NCEA Level 2 | Classics | Art and Architecture | The Parthenon

When was the Parthenon built?

447-432 BCE

Where is the Parthenon located?

The Acropolis in Athens

Who were the architects of the Parthenon?

Iktinos and Kallikrates

Who was the sculptor of the Parthenon?

Phidias

What was the Parthenon built from?

Pentelic marble with limestone foundations

What are the dimensions of the Parthenon?

approx. 31 metres wide and 69.5 metres long

What was on the Acropolis before the Parthenon?

Many temples, shrines, buildings, and statues in honour of Athena that were destroyed in a Persian invasion in 480 BCE.

What was the Delian League and why was it formed?

A defense league, unifying the forces of the Greek city-states, led by Athens. They formed because they needed to stand against the Persian Empire which was invading the states.

How was the Parthenon funded?

with money Athens received from taxing members of the Delian League

Who first suggested building the Parthenon?

Pericles

Who was Pericles?

a politician and military commander of Athens during the Golden Age

Why did Pericles want to build the Parthenon?

- it was part of his vision for a new Athens

- he wanted to show off the wealth, power, and skill of Athens

- he wanted Athens to be a cultural/political leader

- as a patriotic Athenian, he thought it was reasonable that league resources be used to build a city of great importance

- to give thanks to Athena for their victory

- build a grand city to show the gods how grateful they were

- provide employment so people could share in Athens' wealth

Who is the Parthenon dedicated to?

Athena

What is the function of the Parthenon?

- religious building for worship and sacrifices

- a symbol of Athenian greatness

- treasury

What is the significance of the location of the Parthenon?

It was the site of the legendary contest between Athena and Poseidon to decided who the city's patron would be.

What are the Archaic design features of the Parthenon?

- rectangular building

- the front and back, and each side, are identical

- it sits on a shallow base (stereobate)

- peristyle

- pediment roof

What are the Classical design features of the Parthenon?

- octostyle: it has 8 columns on front and back (Archaic had 6) and 15 down either side, not including corners (Archaic had 13)

- double naos (Archaic had only one)

- double row of columns in the front and back (Archaic had a single layer all around)

Why was the Parthenon octostyle instead of hexastyle?

So it still had the same proportions but was overall larger so they could fit the larger statue of Athena, and therefore honour her and show off more.

Why is there a temple to Nike on the Acropolis?

During the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, Athenians built a temple to Nike, the winged goddess of victory, to try to secure their victory.

Why were there walls around the Parthenon?

It was precious to the Athenians and they wanted to protect it.

What was the Panathenaea?

It was an Athenian festival to honour Athena.

Pronaos

the space, or porch, in front of the naos of an ancient Greek temple

Naos

cella, a room with no windows that usually housed the cult statue of the deity

What was the purpose of the primary naos?

to house the Athena Parthenos

Why were there two tiers of columns inside the primary naos?

They supported the room so the statue could fit, although the backmost ones served only as a decorative backdrop.

What was the secondary naos used for?

it was at the back and acted as the treasury

Stereobate

the stepped base on which a temple stands

Acroteria

free-standing sculptures standing above corners and the center of the pediment

Pediment

the triangular top of a temple that contains sculpture

Column

a tall cylindrical vertical upright and used to support a structure

What are the parts of a column?

base, shaft, capital

Doric

style of column featuring simple, heavy columns without bases

Reliefs

wall carvings that stand out from the surface of the building

Metopes

a square space between triglyphs in a Doric frieze.

What did the metopes on the Parthenon depict?

each side depicted a different thing - the Lapiths and the Centaurs, the Greeks and the Amazons, the Gods and the Giants, and fall of Troy

What do the metopes represent/celebrate?

Athenian victory over 'barbarians' and Athenian excellence

What artistic techniques do the metopes use and why?

- colour: vibrant to be seen from below/distance

- musculature: Greeks/Greek stand-ins are often nude and well-muscled, to show Athenian physical excellence

- symmetry: figures often on opposite sides, e.g. the Centaurs and Lapiths heads are often on opposite sides of the metope, to make it look balanced and visually appealing

What was the Athena Parthenos?

a massive statue inside the Parthenon depicting Athena and Nike

What was the Athena Parthenos made of?

ivory for the skin and gold everywhere else, with some embellishments of glass, copper, silver, and jewels, and a wooden frame

What was the purpose of the water basin at the bottom of the Athena Parthenos?

- it reflected light from the door off the gold of the statue, lighting the windowless chamber

- it maintained the moist environment best for ivory preservation

Who was the Athena Parthenos carved by?

Phidias

How much did the Athena Parthenos cost?

about 5000 tablets (more than the temple)

How tall was the Athena Parthenos?

11.5 metres, according to Pliny

How was Athena depicted in the Athena Parthenos?

She is standing upright, which was unusual, as most gods were depicted sitting. She is wearing a peplos, which highlight her femininity, and has an aegis over her shoulders, which shows her goodness, as it was symbolic of protection. She has a spear in one hand and holds a statue of Nike in the other, with a shield on the ground beside the spear.

How was Athena's peplos carved?

It has column-like folds that add volume and overall richness to the peplos, and the peplum drapes are held at the waist by a belt of snakes.

What decorated Athena's helmet?

a statue of a sphinx

What was depicted on Athena's shield?

The centre of the shield depicted Medusa's head, surrounded by scenes from the Battle of Theseus and the Amazons. Figures in individual duels are depicted against a backdrop of landscapes and fortifications. This served as a visual metaphor for the Greeks and their 'barbaric' enemies, like the Persians, and is a celebration of their culture and independence. The inside of the shield depicted the Battle of the Giants.

Why is there a snake beside Athena?

it represents the first half-serpent king of Athens

What does the Athena Parthenos represent?

- a representation of Athenian ingenuity and wisdom

- devotion to their goddess

- Nike's presence exemplifies the war aspect of Athena's personality (in defending Athens) and Athenian victory over the Persians

- images on shield show Greek victory over foreign enemies

What does the West Pediment depict?

the contest between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of Athens

Who are the two central figures in the West Pediment?

- Athena: on the left with her body twisted and with flowing drapery, a spear in one hand

- Poseidon: on the right, fully nude and well-muscled, holding a trident in one hand

What artistic techniques are used in the West Pediment?

- size: the two central figures are the largest as they are the focus of the relief

- balance: each side of the triangle is balanced, so it flows well

- musculature: Poseidon's musculature is physical excellence

- drapery: flowing suggests movement and adds life/realism to it

What does the East Pediment depict?

birth of Athena

Who are the central figures in the West Pediment?

- Zeus: on the left, nude, seated on a block, facing his daughter

- Athena: on the right, facing her father with a spear, shield, and helmet

- possibly Hephaestus: behind Athena, with a hammer raised over his head

What artistic techniques are used in the East Pediment?

- size: the two central figures are the largest as they are the focus of the relief

- balance: each side of the triangle is balanced, so it flows well

- musculature: Zeus' musculature is physical excellence

- drapery: flowing suggests movement and adds life/realism to it

Ionic frieze

contains a continuous block of stonework that may be plain or sculpted

What is depicted on the ionic frieze?

the Panathenaea procession

What happened during the Panathenaea?

- music and athletic competitions

- sacrifices

- weaving of a gold peplos used to dress a wooden statue of Athena

What are some scenes from the Ionic frieze?

- men (priests) carrying water vessels on their heads

- men riding horses in procession

- cattle being lead to slaughter

- maidens carrying sacrificial objects and weavers in procession

What artistic techniques are used in the Ionic frieze?

- colour: vibrant to be seen from below/distance and to provide contrast to distinguish overlapping figures

- pose: similar poses, look harmonious, but with slight variations (e.g. in hand placement, head angle) to provide some interest and make them look more lifelike

- movement: created by pose and flowing drapery to give the impression the figures are all moving in procession

What optical illusions are in the Parthenon?

- Entasis

- arrangement of columns on stylobate

- corner columns

- slightly domed stylobate