Pericles’ Vision Realized: The New Acropolis
The original Greek Acropolis, built in Ancient Greece on a large hill overlooking the city of Athens, as seen in Figure 1, was a temple built in honor of the Goddess Athena in hopes that she would protect the city and its residents. In the years 280-279 B.C., the Acropolis is sacked and ruined by the Persians during the Persian Wars. When Pericles comes to power in 461 B.C., he rebuilds the Acropolis in order to commemorate Athens’ victory over Persia, as well as to send a message of Athens’ power and dominance to other Greek cities. First, Pericles overcomes religious and social challenges, such as the Oath of Platea to commence building the new Acropolis, he then leaves a ruined temple intact, …show more content…
With the treasury Pericles claimed from Persia after its defeat, Athens certainly had the economic power needed to complete Pericles’ vision, however one obstacle lay in his way: The Oath of Platea. This Oath was taken by Greek soldiers during the Persian Wars in 479 B.C. and stated that “[The Greeks] shall not rebuild a single one of the shrines that have been burned and razed by the barbarians, but shall allow them to remain for future generations as a memorial of the barbarians ' impiety”. Therefore, this oath posed a challenge to Pericles as rebuilding the Acropolis would symbolize destroying this memorial, which could imply his own impiety and threaten his power as a new ruler. Thus it was put to a vote, and although it did not pass, Pericles used his new power to single-handedly rescind the Oath and rebuild the Acropolis. Thus, his vision was put to action as plans to build the Parthanon, the Propylaea and the Erechtheium …show more content…
When this first building rose out of the rubble that had been left in ruins for so long after the Persian war, Pericles meant it as a symbol of final victory over the Persians. He was showing Athenians that there was no further need for fear of the Persian threat, they were free to rebuild the Acropolis, and show Athens as “initial defender … against the Persians, [and] founder of the Greek resistance”. Therefore, not only is the Acropolis a symbol of Athenian victory over the Persians, but also a message to the Greek cities proclaiming Athens’ power and stature in Greece.
Thus, in examining the details and designs of Pericles’ new Acropolis, it becomes clear that the Citadel is meant to be a symbol to the Athenians of their victory over the Persians, as well as a symbolic decree of eternal victory, power and prosperity in Athens. Pericles built the new Acropolis with Athens’ history well in mind, so that Athenians could respect and honor their past victories, and see the Acropolis as a symbol to the people of future
The original Greek Acropolis, built in Ancient Greece on a large hill overlooking the city of Athens, as seen in Figure 1, was a temple built in honor of the Goddess Athena in hopes that she would protect the city and its residents. In the years 280-279 B.C., the Acropolis is sacked and ruined by the Persians during the Persian Wars. When Pericles comes to power in 461 B.C., he rebuilds the Acropolis in order to commemorate Athens’ victory over Persia, as well as to send a message of Athens’ power and dominance to other Greek cities. First, Pericles overcomes religious and social challenges, such as the Oath of Platea to commence building the new Acropolis, he then leaves a ruined temple intact, …show more content…
With the treasury Pericles claimed from Persia after its defeat, Athens certainly had the economic power needed to complete Pericles’ vision, however one obstacle lay in his way: The Oath of Platea. This Oath was taken by Greek soldiers during the Persian Wars in 479 B.C. and stated that “[The Greeks] shall not rebuild a single one of the shrines that have been burned and razed by the barbarians, but shall allow them to remain for future generations as a memorial of the barbarians ' impiety”. Therefore, this oath posed a challenge to Pericles as rebuilding the Acropolis would symbolize destroying this memorial, which could imply his own impiety and threaten his power as a new ruler. Thus it was put to a vote, and although it did not pass, Pericles used his new power to single-handedly rescind the Oath and rebuild the Acropolis. Thus, his vision was put to action as plans to build the Parthanon, the Propylaea and the Erechtheium …show more content…
When this first building rose out of the rubble that had been left in ruins for so long after the Persian war, Pericles meant it as a symbol of final victory over the Persians. He was showing Athenians that there was no further need for fear of the Persian threat, they were free to rebuild the Acropolis, and show Athens as “initial defender … against the Persians, [and] founder of the Greek resistance”. Therefore, not only is the Acropolis a symbol of Athenian victory over the Persians, but also a message to the Greek cities proclaiming Athens’ power and stature in Greece.
Thus, in examining the details and designs of Pericles’ new Acropolis, it becomes clear that the Citadel is meant to be a symbol to the Athenians of their victory over the Persians, as well as a symbolic decree of eternal victory, power and prosperity in Athens. Pericles built the new Acropolis with Athens’ history well in mind, so that Athenians could respect and honor their past victories, and see the Acropolis as a symbol to the people of future