The Parthenon
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The supreme expression of ancient Greek architectural genius, the Parthenon has enchanted painters and poets for two thousand years. Neolithic remains indicate a continuous sacred use of the hill from at least 2800 BC. Built upon the foundations of an earlier Mycenean temple, the first known Hellenistic structures, dating from the 6th century BC, were temples dedicated to the goddess Athena. In 480 BC Persians destroyed these temples and in 447 BC the Athenian leader Pericles erected the presently standing temple of Athena. Made of white marble, the temple had 46 columns, was roofed with tiles, and enshrined a 40 foot tall golden statue of Athena. The Parthenon has suffered considerable damage over the centuries. In 296 BC the gold from the statue was removed; in the 5th century AD the temple was converted into a Christian church; in 1460 it housed a Turkish mosque; in 1687 gun-powder stored by the Turks inside the temple exploded and destroyed the central area; and in 1803 much of the remaining sculpture was sold by the Turks, who controlled Greece at the time, to the Englishman Lord Elgin, who then removed the sculptures and sold them to the British Museum.
The name Parthenon refers to Athena Parthenos, the daughter of Zeus. Patroness of Athens, she represents spiritual development, intellect and understanding, and is the symbol of the human aspiration for wisdom. The character of Athena represented these qualities yet it was the sacred geographical location, the astronomical orientation and the sacred geometry of the temple which actually generated the qualities for which Athena was known. In the Greek religious tradition particular geographical locations were known to have and express specific energetic characteristics. Therefore, while Greek sacred architecture praises the qualities of certain deities, it was understood that the deities themselves were metaphors for unique natural powers which already existed before the temples were constructed. Certain holy places around Greece, being expressive of specific powers, were also understood to be in spatial relationship with one another, as shown by the study of sacred geography. The temples developed at these sites incorporated sophisticated mathematical and astronomical knowledge which further enhanced the powers inherent at these places. More on the Pathenon from Sacred Sites
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Review by expert member ‘The Parthenon’Growing up in Athens I have visited the Acropolis plenty of times, yet every time I stand in front of the Parthenon I can't stop being amazed. In school you ... Read more »
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Review by member ‘The Parthenon’The most famous ruin of ancient Greece, the Parthenon was constructed between 447BC and 432BC and was a Doric order temple built to replace two earlier ... Read more »
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Photo by Photography: Martin Gray
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