The Parthenon of Greece

The Parthenon is situated at the Acropolis Hill, overlooking the city of Athens. It was an artistic representation of Greek concepts during the peak of the Classical era. The building’s perfect proportion depicted the Greek patterns through its statues whose forms and qualities as well as its complex architectural elements attributed to gods. According to historians, the building was constructed in honor of Athena Parthenos, the Warrior Maiden and pagan Greek goddess of wisdom. The materials used for the temple’s construction were limestone, for its large and solid foundation, and marble from Mount Pentelicus for its columns.

The Parthenon which was also intended to serve as the main attraction of the building complex of the Acropolis served as the shelter of Athena’s statue – a sculpture molded by Phidias out of ivory and gold. The Parthenon’s façade consisted of eight columns and seventeen columns at the flanks; and according to experts, the ratio of 9:4 may be observed in various connections in the building including the spacing between the columns and their height and the temple’s horizontal and vertical proportions.

The temple which was of Doric order – characterized by the presence of metopes and series of triglyphs - also included a backroom with four Ionic order columns supporting its roof and sheltering Athena’s treasures. The peristyle taper had its columns arced slightly as they reached the temple top, making it appear swollen, and giving the impression that they were encumbered by the weight of the roof.

In a proximate view, one will be able to recognize the metopes’ sculpture in detail. Similarly, the evidence of the frieze would be seen through the spaces separating the columns. The architectural design of the metopes of the Parthenon depicted the strife between the chaos of crime and justice and order. On the other hand, the Parthenon’s Ionic frieze consisting of more than three hundred figures and were found around the upper side of the temple wall, were said to be a representation of the activities done during the Panathenaic festival.

John Julius Norwich, the editor of Great Architectures of the World commented on the Parthenon: “Even in antiquity its architectural refinements were legendary, especially the subtle correspondence between the curvature of the styloblate, the batter, or taper of the Nos walls and the entais of the columns.” (Norwich, 1975). The slightly leaning columns of the temple gave it an appearance which depicted eminent strength. On the east pediments, one could view the event wherein Zeus presented Athena to the gods of Olympus, while on the west was the portrayal of Athena’s struggle with Poseidon over the land of Attica.

The significance of the Parthenon was not only depicted in its architecture but also in statues and sculptures found within it, such as in its Ionic frieze, pediments and metopes. The very fine form of the Parthenon sets it apart from all the other Greek structures since its general effect is a deviation from the immobile Doric structures of the past in the direction of a more potent form of architectural aspect.

Bibliography

The parthenon. Ancient Greece. http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon.htmlNorwich, J.J. ed. Great architecture of the world. New York: Random House, 1975.