Acropolis

In September 480 BCE, under the leadership of Pericles, began the reconstruction of Acropolis, the ancient citadel of Athens, after it had been attacked and ravaged by the Persians. The centerpiece of the reconstruction program became the Parthenon, a remarkable marble peripteral temple dedicated to Athena Parthenos and designed by Iktinos and Kallikrates. Construction began in 447 BCE, when the power of the Athenian Empire was peaking, and was completed entirely by 432 BCE. The architecture of…

Is it a building that commemorates a victory over the Persians? Or, is a religious building dedicated to the goddess Athena? Maybe a monument that proclaims the greatness of the Athenian polis mid V century BC?All this and much more is what symbolizes the Parthenon, as well as being a building that, over the centuries, has endured dropouts, bombing (by the Turks) and even looting (by the English educated, who enjoy today in the British Museum a large sculptural repertoire obtained in this…

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…

The Parthenon or “Elgin Marbles” controversy has had both Britain and Greece scramble over who has the most acceptable appeal regarding the statues ever since Lord Elgin removed the statues from the Parthenon. Yet, from a direct comparison between the two nations based upon the strength of arguments, Britain has the most valid claim to the Parthenon Marbles. Though the flaws and bias involved in the extrapolation of evidence mush be considered such as the lack of an original document provided by…

The Greek Temple, the Parthenon in Athens, was built on a plain surrounded by mountains. The Parthenon figure #7.32 has two rooms and is surrounded by a porch and columns. Like older temples, the Parthenon uses the post-and-lintel system. Marble blocks were stacked and finished, giving it a flawless appearance. The steps that form the base of the structure are higher in the middle of each side and lower at the corners giving the appearance of a sagging center and creating an optical illusion.…

The Athena Parthenos is one of the most important sculptures in Greek history. When Athena became the patron goddess of Athens, the Athena Parthenos was crafted in her honor. It is said to represent Ancient Greece and Athenian Democracy. The statue was made from ivory and gold by the artist Phidias and his assistants. It features the goddess, Athena, her shield, and the goddess, Nike who rests on her hand.Phidias began sculpting in 447 AD. However, in 296 AD the gold sheets used to make the…

The Statue of Zeus and the Temple of Artemis are two of the Seven Wonders of The World. They were both magnificent structures, before they were destroyed. The Statue of Zeus One of the most mysterious structures in the world lies in ruins in Olympia, Greece. Near Mount Olympia lies the Statue of Zeus, it was once in the Temple of Zeus. Upon completion it stood forty-three feet tall, with shining, white ivory. The throne of the statue was mainly composed of wooden frames that were outlined with…

In Athens Greece, c. 445 BCE, The Parthenon was a structure of mathematical, optical perfection, and was built as a temple to the goddess of Athena. During the High Classic Greece period, this marble structure stood 45 feet high, and was topped with a very detailed pediment, containing life sized figures, depicting the story of Athena's birth, symbolizing the passage of the day. As the structure stood in it's place, the world around it would go through many drastic changes, giving the structure…

The Parthenon Greek for "maiden" built in 447 BC is the most preserved and highly influential building of the Roman era. This structure really captures the Greek's idea of humanism because it is a physical embodiment of their values and beliefs. The Parthenon, unlike the Egyptians who built pyramids for the dead, celebrated life on earth rather than the afterlife. As a result of the architecture being served as a sacred shrine dedicated to Athena the goddess of wisdom and war, treasury, and a…

Power is reflected in artworks in several ways. Rulers often commissioned paintings of their kingdoms in order to show the magnificence of their kingdom. Images of rulers themselves often portray them wearing extravagant clothing, seated on a throne, or being larger than others in the image. This asserts the authority of the ruler over his kingdom. Artwork was used by rulers to assert their dominance and show how they feel they should be viewed by those of lesser power. The first piece of art…