What Is the Parthenon?:
The Parthenon is the 2400-year old temple of Athena Parthenos (the virgin) located on the acropolis in Athens. Besides religious purposes it served as the treasury for the Athenian Empire [see Delian League]. In c. 430 A.D., the Parthenon was used for Christian purposes and the statue of Athena removed. The Parthenon has also served as a mosque. On September 26, 1687, a gunpowder explosion destroyed the Parthenon's roof and more. Later, sculptures were used for their lime. Today, mostly columns remain on the Greek site, while many decorative friezes are at the British Museum. The Greek government wants them back.
Building of the Parthenon:
During the Age of Pericles (c. 461 or 450-429 B.C.), there were great building projects in Athens to replace structures destroyed by the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars. The building was made possible by the Athenians' control of the Delian League funds. Pericles (Perikles) employed the best architects and sculptors for the projects, with the result that the structures represent the height of Greek art and architecture.
Athena Parthenos:
The sculptor Pheidias (Phidias), was hired by Pericles to work on the Parthenon, beginning in around 447 B.C. The statue of the Athena Parthenos was installed in 438. It was made of gold and ivory (chryselephantine) and from its base to its top was about 40 feet high. Athena wore a chiton and aegis, was dressed each year by Greek women, held a spear in her left hand, and held a 6' Victory statue on her outstretched right hand. Pausanias says her helmet was decorated with a sphinx and gryphons. Pliny and Plutarch also described the statue.
Structure of the Parthenon:
Iktinos and Kallikrates were architects of the Parthenon, a pantelic marble structure of the Doric Order that is referred to as octostyle peripteral which means it was surrounded by a colonnade with 8 columns at each end. The main room within the colonnade is called the cella, home of the great statue of Athena. On the outer wall of the cella were friezes in low relief. They may depict the Panathenaic procession which was a yearly event after which Athena was given new clothing. The metopes (92 square panels above the architrave, 14 on each end) held figures in high relief.
