LOOKING FOR PERFECTION?
Everyone wants to be perfect. We always try to change something about ourselves- whether it is our own hairstyle, choice of clothes, or even personality. We continue to do pursue despite the numerous times that we have been told, “no one can be perfect”. Maybe that statement is true, but it certainly does not apply to architecture. Mankind has finally built a masterpiece of all time – the Parthenon in Athens, Greece.
“We voted to place the building at the same site of the unfinished marble temple, because it saved time and effort.”
–architects Iktinus and Kallikrates
CONSTRUCTION OF THE PARTHENON
The construction of the Parthenon started in 447 B.C.E and was finished in 432 B.C.E. It only took ten years to build the greatest work of the world- well, for Greece anyway. It is 111 feet by 228 feet, made with 13,400 stones, 20,000 dedicated workers, and designed to be a 9:4 ratio. The Parthenon was actually not started from scratch, but from the continuation of an unfinished marble work dedicated to Athena. The Persians tried to invade Athens, thus preventing the work from finishing. The name “Parthenon” means the purity of Athena, as well as beauty, power, and wisdom.
THE PARTHENON: FROM THE OUTSIDE
From the outside, one can already see the grandness of the Parthenon. Stereobate, the steps of the base welcomes anyone who plans to enter. The columns were carefully done by a certain process. Column drums with bosses (protruding nubs) were stacked on top of one another. Then a capital was put on top, followed by an entablature. As they carved the flutes based on the columns, the bosses were removed. The roof is exquisitely done by marble tiles with wooden beams underneath to support the weight. A raking sima, made of two marble stones, were joined together to form the triangular shape. The pediment has statues of gods and goddesses. Ninety two metopes displaying pictures of human activities as well were carved on the entablature. Another spectacular thing is having passageways available for visitors to walk around the inner perimeters of the Parthenon.
Each statue had to be carved with careful attention to the details- whether it is the back or front. – Artist Phidias
THE PARTHENON: FROM THE INSIDE
The inside of the Parthenon is a government treasury and a religious temple. It is divided into two chambers; one for the statue of Athena and the other for the storehouse. The Statue of Athena is forty feet tall and weighs 2,500 pounds. It was made by Phidias himself and he used gold for the body and ivory for the face. The storehouse contains the spoils of war, silver, offerings, tribute payments, and stone tablets. They were another form of money for the city of Athens. The friezes are located at the stop of the chamber walls, and they are three feet high and 525 feet long. The front displayed gods while the sides and back included scenes of everyday life that women, men, and children performed. The ninety two metopes contain scenes from the popular ancient myth as well as characters like half human centaurs and terrifying giants. The pediment contains little larger than life statues of gods and goddesses as well as well-known myths. The back was carved as perfectly as the front, although it would not be seen once it is on the pediment. Some scenes shown were Athena’s birth from Zeus’s head and the competition between Athena and Poseidon.
It evokes feelings of awe and raises human spirits whenever you look at it. It’s definitely something beyond the looks of greatness. – Calliope, visitor
WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
The Parthenon reflected everything the Greeks believed at that time. They were at the height of civilization, and proved themselves undaunted, even after the Persians had destroyed most things, by continuing to build on top of whatever is left. It symbolized the uniqueness in their way of governing at the time – a democracy. The Parthenon also represented the culture age of Athens, both artistically and politically. They continued to cherish their myths and worship the gods, mainly Athena. It also showed a new light in the way they viewed themselves. It was the first time human figures were used to decorate a temple, so they viewed themselves as almost equals to gods. They governed their own lives and knew that they could make choices to affect their own lives. Last but not least, the Parthenon is a symbol of harmony, symmetry, and balance by its ideal ratio.
The Parthenon is the most perfect temple in Athens, Greece. Even with its grand and imposing appearance, yet it is also of human scale and welcoming. Perhaps, we might never be able to create perfection in ourselves, but we definitely have done so in our art. The production of the Parthenon is one perfect piece, there’s no doubt about it. No one should ever miss the chance to see perfection before their eyes, because it sure is a once in a lifetime experience.