In a sense, buildings can be considered embodiments of the cultures from which they originate. This was particularly true in ancient times, when construction was completed exclusively using manual labor, and architectural structures were few and far between. Care was put into the design and construction, and the finished product was meant to convey a message about cultural and societal attributes. The two buildings I’ll compare in this essay – the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon – are stately projections of the ancient cultures that created them.
The Parthenon’s Structure
The Greek Parthenon, a structure of limestone and marble, was dedicated to the Goddess Athena. Its strong lines and imposing scale are a manifestation of the power and strength of the Greek empire, and of its advocate, Perikles. It was built to replace two destroyed temples, which points to its function and purpose as a place of worship and community gathering. Overall, due to the rectangular floor plan, low steps and column design, it is considered a …show more content…
At the time this structure was built, its function was to honor the gods. Nothing is known about its original purpose beyond this (Chin, n.d.). It later served as a church and a tomb, and is still used as a church today. If we look beyond the entrance to the Pantheon, one can see that the main structure is round in shape, and incorporates a domed roof. This reflects the Romans’ expertise with using arches, or curved structures. Corinthian columns, which can be identified in one way by their deeper and more decorative capitals, were used outside to support the entrance, and in the interior of the building. The “oculus’ (literally “eye”) in the dome provides an opening for light to reach inside. The Pantheon was built of several types of stone, concrete, and granite overlays. Statues of gods are placed all around the