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Parthenon Notes

Repatriation Notes

Ideas for desk replacement

Exteriors of the Parthenon: Marble slab

Interiors of the Parthenon: Scaffolding (during building), marble slab, table (in the treasury)

Working concept (Narrative)

Sitting behind a slab of Pentelic marble on the large grey rock that makes up the Acropolis, a partially-built temple before you.

At the bottom of the screen is a timeline. A button below the year allows you to learn more about that year. The year 490 BCE is highlighted and corresponds with the scene before you.

490 BCE: An unfinished temple is destroyed by Persians.

EXTERNAL: A small temple, partially-built lays before you. There are scaffolds, ropes, pulleys, slabs of marble and other similar building details. Persian soldiers flood the temple. The temple begins to burn. SOUNDS: Shouts, distant fire sounds like crackling and popping. Loud falling of rock and stone, crashing.

INTERNAL: Flames burn around the marble. Burning cinders and smoke fill the space. SOUNDS: fire sounds like crackling and popping. Loud falling of rock and stone, crashing.

447 BCE: A new temple is to be built.

EXTERNAL/INTERNAL: The foundation for a new temple is being built over the site of the older. It is bigger and grander. Sculptors carve columns. A large gold and ivory statue of Athena is built piece-by-piece on the temple floor. The columns are erected. The roof is lifted and tiles laid. Scaffolding and cranes and pulleys put the pediments sculptures into place. Painters paint details. SOUNDS: Hammering, sawing, chiseling, rope sounds, the fall of stone, shouts, birds.

438 BCE: The Parthenon is complete.

EXTERNAL: It is a scene of celebration. There are crowds and chariots and horses and musicians and tables of food and sacrificial animals around the building. The scene resembles the Panathenaic procession the frieze depicts. SOUNDS: Talking, laughing, stringed instruments.

INTERNAL: [naos/cella] Anthena Parthenos stands, 39 feet tall. She is carved of ivory and clothed in gold. On her head is a helmet made of griffons, and is holding Nike, the goddess of Victory in her right hand. A spear is in her left. A carving of Medusa’s head is at her breast, and she stands on a pedastal depicting the story of Pandora, the first woman. At her feet is a gold snake (Erichthonius) and a gold shield. A reflecting pool of water lays before her, reflecting light from the entrance onto her. Stacked columns flank her sides, adding to her size and dominance. SOUNDS: People talking, string instruments, etc.

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ABOVE: Nineteenth-century artistic imagining of what the east naos of the Parthenon might have looked like during a festival. This depiction is based on some archaeological and literary evidence, but some features shown here are imaginary.

source⁠

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INTERNAL: [parthenon] The treasury of Athens. The room is filled with treasures: chests, gold statues, weapons and other precious items. You are seated at a table with an abicus, scroll and stacks of golden coins. SOUNDS: Soft clinking of coins and other metallic sounds.

426 BCE: One of the strongest recorded earthquakes in antiquity damages the Parthenon.

EXTERNAL: Everything is calm when the ground starts to shake. People run, birds fly away. Even the Temple, strong and solid, shakes. The facade shifts a full 2 centimeters. SOUND: Rumbling, crashing.

INTERNAL: [naos/cella] Anthena Parthenos shakes, all 39 feet of her. Dust swirls. The reflecting pool ripples. People brace themselves against the columns. Some run out of the Temple. SOUND: Loud rumbling and crashing.

334 BCE: Alexander the Great hangs spoils of war from the Parthenon.

OUTSIDE: A crowd and victorious army stands around the Parthenon. Alexander the Great watches as Persian shields are hung from the East facade (the entrance) of the Parthenon to mark his victory over the Persian armies. SOUNDS: Cheers, music.

295 BCE: Lachares, the tyrant of Athens, takes gold from the Parthenon to fund his army and for personal benefit.

OUTSIDE: Large pieces of gold are taken out of the temple and loaded onto carts. Men on ladders remove the Persian shields from the Eastern facade. SOUNDS: Horse sounds, creaking of woods, falling of heavy metals.

INSIDE: Scaffolding surrounds the statue of Athena. Lachares watches as builders dismantle the gold from her. Gold is removed from the base as well. SOUNDS: Hammering, chiseling, rope sounds, creaking of wood.

4th-6th centuries: Christianity now dominates Greece.

OUTSIDE: A cross stands outside the Parthenon. People on ladders and scaffolds chip away at the metopes on the west, east and north sides. Statues are lowered from the pediments. Six blocks of the frieze are also removed. A bell tower is being built in the northwestern corner of the cella. SOUNDS: Building sounds.

INSIDE: Scaffolding sounds the Athena Parthenos. Her bust is being lowered. People are carrying out large pieces of her. Cross pendants hang from the columns. A time lapse of the removal of Athena is eventually replaced by a large alter with a chalice and other Orthodox details. SOUNDS: Building sounds, rope sounds, falling stone give ways to chanting and prayers.

1456 -1460 CE: The Ottomans have overthrown the Franks. The Pathenon is converted into a Mosque.

OUTSIDE: A star and crescent is set over the East opening. Workers are replacing the bell tower with a minaret. SOUNDS

INSIDE: Large, Arabic lettering is mounted on the columns of the Parthenon. Prayer carpets lie on the floor in near rows. SOUNDS: The murmuring of solemn Arabic prayers.

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ABOVE: Arabic art pieces placed in the Hagia Sophia.

September 26, 1687: Explosions inside the Parthenon

OUTSIDE: The Acropolis is a way scene. A Turkish army is thickly spread over the dense rock. A Venetian army fight lies below. Shells and cannon fire are exchanged on both side. The air is thick with smoke. Shells from the Venetian army are let loose on the Parthenon. One crashes through the roof. SOUNDS: Gunfire, explosions.

INSIDE: The shell lands amidst barrels of gunpower. A fire ignites and an explosion goes off. SOUNDS: Fire cracking, explosions.

OUTSIDE: An explosion goes off in the center of the Parthenon. The ground vibrates. Rocks go flying. Roof tiles rocket from the structure. SOUNDS: Explosions, rocks landing, rumbling sounds.

1801-1804 CE: Lord Elgin pillages the Acropolis

OUTSIDE: The Parthenon has scaffolding around the pediment. Statues are being lowered. Others chisel away at the metopes, lowering large pieces of stone. The pieces are being carried to carts. Carts are seen leaving the Acropolis. SOUNDS: Rope sounds, chiseling, shouts.

1832 CE: Independent Greece gains control of the Acropolis

OUTSIDE: The Parthenon stands next to a Greek flag. SOUNDS: Birds, people milling about.

1832 CE: The first photograph of the Parthenon is published

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OUTSIDE: The view of the Parthenon should resemble the photo with a photographer in the foregound. The view of the Parthenon fades into black and white until it is the photograph with the photographer missing. SOUNDS: Camera sounds.

Late 19th Century: The Parthenon grows in Prominence

OUTSIDE: The Parthenon is filled with tourists with historic garb, people with paints and canvas, and archeologists figging at the side. Vendors selling food. As the timeline moves, the clothing changes. SOUNDS: Laughter, chatter, murmuring, camera clicks.

1975 to today: Restoration efforts begin

OUTSIDE: Scaffolding, cranes, trucks, etc. surround the Parthenon. As the timeline moves, the vehicles and cranes become more modern. Tourists still mill about, cameras become more advanced, etc. SOUNDS: Construction sounds, people sounds.

The Parthenon Timeline

The pre-Parthenon is abandoned.

490 BCE

The Parthenon is built.

447 BCE - 438 BCE

An earthquake damages the Parthenon.

426 BCE

Alexander the Great makes his mark.

334 BCE

Lachares, the tyrant of Athens, removes gold from the statue of Athena.

295 BCE

Christianity dominates Greece.

4th-6th Centuries

The 4th Crusade

1204 AD

Ottoman control

1456 AD - 1460 AD

Gunpowder and sparks

September 26, 1687

Lord Elgin pillages the Acropolis

1801-1804 AD

Independent Greece gains control of the Parthenon

1832 AD

First photograph of the Parthenon is published

1832 AD

The Parthenon grows in prominence

Late 19th Century

Restoration efforts begin

1975 AD

Greece campaigns for the return of the Parthenon Marbles

1983 AD

Talks between Greece and Britain begin in earnest

Restoration on the interior cella’s north wall is announced

2019

Greek government officials report a “credible” solution was being discussed

Pope Francis returns three Parthenon sculptures to Greece

2021

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Parthenon_ancient_&_Pericles,_Maxime_Collignon.jpg

The pre-Parthenon is abandoned.

490 BCE

Athenians begin building the pre-Parthenon to honor Athena for their victory at the Battle of Marathon in 490 BCE over the Persians. But the Persians attacked Athens and burned the temple, which was never completed.

Persians (destroyed the pre-Parthenon)

Arcopolis

Battle of Marathon (490 BCE) where Athens initially conquered the Persians

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Parthenon Timeline⁠

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Athenian Armor⁠

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Persian Armor⁠

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The Pre-Parthenon (in black) was destroyed by the Achaemenids in the

Destruction of Athens⁠

, and then rebuilt by

Pericles⁠

(in grey).

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Maxime Collignon⁠

(1849-1917) -

[1]⁠

, Public Domain

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Acropolis

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Assassin's Creed Depiction of the Acropolis⁠

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`Google Earth: The Acropolis`⁠
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Source⁠

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Acropolis

Acropolis

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Parthenon Pictures

Images

Images

Stacey Brown

Public domain

East facade of the Parthenon

Sea and Sun

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

The Parthenon at sunset

B. Stefanov

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

The Parthonon at night

TT Studio

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

The Parthenon against a colorful sky

Simon Skafar

Getty Images

A woman looks at the Parthenon. People close to the ruin provide scale.

Moofushi

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

Panoramic of the Acropolis at Sunset

Cara-Foto

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

The Acropolis with a glowing Parthenon

Gatsi

Stock photo (Adobe Stock)

Standard license

Extended license

The Porch of the Maidens (Caryatids)

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Parthenon’s Influence

Architecture

Architecture

Wallhalla

Location

Regensburg, Germany

Dates of build

1842

Architect(s)

Leo von Klenze

Inspired features

An otherwise faithful replica, the pediment sculptures show the defeat of the Romans in 9 AD at the Teutoburger Forest.

Notes

Full-scale recreation of the Parthenon

Location

Nashville, TN

Dates of build

1897

Inspired features

The pediment, frieze and metopes are all based on the original

Fun facts!

Meant to be a temporary structure built for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exhibition. Inspired by its nickname: The Athens of the South.

Notes

British Museum

Location

London, UK

Dates of build

1834-1852

Architect(s)

Sir Robert Smirke

Inspired features

Has 43 columns measuring 45 feet tall.

The pediment shows the eight stages of man through the “Progress of Civilization” and originally had a blue background like the Parthenon’s,

Notes

Tennessee State Capitol

Location

Nashville, TN

Dates of build

1845-1859

Architect(s)

William and Francis Strickland

Inspired features

Columns, pediments

Fun facts!

Supposedly one of the most haunted buildings in Tennessee, some claim to hear William Strickland (architect) and Samuel Morgan (overseer) arguing to this very day. President James Polk allegedly haunts the area.

Notes

Melbourne Parliament House

Location

Melbourne, Australia

Dates of build

1855-present (still unfinished)

Inspired features

Columns, metopes

Fun facts!

In 1889, Victoria experienced an economic depression, which lead to delays in building a dome and the Southern wing. They have not restarted to this day.

Notes

Lincoln Memorial

Location

Washington, DC

Dates of build

1914-1922

Architect(s)

Henry Bacon

Inspired features

There are 36 columns, one for each state in the Union at Lincoln’s death. The name of the state it represents is carved in the frieze about.

The marble came from all over the union: Massachusetts, Colorado, Tennessee, Indiana, Alabama and Georgia, to futher show unity.

Fun facts!

Modeled after the Parthenon, where democracy was born, to honor Lincoln, a great defender of democracy.

Notes

Moscow University

Location

Moscow, Russia

Dates of build

Reconstructed 1817-1819

Architect(s)

Domenico Gilardi

Inspired features

Originally built in 1784, Moscow University was damaged in 1812. When reconstructed, Grecian elements such as the portico and frieze.

Notes

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Art

Art

The removal of the Sculptures from the Pediments of the Parthenon by Elgin

Year

1801

Artist

Sir William Gell

Medium

Watercolor on laid paper

Museum

Benaki Museum

First photograph of the Parthenon is published

Year

1839

Artist

Joly de Lotbiniere

Medium

Photograph

Description

Published in Lerebours’ “Excursions Daguerriennes” in 1842.

The Parthenon

Year

1871

Artist

Frederic Edwin Church

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Notes

The Ruins of the Parthenon

Year

1880

Artist

Sanford Robinson Gifford

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

National Gallery of Art

Notes

Acropolis

Year

1920

Artist

Lykourgos Kogevinas

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

National Art Gallery - Alexandros Soutzos Museum

Notes

Acropolis

Year

1920

Artist

Kostantinos Maleas

Medium

Oil on canvas

Notes

Still life with the Acropolis in the background

Year

1931

Artist

Konstantinos Parthenis

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

National Art Gallery - Alexandros Soutzos Museum

Notes

By the outdoor photographer

Year

1934

Artist

Yannis Moralis

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

National Art Gallery - Alexandros Soutzos Museum

Notes

Landscape with the Acropolis

Year

1935

Artist

Gerasimos Steris

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

National Art Gallery - Alexandros Soutzos Museum

Notes

The apotheosis of Pericles

Year

1939

Artist

Giorgos Gounaropoulos

Medium

Oil and wax

Museum

Old Town Hall in Athens, Greece

Notes

View of Athens

Year

1940

Artist

Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

Private collection

Notes

The oath of members of the Society of Friends

Year

1952

Artist

Nikos Engonopoulos

Medium

Oil on canvas

Museum

Municipal art gallery of Rhodes

Description

What sorrow it would have been - my God what sorrow

if my heart was not consoled by the hope of marbles and the prospect of a bright sunray which shall give new life to the splendid ruins. -Nikos Engonopoulos

Notes

Kormos (Torso): Form and Transformation

Year

2022 (First exhibited)

Artist

Thomas Watson

Medium

various mediums

Museum

Museum of Natural History in Sigri

Description

Comparing natural forms to sculpted forms, Watson was inspired by visiting the Elgin Marbles and then the Parthenon. Watson hopes that his painted renderings of the Elgin Marbles may be house closer to their true home in Athens.

Notes

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Glossary of terms related to the Parthenon

Parthenon Terms

Parthenon Terms

Term

Meaning

Category

Image

Image source

Notes

Acropolis

Meaning “high city” in Greek, the Acropolis is rocky, elevated ground in the center of Athens. It was a natural stronghold and defense, and was the heart of ancient Greek life. Myth says that it was here where Poseidon and Athena battled for the patronage of Athens.

Place

Open

Athena Parthenos

The Parthenon was built to house the Athena Parthenos, a gold-and-ivory statue 39 feet tall. Athena is wearing a tunic, aegis and helmet, and is holding Nike, the goddess of Victory in her right hand. A spear is in her left. A carving of Medusa’s head was at her breast, and she stood on a pedestal depicting the story of Pandora, the first woman. At her feet was a snake (Erichthonius) and a shield.

Sculpture

Open

Callicrates

Known for the Parthenon and the temple to Athena Nike. It’s been suggested that he was also responsible for the Hephaestreum, the temple of Poseidon at Sunion, the temple of Ares at Acharnae and the temple at Rhamnous.

Person

Open

columns

The Parthenon had 46 outer columns and 23 inner columns. Each column had 20 flutes, concave details running down the sides of the columns. The exterior columns measure 6.2 ft. in diameter and are 34 feet high, with the corner columns being slightly wider to create visual balance. The columns are all Doric columns and have a plain, straightforward design opposed to the later Ionic and Corinthian styles.

Architectural detail

Open

frieze

Carved in low relief, it is a continuous band inside the colonnade, 160 meters in total. Unlike the pediments and metopes, the frieze does not depict Greek myth, but rather Athenians participating in the Panathenaic procession, a celebration for Athena.

Architectural detail

Open

frieze (east)

The divine side of the frieze, 11 gods seated on stools with Zeus on a throne. Here is the “peplos” offering, the highest moment of the sacrificial offering and it is right over the main entrance of

Sculpture

Open

frieze (north)

Sixty horsemen are in a chariot race. Four oxen and four rams wait to be sacrificed. Men carry olive branches, water vessels and basket. Musicians are also shown.

Sculpture

Open

frieze (south)

Ten groups of six horsemen, 10 chariots and 10 sacrificial oxen led by the marshall of ceremonies.

Sculpture

Open

frieze (west)

The two masters of ceremonies are depicted here. The rest shows Athenians celebrating.

Sculpture

Open

Ictinus

One of the most celebrated architects in ancient Greece, he is best-known for the Parthenon, the Temple of the Mysteries at Eleusis, and the Temple of Apollo Epicurius at Bessae.

Person

Open

metope

Marble slabs fitted below the pediment. There were 92 metopes in total, with intricate, high-relief carvings depicting themes from Greek mythology.

Architectural detail

Open

metopes, east

Olympian gods fighting giants. This is the “Gigantomachy”, which is the stuggle between gods and giants for cosmic order. Each metope depicts a god battling a giant save the last one which shows Helios’ chariot.

Sculpture

https://theacropolismuseum.gr/en/parthenon-east-metope-1

Open

metopes, north

Trojan War. Metopes depict Greeks sacking the City of Troy. One metope differs that depicts Athena and Hera.

Sculpture

Open

metopes, south

Battle of Greeks and centaurs. The metopes depict the story of the Lapith king Peirithus’ wedding. He had invited the centaurs, who got drunk and attempted to kidnap the Lapith women, which started a great battle. The hero Theseus was a guest and fought the centaurs. The story represents the struggle of civility against barbarity.

Sculpture

Open

metopes, west

Greeks against Amazons. Theseus is leading the Greeks against the Amazons. The Greeks are naked while the Amazon are clothed and sometimes on horseback. Antiope, their queen, is on the first metope on the left, on horseback.

Sculpture

Open

Parthenon (layout)

The Parthenon was divided into four main chambers: The opistodomos, parthenon, naos/cella and the pronaos. The pronaos was the entrance, the naos/cella housed Athena Parthenos with, the parthenon acted as a treasury, and the opistodomos was the back porch that balancesd the pronaos. The colonnade wrapped around the interior structure.

Architectural detail

Open

Parthenon (structure)

Built between 447 BCE and 438 BCE, it was designed by Ictinus and Callicrates and supervised by Phidias, who also contributed to much of the sculpture. It comes from the Greek word for “virgin”, and was build to honor Athena for helping them defeat the Persians.

Structure

Open

pediment

The triangular gables found on either end of the Parthenon adorned with statues (approximately 50). “Aetoma” in Greek, it is taken from the Greek word for “eagle”, since the triangular shape of the pediment resembles an eagle in flight.

Architectural detail

Open

pediment, east

Described by Greek Geographer Pausanius, the east pediment depicts the birth of Athena.

Sculpture

Open

pediment, west

Described by Greek Geographer Pausanius, the west pediment depicts the battle between Athena and Poseidon to become the tutelary deity of Athens (Athena won).

Sculpture

Open

pentelic marble

Marble taken from Mount Pentelicus, it is the marble used to construct the Parthenon. It is pure white which a fine grain. It contains traces of iron which has oxidized creating a honey color to the marble.

Architectural detail

Screenshot 2023-04-13 at 10.15.55 AM.png

Open

Pericles

Pericles was an Athenian general and statesman, who ruled from 451 BCE to 429 BCE, also known as the “Golden Age” of Greece, was responsible for much of the development of Athenian democracy, empire and culture. He was responsible for the building of the Acropolis which became the heart of Greek society.

Person

Open

Phidias

Most famous sculptor in antiquity. Known best for the statue of Zeus at Olympia, one of the 7 wonders of the ancient world, and for carving much of the Parthenon, including Athena Parthenos.

Person

Open

There are no rows in this table

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First-hand account: Excerpt from Description of Greece by Pausanias

Description of Parthenon pediments and Athena Parthenos

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Book 1, chapter 24⁠

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[5] Their ritual, then, is such as I have described. As you enter the temple that they name the Parthenon, all the sculptures you see on what is called the pediment refer to the birth of Athena, those on the rear pediment represent the contest for the land between Athena and Poseidon. The statue itself is made of ivory and gold. On the middle of her helmet is placed a likeness of the Sphinx—the tale of the Sphinx I will give when I come to my description of Boeotia—and on either side of the helmet are griffins in relief.

[6] These griffins, AristThe eas

2⁠

Proconnesus⁠

says in his poem, fight for the gold with the Arimaspi beyond the Issedones. The gold which the griffins guard, he says, comes out of the earth; the Arimaspi are men all born with one eye; griffins are beasts like lions, but with the beak and wings of an eagle. I will say no more about the griffins.

[7] The statue of Athena is upright, with a tunic reaching to the feet, and on her breast the head of Medusa is worked in ivory. She holds a statue of Victory about four cubits high, and in the other hand a spear; at her feet lies a shield and near the spear is a serpent. This serpent would be Erichthonius. On the pedestal is the birth of Pandora in relief. Hesiod and others have sung how this Pandora was the first woman; before Pandora was born there was as yet no womankind. The only portrait statue I remember seeing here is one of the emperor Hadrian, and at the entrance one of Iphicrates,

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who accomplished many remarkable achievements.