Parthenon

The Parthenon

Introduction

The Parthenon is possibly one of the most important structures ever built in Greek history as it basically symbolized the Greek 's dominance and power . The structure was a temple built to honor the Greek goddess of wisdom , Athena in the 5th century (BC

Most historians and architects believe that the Parthenon is the most significant surviving Greek structure as it signified the peak of the Doric 's development and the height of classical Greek architecture in general . The Doric was part of the three organizational systems

or classical architectural systems of Ancient Greece

In addition , it was also the most important and the most popular structure of the Acropolis of Athens , which was the seat of power of the Greeks located on high ground . The acropolis literally meant high city ' but for the rulers and leaders of Athens , it was also a form of self-glorification and prestige as it placed them above the other people living in Greece

However , due its colossal size , sheer architectural brilliance , and significance in the Greece , the Parthenon has been the target of many attacks and bombardments by foreign invaders . It has also served several purposes such as the Athenians ' treasury , the Romans ' Catholic Church and the Ottomans ' mosque , among others

Furthermore , the architectural patterns and decorations that were used in the constructing the Parthenon were the basis of a lot of designs that are being used today . In a sense , the temple basically epitomized classical Greek architecture in general

In this regard , the will discuss about the brief history of the Parthenon , including its sculptors , architects , and design . In addition this will also discuss the Parthenon 's involvement in certain events in Greek history

Construction and design

According to Ancient-Greece .org 's online journal , The Parthenon , the first attempt to build a temple for Athena started in 490 BCE , after the battle of Marathon , which was the time when Persians campaigned to conquer all of Greece . This temple was generally referred to as the older Parthenon ' and was destroyed by the Persians when they invaded the acropolis in 480 BC . In addition , the old Parthenon ' was built on the same spot where the modern Parthenon was constructed

Moreover , based on the journal , for thirty-three years , the Athenians left the ruins of the older Parthenon untouched as a form of a war memorial . However , based on the book , the long period between the destruction of the older Parthenon and the construction of the new one is widely believed by historians as an agreement between the Persians and the Greeks which declares that all temples and sanctuaries that the former destroyed would not be rebuilt

Nevertheless , in 440 BC , the Athenians began constructing a new and larger Parthenon . According to the journal , under the supervision of the great sculptor , Phidias , the Athenians began the construction of the Parthenon which was to be made solely of marble . In addition , the Athenians also hired two well-known architects , Iktinos and Kallikrates...