The Parthenon Flashcards
When was the Parthenon rebuilt?
Mid to late 5th century BC
What was depicted on the Doric frieze?
Wars between civilisation and barbarity- Gigantomachy (gods vs giants), Centauromachy (Lapiths vs Centaurs), Amazonomachy (Amazons vs Greeks), Trojan War
What makes the Parthenon a good social and political statement?
Built from expensive marble, very large
Why do the battles on the Doric frieze show why the mortals should worship the gods?
The gods ensured the end of all of these offences
How is the Doric frieze identified?
Alternating triglyphs and metopes
What does the Ionic frieze depict?
The Panathenaic procession- likely Great Panathenaia- shows mortals worshipping Athena.
How does the Ionic frieze show the reciprocal nature of Greek religion?
The gods are present at the festival
What is depicted on the East Pediment of the Parthenon?
The birth of Athena
What does the East Pediment of the Parthenon do?
Celebrates Athena’s origins
What does the West Pediment of the Parthenon depict?
The contest between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of Athens
What does the West Pediment of the Parthenon do?
Explains why Athena is patron goddess of Athens
What were the non-religious functions of the Parthenon?
Treasury- gold used to decorate chryselephantine statue was removable, could be borrowed and melted in times of need
What suggests the Parthenon didn’t have a heavily religious function?
No altar found attached to it, no priestess to Athena Parthenos until decades after the building erected
Who made the chryselephantine statue of Athena in the Parthenon?
Pheidias
What does chryselephantine mean?
Made of gold and ivory
