Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.. (Winston Churchill)
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The Parthenon is the most impressive and important monument in Athens. Representative of the Golden Age of 5th Century Athens, the Parthenon tops the Acropolis. And so, it is here, that I will begin my reviews on Greece. As part of my studies for my diploma and degree in Classic Studies, 5th Century Athens had occupied a large proportion of the work. We planned a tour of mainland classical Greece combined with a five-day stay on the island of Corfu.
There is an entrance fee to the Acropolis of 58 euros that includes a guided tour. The Parthenon can then be viewed at liberty.
The Parthenon dominates the Acropolis, situated on the highest point and rising to massive proportions. It stands 101 feet tall and is 228 feet long. Although now in ruins, it retains a magnificent that is awesome. The effect, sadly is somewhat spoiled by scaffolding that surrounds the exterior as protective work is being undertaken.
The Parthenon has an extraordinary history. It was built between 447 and 438 B.C.
Athens had just signed a peace treaty with the after the Peloponnesian War and was at the height of its power. Pericles, a renowned Athenian statesman, commissioned a magnificent public building programme on the Acropolis in celebration. The Parthenon was the first monument of the programme to be completed. It was built on the site of an earlier temple dedicated to Athena
The purpose of the Parthenon was twofold. Firstly, it was a place of worship, a temple dedicated to Athena Polias, the patron goddess of Athens. A glorious gold and ivory statue of Athena Polias was housed in the larger of two interior rooms called the Naos. The name Parthenon `means maidens apartment. Crafted by the famous Athenian sculpture, Phidias, Athena was fully armed with spear and helmet accompanied by a snake, and holding a statue of victory in her right hand.
The second purpose was that to store treasury. This was kept in the smaller of the interior rooms called the opisthodomos. Running around the top of the interior (cella) was an Ionic frieze depicting the Parthenaea Procession with gods, horsemen, musicians and sacrificial animals.
Iktinos and Kallikrates were credited the architects of the building with Phidias supervising and possibly designing. The Parthenon is built to the Doric peripteral order which means that is rectangular with a series of steps to every side, a colonnade of eight by seventeen columns extending around the periphery with an additional six columns in front of each entrance (Doric columns are the shorter, thicker and simpler of the three main column types) topped by a series of metopes (a square space containing sculptured reliefs) alternating with triglyphs (vertically grooved tablets). Above these on the narrow side were pediments (a triangular sculpture); above the building's main entrance to the east the pediment represents the birth of Athena and to the west, the fight between Athena and Poseidon for the name of the city of Athens.
The Parthenon was made almost entirely of Pentelic marble. The only exception was the ceiling, which was made of wood. Light entered the temple only through the doorway when the great doors were opened.
In the late sixth century, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church, and in 1458 it was converted into a mosque by Turkish conquerors into a mosque. The Venetians siege the Acropolis in 1687, destroying a large part of the monument.
Then at the beginning of the 19th century, the British ambassador in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, took parts of the frieze, the metopes and the pediments to England and sold them to the British Museum, where they can still be seen today. There have been numerous attempts to petition the British Government to return the marbles to their rightful place on the Acropolis. All have been unsuccessful, but work still continues. Lord Bryon sums up my feelings succinctly in Childe Harold.
Dull is the eye that will not weep to see Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed By British hands, which it had best behoved To guard those relics ne'er to be restored. Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved, And once again thy hapless bosom gored, And snatch'd thy shrinking gods to northern climes abhorred!
The Parthenon now exists in ruins, a sad reminder of the glory that once was. Approaching from the south, the Parthenon looms into view with most of the basic structure, including floor and columns, still intact. Sadly, it can only be viewed from a designated distance. The interior can just about be seen but cannot be entered.
Access to all sides of the Parthenon is possible. Little of the sculptured pediments and metopes are in place. Standing gazing upwards, you can help but wonder at the needless destruction of such a sacred and magnificent building. How could Lord Elgin, have heartlessly removed these treasures. Anyone visiting the Parthenon cannot fail to join in the wish for the return of the marbles.
The historical site is a major tourist area and was crowded with tourists on our visit, which did detract from the experience. I am glad I went, it had been a lifelong ambition to see the Parthenon in person, but I was slightly disappointed with the restrictions to viewing, the magnificent ancient monument obscured by modern scaffolding and crowds of people elbowing each other for the best view.
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This sounds fab - I have only ever been to France and Germany, so I would love to go to Greece. Glad you had such a good time - I think this is the place I would love to get married - or at least go on honeymoon to! Great op x x x Jo x x x
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