The Parthenon is one of the most famous monuments of ancient architecture. This 2500-year-old magnificent temple on the Acropolis in Athens has survived earthquakes, fires, explosions and repeated looting attempts. And although the Parthenon was not at all some kind of engineering breakthrough in construction, its style became a paradigm of classical architecture.
1. Acropolis in Athens
Sacred rock
The Acropolis in Athens, where the Parthenon is located, is also called the "sacred rock" and was used for defensive purposes.
2. Cultural layers
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Ancient history of the Parthenon
The cultural layers found on the slopes of the Acropolis indicate that there were settlements on the hill since 2800 BC, that is, long before the Minoan and Mycenaean cultures.
3. The Acropolis was a sacred site
Acropolis is a sacred place
Long before the construction of the Parthenon, the Acropolis was a sacred place and other temples stood on it. The Parthenon replaced the old temple of Athena, which was destroyed during the Persian invasion in 480 BC.
4. House Parthenos
The name Parthenon is derived from one of the many epithets of Athena (Athena Parthenos), which means 'House of the Parthenos'. This name was given to the temple in the 5th century BC, since the iconic statue of Athena was installed inside it.
5. Construction of the Parthenon
Construction of the Parthenon began in 447 BC. and was completed in 438 BC, but the final decoration of the temple continued until 432 BC …
6. Iktinus, Callicrates and Phidias
Iktinus, Callicrates and Phidias - architects of the Parthenon
The Parthenon, which was built by the architects Iktin and Kallikrates under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias, is considered by most modern architects and historians to be the highest expression of ancient Greek architectural genius. The temple is also considered to be the culmination of the development of the Doric order, the simplest of the three classical Greek architectural styles.
7.192 Greek warriors
Several modern historians (including art historian John Boardman) believe that the frieze above the Doric columns of the Parthenon depicts 192 Greek warriors who fell in the Battle of Marathon against the Persians in 490 BC.
8. Stones from Pentelikon
Some of the financial records of the Parthenon construction have survived, which show that the biggest expense was the transportation of stones from Pentelikon, which was sixteen kilometers from the Athenian Acropolis.
9. The Greek government and the EU have been restoring the Parthenon for 42 years
Restoration of the Parthenon
The Parthenon restoration project (funded by the Greek and European Union governments) has been going on for 42 years. It took the ancient Athenians only 10 years to build the Parthenon.
10.12 -meter statue of the goddess Athena
Athena goddess statue
The rectangular building, 31 meters wide and 70 meters high, was constructed of white marble. Surrounded by forty-six columns, stood a 12-meter statue of the goddess Athena, made of wood, gold and ivory.
11. Tyrant Lahar
Although much of the structure has remained unchanged, the Parthenon has suffered significant damage over the centuries. It all began in 296 BC, when the Athenian tyrant Lahar removed the gold covering from the statue of Athena in order to pay off the debt of his army.
12. In the fifth century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church
The Parthenon became a church
In the fifth century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church, and in 1460 a Turkish mosque was located in the Parthenon. In 1687, the Ottoman Turks placed a store of gunpowder in the temple, which exploded when the Venetian army fired on the temple. At the same time, part of the temple turned into ruins.
13.46 outer columns and 23 inner
Columns of the Parthenon
The Parthenon had 46 outer columns and 23 inner columns, but not all of them survive today. In addition, the Parthenon used to have a roof (currently it is not).
14. The Parthenon design is earthquake resistant
Earthquake resistant design
The design of the Parthenon is earthquake resistant, despite the fact that the columns of the temple are quite thin.
15. The Parthenon was used as a city treasury
The Parthenon as a city treasury
The Parthenon was also used as a city treasury, like many other Greek temples of that era.
16. The construction of the Parthenon was not funded by the Athenians
The Parthenon as a nationwide project
Despite being the most popular Athenian structure of all time, the Parthenon was not funded by the Athenians. After the end of the Persian Wars, Athens became, in 447 BC, the dominant power in the territory of modern Greece. The funds for the construction of the temple were taken from the tribute paid to Athens by other city-states of the Delhi League.
17. Cash contributions of the Delhi League were kept in the opisthodom
Opistodom - a place for storing cash deposits
The cash contributions of the Delhi League, which was ruled by Athens, were kept in the opistodome, the back closed part of the temple.
18. The Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Nike were built over the ruins of the Acropolis
Ancient new buildings
During the "classical period" over the ruins of the Acropolis, not only the Parthenon was built, but also the Erechtheion and the Temple of Nike.
19. The first theater in history
Theater of Dionysus - the first theater in history
Apart from these structures, another important monument at the foot of the Acropolis is the Theater of Dionysus, which is considered the first theater in history.
20. The Parthenon had a colorful facade
Facade of the Parthenon
While the modern media portrays Greek temples and structures with a white façade, the Parthenon most likely had a multi-colored façade. The paint has worn off over the centuries.
21. The Parthenon appeared thanks to Pericles
Pericles - the initiator of the construction of the Parthenon
Pericles was probably the most prominent Athenian statesman in history. It was thanks to him that the Parthenon appeared in the city.
22. The sculptures of the temple were sold to the British Museum
Parthenon sculptures are in the British Museum
From 1801 to 1803, some of the remaining sculptures of the temple were taken away by the Turks (who controlled Greece at the time). These sculptures were subsequently sold to the British Museum.
23. Full-scale copy of the Parthenon is located in Nashville, Tennessee
Copy of the Parthenon
The Parthenon is the most copied building in the world. There are many buildings around the world that have been created in the same style. There is also a full-sized copy of the Parthenon, which is located in Nashville, Tennessee.
24. The opening of the Acropolis Museum took place in 2009
Acropolis Museum
More than half a million people visited the new Acropolis Museum in the first two months after it opened in 2009.
25. Golden rectangle of the Parthenon
The ratio of length to width of the rectangle of 1.618 was considered the most pleasing to the eye. This ratio was called the "golden ratio" by the Greeks. In the world of mathematics, this number is called "phi" and it was named after the Greek sculptor Phidias, who used the golden ratio in his sculptures. On the outside, the Parthenon is a perfect “golden rectangle”.