18 - Parthenon

Question 1

Archaeology of Parthenon

Answer 1

Very complicated - different phases. Structure of hill does not allow for many of old buildings to remain on hill every time - not much evidence left.

Question 2

Perspective when entering Acropolis - Parthenon

Answer 2

Would see West facade, not the main entrance.

Question 3

Parthenon predecessors

Answer 3

Evidence for at least 3 buildings at Parthenon - PA I, II, III

Question 4

Parthenon I

Answer 4

Shortly after 509. Plan to create large poros temple but only the foundation platform was complete. Invested a lot of time and money to make this; current parthenon sits on top. Why 509? Because starting point of Athenian democracy - new government’s big building project.

Question 5

Parthenon II

Answer 5

490. Around this time abandoned idea of limestone temple and turned to marble. At around 485 work stops when Persians destroy. At this time the columns were erected to third/fourth drums. Toichobate of the cella finished. After 479 parts of Parthenon incorporated into Acropolis fortification wall, eternalizing hubris of Persians. Greeks had an agreement not to touch sacred buildings.

Question 6

Parthenon III

Answer 6

447-32. The Parthenon we know today.

Question 7

Parthenon II vs III

Answer 7

Main idea of having subdivided cella is kept.
II has 6x16 columns while III has 8x17.
Periklean is bigger

Question 8

Refinements of the Parthenon

Answer 8

Architectural refinements are what make the Parthenon special. Not the refinements themselves, but the fact that there are so many of them together. Curving taper (entasis) of columns, inclination of the columns, thickening of the angle columns, outward tilting of entablature, curvature

Question 9

Parthenon vs Zeus at Olympia

Answer 9

Both with L=2xS+1.
Parthenon’s 8 columns at front and back of outer colonnade is important innovation which Zeus does not have. It enlarges the cella.

Question 10

Cult statues - Olympia vs Parthenon

Answer 10

Zeus at Olympia is squeezed between columns of Cella but Athena Parthenos is perfectly integrated in surrounding architecture - remember, because Pheidias was involved in designing Parthenon space and not Zeus. In Parthenon, everything starts with the statue. Behind Zeus, just a wall. Behind Athena, a set of three columns creating a nice background.

Question 11

Orders of the Parthenon

Answer 11

Doric and Ionic. Doric - expect carved pediment and metopes. Ionic - expect decoration on frieze and pediment. Parthenon combines - pediment, metopes, ionic frieze.

Question 12

Apollo at Corinth vs Parthenon

Answer 12

Apollo seems to anticipate Parthenon with its extra room accessible thru opisthodomos. While parthenon does not have exactly the same, the 8 columns between the colonnade and cella/opisthodomos create extra walls in a way. Perhaps also in the curvature they have similarity - Corinth curves up at least 2 cm. But this could be a mistake.

Question 13

Theories about the curvature refinements

Answer 13

Vitruvius: correct optical illusions, for large regular temple would look strange.
Modern theory: refinements save temple from mechanical and lifeless appearance
JJ Coulton: Must understand what the refinements were intended to do, not what we think they do today.

Question 14

Examples of buildings with less refinements on Acropolis

Answer 14

Erechtheion - no curvature.

Propylaea - curvature only at superstructure of main building.

Question 15

Metopes of the Parthenon

Answer 15

92 carved metopes - unique and extravagant.

Question 16

South Parthenon metopes

Answer 16

Many destroyed when Parthenon was bombed.
Instruments in other materials were lost - changes interpretation of some images - Lapith stabs centaur. Style on its own not secure means of dating as one Lapith looks like Diskobolos, other looks much older. Also satyrs - some look ridiculously mask like and some just like middle aged men.

Question 17

Temple of Athena, Assos

Answer 17

540/30. Precursor to Parthenon, with metopes and frieze.

Question 18

North Parthenon Metopes

Answer 18

Fall of Troy

Question 19

East Parthenon Metopes

Answer 19

Gigantomachy

Question 20

West Parthenon Metopes

Answer 20

Amazonomachy

Question 21

Parthenon Frieze elements and location

Answer 21

Not on outside! In some areas there are guttae that have no place in ionic frieze - seems like they had plans to make metopes, then abandoned after putting in triglyphs. Largely completed when blocks were already in building - working till the end of construction. Collaborative. Yet not very visible - argument that it was for goddess so did not need visibility (Prof disagrees…lots of $$$$).

Question 22

Parthenon Frieze reliefs

Answer 22

Start at southwest corner. Nowhere higher than 5-6 cm - a feat, considering how much overlapping is happening. Horsemen. Hydriaphoroi - unique because it shows the very quotidian action of picking a vase up from ground. Not much ancient writing on it. Divine assembly on East frieze.

Question 23

Interpretations of the parthenon frieze

Answer 23

Glory of fifth century Athenian culture
Mythical human sacrifice
Visual substitution of votives destroyed by Persians.
Negative or positive quotation of Apadana frieze at Persepolis.
Panathenaic procession - either a documentary or an idealized version.

Question 24

East pediment of Parthenon

Answer 24

Not super innovative in that of course they would show Athena. But showing her full-grown next to her father is unusual. Under the East pediment, the gigantomachy - remember that Athena was born and immediately jumped out of her father’s head into the gigantomachy.

Question 25

West pediment

Answer 25

Most visible when walking around Acropolis - what you would see upon entry. Quarrel between Athena and Poseidon over patronage. First time myth is in Athenian art - perhaps a connection with their newborn obsession with being native - autothonos. Extremely important after Persian wars. Before, had emphasized connection with Ionians; but felt betrayed by them. Poseidon - important god of Ionia - still a connection to Ionia but also personal glory. Fight between tradition and independence - Athena wins.

Question 26

Style of the Parthenon pediments

Answer 26

Like metopes, obsession with perfection. Something usually not done: created as if they were all sculptures in the round, even though backs would not show. Remember that cannot always trust style to date: East L and M (Aphrodite, etc.) look rather wet style but the Parthenon construction ends in 432. Until Knidos, revealing of shoulder is Aphrodite characteristic.

Question 27

Athena Parthenos

Answer 27

Existence of a barrier creating distance between image and viewer. Could walk around and observe. In both Zeus and Parthenon, a pool in front of divinity creating a doubling of the image - becomes bigger before you. Lavish ivory and gold. Shield decorated on both sides but we only know outside (Amazonomachy) from copies; interior was Gigantomachy. Sandals with Centauromachy in relief. Birth of Pandora on base: she was made of clay, just like Athenians out of Attic soil.