the Parthenon

location of acropolis significance

elevated ground - easy to defend

closer to gods

Who Attacked Athens - when and what happened

Persians

480 bc

burnt it to the ground

naval alliance of the greek city states

delian

treasury of delian alliance moved from.. to..

From island of Delos to the parthenon’s opisthodomos in Athens

who moved the treasury and why

pericles - paid for buildings and redecorating city and acropolis to make Athens most prominant power in the med

consequence of moving the treasury

became a wealthy powerhouse - head of the Athenian empire

rebuilt Acropolis - symbol of power in Athens

location of the parthenon

acropolis, athens

date parthenon built

447 - 432 bc

parthenon commissioned by

Pericles

architects of parthenon

Iktinos, Kallikrates, and Phidias

size of parthenon

69.5 x 30.9 m

material of parthenon

pentellic marble - very expensive and shiny

Why was the Parthenon built?

To honor the goddess Athena

house Delian league treasury

To rebuild the buildings destroyed by Persians

To show Athens’ power

parthenon differences to standard greek temples

extra row of columns that supported an ionic frieze

no altar of priesthood specific to this temple

which temple shares an alter on the acropolis with parthenon

erechtheion

east pediment

Birth of Athena

west pediment

Contest between Athena and Poseidon

cult statue location

Parthenon in the naos

date cult statue was added

438 bc

architect of cult statue

Phidias

height of cult statue

13m

material of cult statue

ivory and gold = chryselephantine

cult statue holding

nike in left hand

Description of cult statue

Chryselephantine

Sphinx on helmet

Griffins on either side

Standing - tunic reaching her feet

Aegis

Nike in one hand

Spear in other hand

Shield at feet

Snake near spear

Why was the Parthenon impressive?

Two rows of columns - doric and ionic

Highly decorated pediments

made of pentellic marble

on acropolis

540ft Ionic frieze

Expensive cult statue

Opisthodomos held treasury

Huge

Optical illusions of its size - curved horizontal surfaces - tapering and swelling of columns