The Temple of Parthenon at Athens .

“The monuments were imposing in their unrivaled grandeur, beauty and grace; the artists vied with one another in the technical perfection of their work, but the most admirable thing was the speed of execution”.

---- Plutarch.

The temple is built entirely in pentelic marble on high ground of Acropolis, south of Temple of Athena (old) and dedicated to Athena Parthenos the Virgin Athena. It is constructed by Architects Ictinus and Callicrates under supervision of sculptor Pheidias.

The temple is built on rectangular plan 71m (228’-2”) long and 32m (101’-4”) wide. It sends on crepidoma, a platform of three steps with tread 70 cm. and rise 50 cm and curves up in the middle of all four sides. These being to climb, smaller steps are also provided at the centre of east and west ends. The temple is designed in octa – style i.e. eight columns in front and back, which lean inward. There are seventeen columns on either side measuring the corner column twice. The intermediate columns are about 1.88 m whereas the corner columns are 1.90 m at the base. The corner columns were not only made stouter bit also set closer to the adjacent columns. Otherwise they would have appeared thinner and lonely against the open sky than those seen against the solid background of the naos wall. All are 10.4 m high and of Doric order. The fluting of the columns represents the highest degree of artistry. The shafts have the slight convexity or entasis with upward taper or diminution.

The temple is constructed facing the east so that the first rays of the rising sun should fall and illuminate the status of Athena, which is placed in ‘naos’ measuring 30 m long, 19 m wide with three rows of columns, ten on each side and five on western side in ten tiers. The statue of Athena in gold and ivory with eyes of precious stones was the finest sculptural achievement of master artist Pheidias. The statue measured 13m with its pedestal.

To its west is the virgin’s chamber – the Parthenon from which the temple derived its name. Its roof is supported by four Ionic columns. At the rear end there is opisthodomos or epinaos.

The entablature supported on columns is about 3.4 m high and curve up in the middle. The architrave was ornamented with bronze shields. The sculptured metopes are about 1.34 m square numbering 14 on front and back and 32 on south and north sides. The eastern metopes contained contests between gods and giants, on western metopes, between Greek and Amazons, on the southern between Cenaturs and Lapiths; on western metopes, between scenes from ‘Capture of Troy’. The friezes lean outward slightly.

The pediment inclined at 13º - 30’ had floral decoration called ‘Acroteria’ about 3 m. high as its top and lower angles. The sloping cornices of pediment contained the honey suckle ornament.

In order to cover the ends of marble tiles, the lower edges of the roof are masked by ‘Antifixae’ ornament.

The ‘Tympana’ in the pediment are fully enriched with fine sculptures in bright colors. Those on the eastern one presented the birth of Athena, and on the western, the contest of Athena and Poseidon for the soil of Attica. All these have undergone the ravages of time and remained in the ruin state.

After the fall of Greeks, it was under the Romans but still it received the same status as it did during the Greek’s control. The Greeks embraced Christianity and Parthenon ultimately became Christian chapel. Its one part was removed to create an apse. Under Turks it was turned into mosque in 1458. During Venetian siege, in 1687, a cannon shot exploded the gun powder stored in it which destroyed many valuable sculptures. The Venetians after winning the battle got over the Parthenon. They removed the central figure from the pediment. During the period of disorder, many marble pieces of sculptures disappeared. There were still 20 left in 1674 but there were only 12 in 1747 and hardly 4 in 1800. In 1803, Thomas Bruce, VIIth, Earl of Elgin, brought 120 tonnes of sculptures to Britain. These now adorn the British Museum at London, as they did at Acropolis of Athens.

The temple at its glory stood as a miracle of architecture with its glory stood as a miracle of architecture with its shining marble, sensuous sculpture in glowing colors.

It has influenced number of writers, artists and architects. Poet John Keats got inspiration for his poems. ‘Hyperion’ and ‘Ode on a Grecian Ura’. Poet Emerson paid highest compliment in following lines:

“Earth proudly wears the Parthenon

As the best gem upon her zone”.