What Is the Parthenon?:

The Parthenon is the 2400-year old marble Doric temple of Athena located on the acropolis in Athens.

In c. 430 A.D., the statue of Athena Parthenos (the virgin aspect of Athena) was removed so the Parthenon could be used for Christian purpose. It later served as a mosque.

Besides religious functions, the Parthenon served as treasury for the ancient Athenian Empire [see Delian League].


On September 26, 1687, a gunpowder explosion destroyed the Parthenon's roof and more. Later, its sculptures were destroyed for their lime. Today, mostly columns remain on the Greek site, while the British Museum houses many of its decorative friezes. The Greek government wants them back.

Building of the Parthenon:

During the Age of Pericles (c. 461 or 450-429 B.C.), there were great building projects in Athens to replace structures destroyed by the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars. The building was made possible by the Athenians' control of the Delian League funds. Pericles (Perikles) employed the best architects and sculptors for the projects, with the result that the structures represent the height of Greek art and architecture.

Athena Parthenos:

The sculptor Pheidias (Phidias), was hired by Pericles to work on the Parthenon, beginning in around 447 B.C. The statue of the Athena Parthenos was installed in 438. It was made of gold and ivory (chryselephantine) and from its base to its top was about 40 feet high.

Athena wore a chiton and aegis, was dressed each year by Greek women, held a spear in her left hand, and held a 6' Victory statue on her outstretched right hand. Pausanias says her helmet was decorated with a sphinx and gryphons. Pliny and Plutarch also described the statue.

Structure of the Parthenon:

Iktinos and Kallikrates were architects of the Parthenon, a pantelic marble structure of the Doric Order that is referred to as octostyle peripteral which means it was surrounded by a colonnade with 8 columns at each end. The main room within the colonnade is called the cella, home of the great statue of Athena. On the outer wall of the cella were friezes in low relief.

The reliefs may depict the Panathenaic procession which was a yearly event after which Athena was given new clothing. Joan B. Connelly (THE PARTHENON ENIGMA [Alfred A. Knopf: 2014]) argues that it represents a scene from mythology involving a Delphic Oracle-inspired sacrifice of one of his daughters by King Erechtheus to ensure the safety of his city, which is threatened by Eumolpus, son of Poseidon. Read Mary Beard's New York Review of Books review of Connelly's position and 2014 book on the topic: The Latest Scheme for the Parthenon.

The metopes (92 square panels above the architrave, 14 on each end) held figures in high relief.

Virtual Tour of the Parthenon

Main Source:

 

A Guide to the Structures in the Parthenon in the British Museum