The Parthenon from 447-432 BCE in Greece and the Pantheon from 118-126 AD in Italy were commissioned by two influential statesmen in their respective times. The Parthenon by
Pericles and the Pantheon by Marcus Agrippa. Both buildings were built as temples, but took on different styles of the classical era representative of their cultures’ place and time.
The Parthenon in Athens, Greece was built on the ruins of the Acropolis during an era of peace after the Peloponnesian War. It was a tribute to the Greek goddess Athena, considered the virgin patron of the people of Athens, for the defeat of the Medes, and built as a replacement for two earlier temples of Athena on the Acropolis. It is a mix of Doric peripteral temple with some with Ionic
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The upper-part of the structure is characterized by the series of triglyphs, metopes and reliefs on the entablature.
The Pantheon in Rome, Italy was built as a tribute to all of the Roman gods. It was rebuilt twice – coming to entomb the great artist Rafael, composer Arcangelo Corelli and several Italian kings, then converted into a Catholic church dedicated to St. Mary and other martyrs. It was the first temple to combine classical Greek architecture with Roman concrete construction methods.
The base of the temple consists of a classical rectangle, with a symmetric portico and Corinthian columns. It is topped with a dome formed by concentric rings – the first of its kind (Partheon,
Rome, 2016).
In conclusion, the Parthenon and Pantheon were both used for religious purposes, with the
Parthenon functioning as a temple to the Greek god Athena and the Pantheon functioning as a temple to all the Roman gods. Both buildings used a classical style – with columns, symmetry,
Written Assignment Unit 2 2 an open floor-space, a pronaos (front porch) and art in the metopes, triglyphs and pediment
(Silverman, n.d.). However, the temples were constructed at different times, with the
After learning more about these two buildings, I discovered that the Romans were “inspired” by Greek architecture. The columns used in both are common to Greek architecture. Based on the photos that were viewed from online searches, it appears that the Romans were more ornate during the construction of their temple which can be seen by their choice of building materials, such as marble. The Parthenon seems to have had more simple lines. It was rectangular in shape as opposed to the Pantheon that was rounded in many areas, particularly where the sculptures of the gods were. This was to lend to the idea that they were on the same level and that no god was given more preferential treatment since the Pantheon was to honor all of them equally. The structures resemble one another in that they both have those ominous columns as a way to emphasize the dominion the gods had over the
Pantheon and Hagia Sophia Pantheon and Hagia Sophia are two extremely outstanding architectural pieces of their times. They have been built according to the traditions of those particular times. The materials used to built these buildings and the purpose for which they were used are all very important aspects and have been briefly covered in this report. Pantheon The statesman Agrippa built pantheon in 27 B.C. Then it was completely rebuilt by the emperor Hadrian. The Pantheon is remarkable for its size, its construction, and its design. The dome was the largest built until modern times. The present structure was probably originally built as a temple for all the pagan gods. We do hear of it as being a law-court and a reception area for Emperor Hadrian meeting his quests too. Some say that the rotunda of the building was once a Roman bath. Due to all this mystery, the Pantheon is often referred to as the Sphinx of Rome. The visitor will probably not appreciate the construction as much as the Flavian amphitheatre, but it is still a great masterpiece of engineering and well worth a visit. Most Roman and Greek temples at the time of the Pantheon's construction were large, colonnaded, rectangular enclosures with sanctuaries situated in their centers. The Pantheon was different. It consisted of a large circular drum topped with a hemispherical dome. It is a masterpiece of both engineering and art a lasting memory of Ancient Rome’s might. Roman architecture is architecture of wall and enclosed tactile space. Individual column with entablature is no longer the basic architectural unity. Spatially, it shows a development from closed, simple space units and regular articulation to more complex spatial relations, more fluid interpenetrati...
The Roman Pantheon built by the Romans using advanced engineering skills combined a cylindrical structure with an outer colonnade Greek classical design to make an architectural monument. The amount of time and effort that went into the building of this structure shows a cultural emphasis on quality workmanship and perfectionism. This workmanship and perfectionism showed the importance given to the worship and honoring of the Gods. This pantheon is the only active place of worship amongst Rome’s ancient temples still in existence. Modern commentators tend to view the building as a high point in an "architectural revolution" brought about mainly through the Roman development of a superior pozzolana concrete that lent itself to the forming of unitary, three-dimensional structures. Other factors cited for the technical success of the Pantheon include the use of a series of massive, concentric stepped rings and the lightening of the dome by coffering and gradated light-weight aggregates. ( Mark, Robert, and Paul Hutchinson, 1986) The concrete dome was one of the world’s largest unreinforced concrete builds for over a millennium until the modern era. The success of the Pantheon longevity was largely attributed to acquired new techniques of construction and materials that shaped the development of Roman construction technology. This allowed for the use
The Parthenon is an amazing Greek temple that was built 2,500 years ago. Even the architects of today have numerous questions about how it was constructed and how it has held up through its eventful past. The Parthenon's detailed appearance is not its only meaningful quality. The Parthenon was constructed as a temple to the goddess, Athena, and as an icon of the Greek people themselves. The Parthenon represents the Greek ideals of humanism, idealism, and rationalism.
Brief History Though the Persian wars were possibly over before the Parthenon was being considered, the wars played a vital role for Athens and her temples. During the wars, the armies of Persia attacked Athens and sacked the city leaving much of it in ruins, including the new temple in honour of Athene atop the Acropolis that was under construction. During the struggle, many of the states in Greece joined together to fight against the Persians and decided that they should not rebuild any of the temples that had been destroyed by the Persians to have an eternal memory of the devastation they caused and the lack of respect they have for religion. The once impressive city of Athens was reduced to dust, with small basic houses and nothing really imposing.
In ancient Greece, after the Persians invaded Athens in 490BCE, the Athenian Acropolis lay in a state of total destruction. The Acropolis, meaning “high city”, was the high point of the city of Athens, and consisted of a large complex of buildings, temples, theatres, and other components of the city of Athens. Pericles, the new Athenian leader, and founder of Athenian democracy, decided to rebuild the Acropolis to be better and more grand than ever. In the center of the Acropolis, at the highest point, he began the building of a new temple to the goddess Athena Parthenos, the Parthenon, to replace the original Parthenon that was destroyed by the Persians before completion. Between 447 and 438 BCE, the new Parthenon became the most
Commissioned by the Justinian Emperor and constructed by around 10,000 workers, the building was magnificent. Its construction was first defied by building four columns each and then topped them with four arches. Then spaces left between the arches were filled with masonry and aided in creating the curved triangular shapes known as the pendentives, which along with the arches formed a strong base for the dome. The dome was made-up of 40 equally spaced ribs. The Engineers of the Hagia Sophia Anthemius of Tralles and Isidorus the Elder designed the structure and saw it built in a record time of 5 years, 10 months and 4 days. The massive diameter of 102 feet made of thick concrete dome made it arise the similarities to that of the Roman Pantheon (Matthews, Roy and Platt pg.
The remains of the Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC, rest on Greece’s southeast peninsula called Attica. At one time, this architectural giant sat on top of the Acropolis in Athens. The thick Doric columns numbered eight on each short side. The furnishings were rather simple and the columns were just thick enough to look awkward. These traits made the building look heavy, yet sturdy. The temple housed the main icons of the wealthiest Greek city-state, a statue of Athena and the city’s treasury. Leading up to the foundation was an enormous set of stairs which, compared to the people who visited it, may have been twice their height. The huge staircase wasn’t just a sign of the Athenian grandeur- when combined with its position on top of the steep acropolis the Parthenon was very well guarded. Around the inner chambers, but still inside the outer Doric columns, was a type of wrap-around porch or breezeway. This kind of open space was evident i...
Greek palaces and temples, consisting of massive columns, were built for the gods or other religious purposes. The temples found at the center of the polis, the acropolis, were made as earthen dwellings for the gods, a place for storage of sacred objects and offerings, and also served out tasks for the polis such as keeping records. Temples, along with other sacred places were sometimes only open to certain peoples or cults, and people who were not ritually purified or had “religious pollution” were not allowed to enter sacred places (Adkins & Adkins 338). The fact that the religion centers are in the middle of the cities symbolizes how Greek religion was central to Grecian life, it was one of the most important things to them. The temples also represent the architectural and cultural achievements of the Greeks. The magnificent style of these temples has influenced not only Greece but the whole world as Grecian columns have been a staple in architecture since there creation; this is even evident in the United States with buildings such as the United States Capitol, built hundreds of years after the establishment of Ancient Grecian architecture. Along with architecture, Greek art, most notably pottery and sculpture, was also influenced by religion. Greek pottery, depicting mythological and heroic scenes, and statues, portraying the human form often made in the image of gods,
The Greek Parthenon is dedicated to the Goddess Athena and was designed to house a single, large statue of her. Furthermore, the building itself is designed to be pleasing to the eye and has a repeating series of 9 to 4 ratios in its construction (overall length to width, face of building width to height, etc…). It is also sighted on a prominent feature, visible for miles around. In short, it is as much a statement of artistry and power for the Athenian city state as it is a temple to venerate Athena. The Roman Pantheon is a much more utilitarian building built in the middle of the city and is admired today more for the fact that it has the largest concrete dome ever built than for its overall beauty. It is an engineering statement. Seen from the front it resembles the Parthenon but one gets a whole different feeling when viewing it from the side where it looks like a square building mashed together with a rectangular one and then with a cylindrical one. Only the front of the Pantheon has any decoration versus all four sides of the Parthenon. This utilitarian theme continued inside where the statues of many gods were placed around the outside perimeter, leaving the center open for a variety of
The Parthenon was built during the Golden age in Athens, Greece. The Parthenon is made of mainly columns; there is a 9:4 ratio. It was almost destroyed in war; the ruins that remained were dedicated to Athena. The purpose of the Parthenon was to house the statue of Athena, made of ivory and gold, and also Athena’s treasure. The ratios and the equations used to make the Parthenon were used as a sign of the harmony in the natural world around us. The mathematical harmony in the world shows how we can work with the world rather than destroy to make it what we want. The Parthenon also has no straight lines. The columns of the Parthenon are angled going up getting smaller the higher they get. This was done so that you could get the best lighting
The Parthenon was a temple in Greece for celebrating all gods and religious cults. The Greeks built the temple to the goddess Athena, who was the goddess of war. This temple depicts a historic event as opposed to a mythological event and is the most recognized building of Ancient Greece. The historical atmosphere of the time greatly contributed to the temple's existence. The Parthenon frieze and the architectural structure combine to make a cohesive whole. The architectural style and the frieze pull everything together on the outside of the temple. It entices your eye to focus on the detailed sculptures at the top of the frieze.
Dedicated to Athena Parthenos (Athena the virgin) goddess of war and wisdom. Every god and goddess had worship temples to assure everything went well and nothing bad happened. Greeks gave sacrifices too, such as food, messages, and sacred tiles were all sacrifices they gave. The Parthenon was built in 480 BC but got destroyed while under construction in a battle between the Romans and Greeks. The Parthenon was rebuilt in 447 BC, with the original statue that first stood in 480 BC. ("The Parthenon Frieze." The Parthenon Frieze. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.)
The end of the Geometric period resulted in the beginning of the Orientalizing Period, dated between 700-600 BC. Within this time frame, Greek introduced a new innovation, the Peripteral Temple. For many years prior, a row of colonnade was used on the interior primarily to hold up the roof of the building. In contrast, columns are seen being used on the outside, creating a visual wall around the building exposing parts of the interior. With in the temple existed the megaron style, carried forward from Bronze Age homes. It was also in eastern influenced period, the first real stone temples, and terra cotta roof tiles came to exist to hold the weight on these new stone temples. The population grew drastically, introducing new techniques and styles, which blended to form designs with balance and symmetry. It was during this period, two major Greek designs were developed, the Ionic and Doric order. (Pedley, 2012: pg. 180) The Doric order, being the first and most simple, consisted of baseless columns placed closely together as the Greeks did not know how much weight the shortened columns could hold. Reason behind this was the lack of length in the columns were believed to hold less weight and therefore forced into being placed closer together. This closely set arrangement created a very bold statement in the Doric temple. The Capital, which sat on top of the concaved shaped shaft, was left plain but when grouped alongside others, suggested a bold harmony. In contrast, the Ionic order was less bulky and more delicate than the Doric order. The top of the capital is decorated with two scrolls, also known as volutes, which could have resembled a shell or animal horns. Above the capital, held room for a surrounding frieze depictin...
In Ancient Greece, religion dominated their life, so it is understandable that their architecture would be dominated by their religion. Before Greece became many different city-states, they had kings, and they would build a room called a megaron to show they King’s authority. A typical megaron is a single chamber with a fire pit in the middle with a throne off to the side. This room opened up into a porch (portico) that had four columns in the front. After there were no more kings these megarons turned into temples. The fire pit, which turned into some type of altar or a place to show a sacrifice for that god, was now outside in front of the temple. The altar was now outside so people could see you make these sacrifices to their gods. The first Greek temples were made out of wood and were long rectangular buildings with a porch all the way around which was supported by columns made from tree trunks. A Greek temple consists of five basic parts: the pediment, entablature, columns, base, and the cella, or the inner sanctum. The pediment is triangular and would have a type of sculpture or ornament known as acreteria on each corner. An entablature consists of three parts: the cornice, frieze, and architrave, which holds up the pediment. The columns are the support between the entablature and the base. The base usually consists of three steps. The cella is the inner sanctum, which has different rooms with more columns for support. Each temple would have a cella but they were not identical.