Parthenon monument

Replica statue of parthenon,with hidden light. Handmade of alabaster and painted in coloured patina.

The Parthenon is a temple, built in honor of the goddess Athena, protector of the city of Athens.And to this day  is the brightest monument of the Athenian golden age,and one of the wonders of the world.

When Athens was the greatest cultural center of its time, Pericles initiated an ambitious building project that lasted the entire second half of the century. The most important buildings visible on the Acropolis today – the Parthenon, the Propylaia, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike – were erected during this period. The Parthenon was built under the general supervision of the artist Phidias, who also had charge of the sculptural decoration. The architects Ictinos and Callicrates began their work in 447 BC, and the building was substantially completed by 432. However, work on the decorations continued until at least 431.

The Parthenon is regarded as the finest example of Greek architecture. the most perfect Doric temple ever built. Even in antiquity, its architectural refinements were legendary.  The only piece of sculpture from the Parthenon known to be from the hand of Phidias,was the statue of Athena housed in the naos. This massive(golden-ivory ) chryselephantine sculpture is now lost and known only from copies, vase painting, gems, literary descriptions and coins

PARTHENON DECORATIVE SCULPTURES

The subjects of the sculpture reflected the turbulent times that Athens had and still faced. Defeating the Persians at Marathon in 490 BCE, at Salamis in 480 BCE, and at Plataea in 479 BCE, the Parthenon was symbolic of the superiority of Greek culture against ‘barbarian’ foreign forces. This conflict between order and chaos was symbolised in particular by the sculptures on the metopes running around the exterior of the temple. 32 along the long sides and 14 on each of the short. These depicted the Olympian gods fighting the giants (East metopes – the most important.  Greeks, probably including Theseus, fighting Amazons (West metopes).  The Fall of Troy (North metopes), and Greeks fighting Centaurs.  Possibly at the wedding of the king of the Lapiths Perithous (South metopes).