Quiz on Parthenon & Temple of Zeus

Temple of Zeus location

Olympia, in the Altis (sacred area)

Material of the temple of zeus

local limestone with a thin layer of stucco

What do the metopes of the temple of zeus show

12 labours of heracles

Style of temple of zeus

doric

Dates of the temple of zeus

472-456 BC

Who was the temple of zeus commissioned by

unknown

Size of the temple of zeus

64.1m x 27.7m

what standard Greek features does the Temple of Zeus have?

• orientated east to west

• stood on 3 step base

• surrounded by colonnade

• includes naos and opisthodomos

what do the pediments show on the temple of zeus

east pediment - preparations for a chariot race between Pelops and Oinomaos

west pediment - battle of the centaurs vs lapiths (centauromachy)

details on the statue of zeus

• around 13 meters

• made of Ivory + Gold

• statue of Victory, sceptre, eagle

• designed by Phidias

What is the function of the temple of Zeus?

• temple - place of worship

• treasury - location of treasure

What is the significance of the Temple of Zeus?

through the building and decorations they symbolise the importance of the figures: Zeus, Hercules, Pelops and the Greeks

What makes a metope successful?

• recognisable? (scene + figures)

• realistic? (proportions)

• use of space? (gaps)

Parthenon location

Athens, on the Acropolis

Date of the parthenon

447-432 BC

Who was the Parthenon dedicated to

Athena, patron of Athens

Who was the parthenon commissioned by

Pericles

Architects of the parthenon

• Pheidias (main)

• Iktinos and Kallikrates (helpers)

Style of the parthenon

Doric with Ionic features (Ionic frieze)

Material of the parthenon

local marble

Size of the parthenon

69.5 x 30.9m (17 x 8 columns)

Function of the Parthenon

• temple - place of worship

• treasury - holds treasure

Significance of the Parthenon

through the building and decoration the Parthenon symbolises…

• architectural ability of Athens

• piety of Athenians towards Athena

• civilisation vs barbarians (Greek v Persian)

What standard (+ nonstandard) Greek features does the Parthenon have

• orientated east to west

• stood on 3 step base

• surrounded by colonnade

• includes naos and opisthodomos

• has ionic and doric features

what happened in 480 BC

the Persians burnt down the city and the old Parthenon

what happened after the persians attack

• Athenians saw off the Persian threat

• became head of a naval alliance called the Delian league

what happened by 450 BC

• Athenians had built an empire

• moved the treasury from Delos to athens.

• used money from the treasury to pay for the Acropolis rebuild

What was shown on the metopes of the parthenon

north - trojan war

east - battle of the gods and giants

south - battle of the centaurs and lapiths

west - battle of athenians and amazons

What was shown on the pediments on the parthenon

east pediment - birth of athena

west pediment - contest of athena and poseidon

What was shown on the ionic frieze of the parthenon

the Great Panathenaic procession

Details on the statue of athena

• 13 meters

• made of Ivory + Gold

• designed by Phidias

• statue of Victory