The Parthenon Essay

Submitted By kendallburroughs

Words: 450

Pages: 2

Open Document

Kendall Burroughs
Professor Kate O’Mara
ARH-102
21 March 13
The Parthenon! During my spring break I took a trip to “the Athens of the south”, Nashville Tennessee. Nashville is home to one of the most historic replicas of all time, the Parthenon. The Parthenon was originally a temple in Greece that was dedicated to the goddess, Athena who was the patron, or guardian of the people. The construction of the Parthenon began in 447 BC and finally was concluded in 438 BC. The Parthenon is an important historic building of Classical Greece that today remains demolished and reduced to rubble.
In 1897, Nashville started constructing the full-scale replica to celebrate the Tennessee Centennial and International exposition. The Parthenon’s main attraction is the radiant goddess, Athena. Originally, Athena was made of Ivory and plates of gold fixed onto a wooden base however; Nashville’s modern replica was created from gypsum cement and fiberglass. When I first saw her I was awe-struck because the gold materials she is made of glows, giving her the presentation a goddess deserves. She has a very stoic look on her face but, the detail in her clothing and color are phenomenal. Athena is in the center of a large room to give spectators the room to look up, as well as observe the base that is decorated with classical Romanesque figures. Along with the serpent, shield, and spear, she holds Nike, the goddess of victory, in her right hand. Nike alone stands 6’4’’ tall! The shield she possesses is a piece of art itself, covered in intricate design behind the serpent. In the same room on her right, Athena is accompanied by the Elgin casts that are actual artistic fragments of sculptures from the original Parthenon. Though they are only pieces, they all have

The Parthenon Essay

The Parthenon, built in the 5th century BC, was revolutionary for its unique building genius, which made it appear as though it was far lighter than it was, and not box-like. Iktinos and Kallikrates had a substantial job on their hands whilst constructing the Parthenon. They created a building that is seen to be the epitome of Doric temple buildings, while still managing to incorporate ionic features. Nevertheless, this was not the most difficult aspect in which they had to contend with. The underlying…

Words 1976 - Pages 8

The Parthenon Essay

THE PARTHENON/ELGIN MARBLES By Renee Livio Who should own the Parthenon/Elgin has been a long and complex debate. Both sides, the British and the Greeks have valid and equal points as to why they should be the one to care and to keep these precious sought out marbles. Here today, I will present the arguments for both sides. “ÒÚ˘¿ The Parthenon, throughout history, has been shaken by earthquakes, set on fire, shattered to an extent, attacked a numerous amount of times, looted for its sculptures…

Words 1931 - Pages 8

Parthenon: Parthenon and Athenian Acropolis Essay

When work began on the Parthenon in 447 BC, the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. Work on the temple continued until 432; the Parthenon, then, represents the tangible and visible efflorescence of Athenian imperial power, unencumbered by the depradations of the Peloponnesian War. Likewise, it symbolizes the power and influence of the Athenian politician, Perikles, who championed its construction. Some historians believe that Athens concluded a peace treaty with Persia in 449, two…

Words 339 - Pages 2

The Parthenon Marbles

The debate between the British and Greek governments concerning the ownership of the Parthenon Marbles has been going on for hundreds of years. These sculptures were made to decorate the Parthenon and other monuments of Ancient Greece. The Parthenon is considered to be one of the world’s greatest cultural monuments. During the time in which the Ottoman Empire had domain over the territory of Greece, they gave Thomas Bruce a firman to take the marble sculptures to England. Years later, Thomas Bruce…

Words 299 - Pages 2

Parthenon Debate

situation surrounding the Parthenon sculptures and where their true home should be is a he said she said kind of situation. The British Museum believe that the pieces are all rightfully there’s. They believe this because Lord Elgin stated that he got two different forms stating he was allowed by Greece’s to take whatever artifacts he and his group wanted. Fast forward many years. The Greek government now want the pieces back and say that Lord Elgin had no right to take away the Parthenon sculptures. Now the…

Words 602 - Pages 3

Pericles: The Parthenon

As many people know, the Parthenon is one of the most inspiring works of architecture known to mankind. The project of the extraordinary Acropolis was taken on by one of the most influential leaders of history, Pericles. Pericles influenced not only the building of one of the grandest works but the example of democracy displayed by the Greeks. The architecture was unique for its time, it featured excellent structure. The breathtaking Metopes featuring the epic battles of the gods, the Frieze a detailed…

Words 1474 - Pages 6

The Parthenon Essay

The Parthenon In the ancient Greek world , Religion was a very important part in people’s lives ,with formal rituals , such as sacrifices , myths that explained the origins of mankind , and temples that overshadowed the Greek cities , built in the honor of the gods . one of the greatest and most famous of all Greek temples is the Parthenon . The Parthenon is a magnificent temple in the center of Athens , it stood on the highest part of its acropolis (The fortified height or citadel of an ancient Greek city…

Words 610 - Pages 3

Athena's Influence On The Parthenon

On the top of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, the Parthenon temple was built. This very temple was built for the Greek goddess Athena as a thank you gift for the end of the Persian Wars. The construction of the temple began in about 447 BCE by the architects known as Ictinus and Callicrates, who were under the supervision of Pheidias, and the monument was finished in 438 BCE. The Parthenon itself is made out of marble and measures about 230 feet by 100 feet. On the interior, many statues referring…

Words 703 - Pages 3

Parthenon and Doryphos Essay

architects sought order, beauty, and perfection in their sculpture and architecture. The bronze sculpture Doryphoros (Spear Bearer) (c. 440 BCE), by Polykleitos, and the Parthenon on the Acropolis (c. 447-432 BCE), by Iktinos and Kallikrates, both share those aforementioned qualities in their strikingly similar design. While the Parthenon on the Acropolis may be a building, it still has similar symmetry and aspects of desired beauty as that of the sculpture, Doryphoros. Classical Greek architecture and…

Words 954 - Pages 4

Comparison Of The Parthenon And The Pantheon

Comparison of the Parthenon and the Pantheon While ancient Greece and Rome are too vast of cultures to define with any one piece of architecture, the Parthenon and the Pantheon are the structures that symbolize their respective cultures the best. The Parthenon which was completed in 432 BC was built during a time of innovation for the Greeks who were fresh off their victory over Persia. The Parthenon, and its mathematical design represent the attitude of the Greeks believing in their near perfection…

Words 535 - Pages 3