Transcript Perikles` Building Programme

Perikles’ Building
Programme
Important Dates






449BC ‘Congress Decree’
448BC Building of Parthenon started
(finished 432BC)
437BC Building of Propylaia started
431BC Start of the Peloponnesian War
427BC Nike temple started (finished 424BC)
421BC Erectheum started (finished 407BC)
Important Names




Perikles
Athenian statesman. Proposer
of building programme.
Pheidias
Sculptor in overall charge of
sculptural progamme
Ictinus & Callicrates Architects of the
Parthenon
Thucydides Political opponent of Perikles
(not the writer!)
Main sources






Plutarch Life of Perikles 12-14 Main account
of building programme
Pausanias Description of buildings
Thucydides 2.34-46 Funeral speech gives Perikles’ view
of Athens.
1.10 Comparison of Athens and Sparta
Inscription CA357
Building accounts
CA 354-364
References in other sources
Sculpture Unity of theme
Buildings involved


On the Acropolis:
The Parthenon
The Propylaia
The Temple of Nike (Victory)
The Erectheum
In the city:
The Theseion (Temple of Hephaistos)
The Odeion (concert hall)
The Agora (market square)
Buildings involved (cont.)

Outside the city:
The Piraeus (Harbour of Athens)
The Emporion (Trading centre in Piraeus)
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion
Sanctuary of Demeter at Eleusis (CA356)
Reasons for building programme

Religious: Rebuild the temples destroyed by
the Persians.

Plutarch 17 (The Congress Decree) ‘The subjects
to be discussed were the Greek sanctuaries that had been
burned down by the Persians…..’
Reasons for building programme

Political: Glorify Athens (‘Capital of Greece’)
Show off wealth and power.

Thucydides 2.41 ‘Mighty indeed are the marks and
monuments of our empire which we have left. Future ages will
wonder at us, as the present age wonders at us now’ (also 1.10
comparison of Athens and Sparta)
Plutarch 12 ‘…public works which, once completed, will bring
her (Athens) glory for all time…’
Sculpture Triumph of Greece (ie Athens) over barbarians;
scale and expense of buildings.


Reasons for building programme

Financial ‘Job Creation’ scheme?
Improve facilities for trade
Plutarch 12 ‘provide inspiration for every art, find
employment for every hand , and transform the whole
people into wage earners’
‘his object being that those who stayed at home…should
be enabled to enjoy a share of the national wealth’
 Improvements in Piraeus etc
