Transcript Slide 1
The Parthenon Classical Period, Athens Doric Style Agora, Acropolis, Polis Agora: marketplace where people gathered to conduct business and political affairs as well as to socialize. Acropolis: fortified hilltop where temples and shrines were located; Greek rulers usually resided there. Polis: a small, well-defined city-state; the basic political unit of ancient Greece. Athenian Acropolis (Background) and Agora (foreground) Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission Parthenon 448 – 432 B.C.E Architects: Ictinus and Callicrates Material: white marble Pericles: Athenian leader used money collected from Delian League, mutual defense fund of Athenian city-states for use against the Persians. Parthenon replaced temple destroyed by Persians The Parthenon: Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission A brief history Parthenon has served as: Greek Temple Byzantine (Orthodox) Church Catholic Cathedral Mosque (under Turkish rule) A little more history: 1687: gunpowder stored in cella by Turks exploded; left Parthenon in ruins. 1801-1803: British Lord Elgin removed much of the remaining sculpture and brought it back to England. It is now housed in the British Museum. The Parthenon Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission Classical Doric Architecture: Austerity, Balance, Grace A. Stepped Platform Stereobate (lower two steps) Stylobate (third step where columns rested) B. Columns Shaft (with vertical grooves called fluting) Capital (“flaring, cushion-like echinus; square tablet abacus) The Parthenon: Stylobate, Columns (Shaft, Capital) Capitals Shaft Stylobate Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission Fluted Column, Temple Precinct near Step Pyramid of Djoser, ca 2600 B.C.E. Some Scholars theorize that Ancient Greeks were following Ancient Egyptian model Photo: M. Griffin Step Pyramid of Djoser: First successful large stone building in the world Photo: M. Griffin, Saqqara Classical Doric Architecture: continued C. Entablature: Everything that rests on columns 1. 2. Architrave (series of stone blocks resting on columns) Frieze - bands of designs and figures: 3. 4. metopes - with blank squares; triglyphs - with vertical lines Cornice – projecting beyond frieze; horizontal on sides; forming pediments at either end. Pediments – triangles formed by cornices on facades. The Parthenon: Entablature Cornice Frieze Pediment Architrave Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission Parthenon, Interior, East End Copyright © 1997 Leo C. Curran / Date: 1957 / # ac570030 Used by permission Theatre of Dionysos, Athens, Greece; seen from the slope of the Acropolis Author: BishkekRocksJune 2005 PD: Self http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Athen_Dionysos-Theater.JPG