5.3 The Parthenon and its architectural and sculptural significance

The Parthenon, Athens' iconic temple, stands as the pinnacle of Classical Greek architecture. Its design showcases perfect proportions, innovative refinements, and a rich sculptural program that blends seamlessly with the structure. The temple's influence on architecture extends far beyond ancient Greece.

The Parthenon's sculptures tell stories of gods, heroes, and Athenian glory. From the birth of Athena in the east pediment to the Panathenaic procession on the frieze, these masterpieces celebrate Athens' cultural and political dominance. The temple's artistic and symbolic significance make it a cornerstone of Classical Greek art and culture.

Parthenon Architecture and Proportions

Temple Design and Layout

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• The Parthenon is a Doric peripteral temple, built entirely of marble, with 8 columns on the short sides and 17 columns on the long sides, creating a 9:4 ratio
• The temple features a pronaos (front porch), a cella (main chamber) divided into two rooms, and an opisthodomos (back porch)
• The cella housed the cult statue of Athena Parthenos, a colossal gold and ivory statue created by the sculptor Phidias
• The Parthenon's design showcases the Greek ideal of symmetry, proportion, and harmony, serving as a prime example of the Doric order

Architectural Proportions and Refinements

• The Parthenon employs the "golden ratio" (approximately 1:1.618) in its proportions, creating a sense of harmony and balance
  • The golden ratio is found in the relationship between the width and length of the temple, as well as in the proportions of individual elements such as the columns and pediments
• The columns of the Parthenon exhibit entasis, a slight convex curvature, to create the illusion of straight lines and counteract the optical illusion of concavity
  • Entasis is most noticeable at the middle of the column shaft, tapering towards the top and bottom
• The Parthenon features subtle architectural refinements, such as the slightly inward tilt of the columns and the upward curvature of the stylobate (temple floor), to enhance the building's visual appeal and structural stability
  • These refinements correct for optical illusions and create a sense of perfect verticality and horizontality, despite the actual curvature and inclination of the elements

Parthenon Sculpture Program

Pediments and Metopes

• The east pediment depicts the birth of Athena, while the west pediment portrays the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens
  • The east pediment shows Athena emerging fully grown and armed from the head of Zeus, surrounded by other gods and goddesses
  • The west pediment illustrates the mythical competition between Athena and Poseidon, with Athena offering an olive tree and Poseidon creating a saltwater spring
• The metopes, located above the architrave, depict various mythological battles, including the Gigantomachy (east), Amazonomachy (west), Centauromachy (south), and the Trojan War (north)
  • The Gigantomachy represents the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants, symbolizing the triumph of order over chaos
  • The Amazonomachy portrays the battle between the Greeks and the Amazons, a race of female warriors, highlighting Athenian military prowess

Ionic Frieze and Sculptural Style

• The Ionic frieze, running along the top of the cella walls, depicts the Panathenaic procession, a festival held every four years in honor of Athena
  • The frieze showcases a variety of figures, including gods, heroes, athletes, musicians, and sacrificial animals, all converging towards the east end of the temple
  • The procession culminates with the presentation of a new peplos (robe) to the cult statue of Athena Parthenos
• The sculptural program exhibits a high level of artistic skill, with figures rendered in a naturalistic style, displaying a sense of movement, emotion, and interaction
  • The sculptures showcase the mastery of the Classical style, characterized by idealized proportions, balanced poses, and expressive faces
  • The frieze, in particular, demonstrates the artists' ability to create a continuous narrative through the interplay of figures and the use of overlapping and foreshortening techniques

Religious and Political Messages of the Parthenon

Glorification of Athena and Athens

• The birth of Athena and her contest with Poseidon in the pediments emphasize her importance as the patron goddess of Athens and her role in the city's mythological foundation
  • The prominence of Athena in the sculptural program reinforces her status as the protector and benefactor of the city
  • The contest with Poseidon legitimizes Athena's claim to the patronage of Athens and highlights her wisdom and generosity
• The Panathenaic procession frieze represents the unity and civic pride of the Athenian people, showcasing their devotion to Athena and their participation in the city's religious and cultural life
  • The inclusion of a diverse range of participants in the procession, from citizens to foreign dignitaries, emphasizes Athens' inclusive and cosmopolitan character
  • The frieze serves as a visual representation of the Athenian ideal of a harmonious and ordered society, united in their reverence for the gods and their city

Allegorical and Political Symbolism

• The metopes' depiction of mythological battles serves as an allegory for the Greeks' triumph over the Persians, celebrating Athenian military prowess and reinforcing their cultural identity
  • The Gigantomachy and Amazonomachy, in particular, can be interpreted as allusions to the Greek victory in the Persian Wars, with the Giants and Amazons representing the Persian forces
  • The metopes assert Athens' role as a defender of Greek civilization against foreign threats and barbarian forces
• The inclusion of gods and heroes alongside mortal figures in the frieze suggests a divine sanction of Athenian society and its values
  • The presence of the gods in the procession implies their approval and support of Athens' political and cultural institutions
  • The juxtaposition of divine and human figures in the frieze reflects the Athenian belief in the close relationship between the gods and the city's inhabitants
• The sculptural program as a whole serves to glorify Athens, its patron goddess, and its citizens, while also legitimizing the city's political and cultural dominance in the Greek world
  • The Parthenon's sculptures present Athens as a model of religious devotion, military strength, and social harmony, justifying its hegemony over other Greek city-states
  • The temple's iconography reinforces Athens' self-image as the cultural and intellectual center of the Greek world, a beacon of civilization and enlightenment

Parthenon's Influence on Architecture

Impact on Greek Temple Design

• The Parthenon set a new standard for Greek temple design, with its harmonious proportions, architectural refinements, and elaborate sculptural program
  • The temple's innovative use of the Doric order, combined with its monumental scale and rich decoration, established a benchmark for subsequent temple architecture
  • The Parthenon's design demonstrated the possibilities of integrating sculpture and architecture to create a cohesive and meaningful whole
• The temple's design influenced the construction of other Doric temples throughout the Greek world, such as the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and the Temple of Hephaestus in Athens
  • These temples adopted elements of the Parthenon's design, such as the use of marble, the incorporation of sculptural decoration, and the adherence to harmonious proportions
  • The spread of the Parthenon's influence contributed to the development of a shared architectural language and aesthetic across the Greek world

Legacy in Western Architecture

• The Parthenon's architectural features, such as the use of the Doric order and the incorporation of a frieze, were adapted and modified in later Greek and Roman temples
  • The Romans, in particular, drew inspiration from the Parthenon when designing temples such as the Pantheon and the Temple of Mars Ultor, incorporating elements of the Doric order and sculptural decoration
  • The Parthenon's influence can be seen in the development of the Corinthian order, which combined the proportions of the Doric order with the ornamental richness of the Ionic order
• The Parthenon's proportions and design principles inspired Neoclassical architecture in the 18th and 19th centuries, as seen in buildings like the British Museum, the U.S. Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial
  • Neoclassical architects sought to emulate the grandeur and harmony of the Parthenon, adapting its proportions, columns, and pediments to modern buildings
  • The Parthenon's influence on Neoclassical architecture contributed to the revival of interest in classical antiquity and the establishment of a shared Western architectural heritage
• The enduring influence of the Parthenon demonstrates its status as a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture and a symbol of Western civilization's artistic and cultural heritage
  • The Parthenon's design continues to inspire and inform contemporary architecture, with its principles of proportion, harmony, and integration of sculpture and architecture remaining relevant to this day
  • The temple's lasting legacy is a testament to the genius of its architects and sculptors, and to the enduring power of classical Greek art and culture