The Parthenon Greek Architecture

1
The ParthenonGreek Architecture
The Parthenon is one temple that is very famous
and beautiful. Built between 447 and 438 BC, it
was the first building to be constructed on the
widely known Acropolis.
2
Sacrificial Altars
All the gods demanded they be satisfied by
sacrifice, and so sacrifices were made at the
temples. For this there was a great altar outside
the east porch of every temple. The Eastern side
of every temple was the front of the building.
3
Doric, Ionic and Corinthian Columns
The Parthenon is recognisably Greek because of
the huge columns which surround its walls and
separate sections inside the temple. These three
columns represent the three styles of Greek
architecture.
4
The western side of the Parthenon on the
Acropolis of Athens.
Notice the Doric columns with their wider ridges
and less ornate plinths. The structure of the
Parthenon was quite simple in style and design.
5
Site plan of the Acropolis at Athens showing the
major archaeological remains
The Acropolis of Athens is the best known in the
world . Acropolis means high city, or The
"Sacred Rock. The Acropolis is a flat-topped
rock which rises 150 m above sea level in the
city of Athens.
6
Metopes and Sculpture
The Parthenon metopes that were visible on the
exterior of the temple were made in deep relief
and surrounded the temple on all sides. Most
Greek temples had few decorated metopes, but in
the Parthenon all ninety-two metopes were
decorated on all sides with scenes from Greek
mythology.
7
Phidias Showing the Frieze of the Parthenon to
his Friends, 1868 painting by Lawrence Alma-Tadema
Archeologists now have proof that the metopes and
friezes adorning the Parthenon were illuminated
with both paint and metal so they would stand out
against the buildings façade.
8
Detail of the West metopes, illustrating the
current condition of the temple in detail after
2,500 years of war, pollution, erratic
conservation, pillage and vandalism.
9
the Propylaea
the Erechtheum
10
The Cost of the Parthenon by R.S. Stanier We see
expenditure on quarrying at Pentelikos ,
transport of stone from Pentelikos (which
probably means hauling stone up the Akropolis),
payment for workmen and labourers, salaries,
something about pillars, something made of wood,
doors, purchases of ivory, pay for goldsmiths and
silversmiths, marble for the pediments, payment
for those who make the trolleys for transporting
the marble and for those who put the marble on
the trolleys and those who carve the marble.