The Parthenon, an ancient Greek structure that stood atop a large hill above Athens, was a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, the Athenians’ patron deity. Built after a period of success, the building was symbolic of the power held by the Athenians. Its intricate design adapted existing architectural styles into something new and unique, and it has inspired architectural designs around the world ever since.
Believing that she contributed to their success in the Persian Wars, the Athenians built a large temple in dedication to the goddess Athena. This temple, known as the Parthenon, was built on top of the Acropolis of Athens, and inside stood a statue of Athena. In addition to being a monument to the Athenian’s patron deity, the Parthenon also served as part of the state treasury from which the Delian League, an association of Greek city-states, collected tax revenue. While these were the two main functions of the Parthenon, it also existed for another purpose. Built after they successfully led the Greeks against Darius and Xerxes’ persian troops, the Athenians built the Parthenon as a grandiose symbol of Athenian wealth and power. For these reasons, the Parthenon is considered one of the most important ancient Greek structures. …show more content…
As an example of its unique design, Iktinos, the main architect, designed the Parthenon with no straight lines. The numerous columns subtly bowed in the center, making the temple more visually attractive. This is just one example of the Parthenon’s individuality, but it had many other features that set it apart from other buildings of the time. Structurally and stylistically, it was incredibly unique, and it inspired the construction of numerous subsequent
Believing that she contributed to their success in the Persian Wars, the Athenians built a large temple in dedication to the goddess Athena. This temple, known as the Parthenon, was built on top of the Acropolis of Athens, and inside stood a statue of Athena. In addition to being a monument to the Athenian’s patron deity, the Parthenon also served as part of the state treasury from which the Delian League, an association of Greek city-states, collected tax revenue. While these were the two main functions of the Parthenon, it also existed for another purpose. Built after they successfully led the Greeks against Darius and Xerxes’ persian troops, the Athenians built the Parthenon as a grandiose symbol of Athenian wealth and power. For these reasons, the Parthenon is considered one of the most important ancient Greek structures. …show more content…
As an example of its unique design, Iktinos, the main architect, designed the Parthenon with no straight lines. The numerous columns subtly bowed in the center, making the temple more visually attractive. This is just one example of the Parthenon’s individuality, but it had many other features that set it apart from other buildings of the time. Structurally and stylistically, it was incredibly unique, and it inspired the construction of numerous subsequent