due to centuries of exposure. |
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Outside, the Parthenon has a grandiose appearance with simple metopes, rhythmic friezes, and rich pediment figures. Glubok (1963) stated that a metope is a depiction of at least one figure fitted into a rectangular space. A frieze is a series of inter-related figures, pediments, and metopes that often use oblique lines and the harmony of figures. Finally, a pediment is a stone carving in which the prominent figure or group is placed at the center while the surrounding space is filled with different angles. Sculptures made up triangular pediments located at each end with statues of Athena and Poseidon in high relief on the inside. In addition, a low relief frieze 160 meters long portrayed aparade in which citizens brought a new robe to the statue of Athena in her honor. Poseidon, Apollo, and Artemis appear in the parade of 600 lifelike figures. However, the 92 metopes and frieze were not merely for decoration; they were also part of the building structure.
The temple was divided into two chambers: the "cella", located in the east or front part of the building where the 12-meter ivory statue of Athena stood, and the "opistodomos" in the west where treasures of the goddess and the city were stored. The opistodomos also preserved the exterior symmetry. The Parthenon was built with precision and skill that allowed the temple to survive the effects of time. Despite a fire in the second century B.C.E. which destroyed much of the interior, ceiling, and cult statue, the Parthenon escaped damage due to seismic activity, military operations, and weather which destroyed so many other ancient buildings.
The precision and quality of sculpture and design found in the Parthenon distinctly portray both harmonious simplicity and complexity, creating a profound sense of naturalism. The pediment figures, metopes, and frieze of the structure possess distinct naturalistic characteristics and eloborate detail. They are clearly displayed as a unified whole. It is apparent that the metopes were constructed first on the ground and later erected, followed by the frieze, and finally the pediments.
The metopes have an incredible specificity of detail, such as the wrinkles on the centaurs and the muscle curvature of the animals. Animals, such as the cow shown in the frieze, enhance the qualities of naturalism with their ponderous motions, sleek bodies, and powerful bones. The metopes vary, being horizontal, oblique, vertical, consecutively folded, or displayed with freedom of motion. Flat surfaces are uncommon in the sculpture, replaced by carved folds. Once shown by wavy lines, the folds used in the sculptures of the Parthenon are carved one or two inches deep into the marble.
| The relief is carved deeper in the top than in the bottom. Richter (1970) stated that the running drill is presumed to be the primary tool responsible for the visible grooves within the frieze and pediments of the structure. Complicated veins of a horse's head along with the detailed flesh and bone were carefully sculpted with light and shadow into the frieze. Richter (1970) also explained that transitions from light to dark are gradual, creating not only a simplistic impression, but also complexity due to its richness and variety. With their lively, precisely sculpted rhythm, few structures can compare to the riders displayed on the southern frieze of the Parthenon. |
| A horse head from the frieze, drawn by A.R.. |
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From the beginning of the action, with the mounting of the riders and the charioteers, to the sacrificial animals, and to the advance of the maidens and climax of seated deities, the 500-foot long frieze creates a harmonious rhythmic design. The pediments of the structure show ultimate freedom. Richter (1970) described the poses as relaxed, yet displaying an imposing majesty. The scenes are full of life and action along with composure. The preserved part of the west pediment shows a combat scene while the east pediment displays figures of varying heights and animals in the corners.
West side frieze showing horsemen, drawn by N.P.
The cella, a large area of the Parthenon containing the statue of Athena, was created by the Greek sculptor Pheidias. It was made out of gold and ivory, two very rare materials. The statue did not take very long to build. Ashmole (1972) stated that the model for the head was made out of wood in its full size so that the ivory would easily fit around it. When it was completed, the wood remained in the statue. The ivory was softened and bent in small strips for the head, which is seven feet high. The base of the statue was twenty-six feet wide and thirteen feet in depth. It consisted of wood, and the main piece went through the base and into the pavement. The base of the statue stood away from the wall. A large vertical beam rose from the center of the floor for support. An iron core was inserted through the beam to support the arms of the statue and to keep it balanced. The body was made of wooden blocks that were bonded together and then covered by the ivory and gold, with removable gold plates. The statue required 2,500 pounds of gold worth a significant amount of money. The cost of the ivory, wood, sculptor's fee, and other building expenses added to the steep cost of the project.
Built in 488 B.C.E., the structure honoring Athens' victory at Marathon on the south side of the Acropolis was burned down by invading Persians. For this reason, the Athenians decided to rebuild next to the ruins of the old Athena temple located north of the Parthenon. (Rodenwaldt, 1957) The statue also honored Zeus by showing Athenian wealth, intellect, artistic image, and moral law through the gold and ivory as well as the detail.
The statue of Athena Parthenos, drawn by K.T. | Green (1973) described the statue:
The draperies were covered with gold sheet, while her flesh--her hands, feet, and face were covered with ivory. Her eyes were gems, her left hand was rested on her shield while the right hand held a figure of Nike. Athena was shown standing in a long tunic, and wearing a helmet. Above her helmet, between winged griffens, was a sphinx. (p. 71- 83) Yalouris (1917) described the shield of the statue, " On her shield, the battle of the giants appeared on the inside, and on the outside the battle of Amazons. The hollow of the shield was split into two concentric zones." (p. 14) The sun and moon appear four times on the statue. One was on the pedestal, along with a picture of the birth of Pandora. On her sandals was the battle of the centaurs and lapiths. |
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Glubok (1963) claimed that Phideis tried to make Athena more beautiful than mortal women. The statue of Athena Parthenos was completed along with the Parthenon in 438 B.C.E. It consisted of two rooms. The statue was located in the east room, and the treasury was in the west room. After the statue was finished, Pheidias was accused of stealing gold from it, and some of Pericles' rivals accused him of helping Pheidias. However, the plates were removed and weighed, and the charges were dropped. (Yalouris, 1917)
Between 1885 and 1891 A.C.E. Greek archaeologists started digging in the Acropolis of the Parthenon. They found column drums that formed a small building. It was discovered that they were parts of the temple. This was where the gold and ivory were hidden. Bernard Ashmore (1972) stated he could assume this strange building on the Acropolis at Athens, conveniently placed a few yards from the Parthenon, must have been the workshop in which the Athena statue was constructed.
The Acropolis was the center of ancient Greece, containing twenty different structures. The Parthenon is located in the southern part of the Acropolis. The design of Ictinus along with the artistry of Pericles make this building a classic model of Greek culture. The culture is told through the stories revealed in the friezes, metopes, and statues.
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