This essay attempts to evaluate the significance of the Periclean’ building programme in Athens in the context of 5th Century BC Greek history and the importance of its lasting legacy. Implemented by and named after the most prominent, influential strategoi/generals of Athens in the 5th century BC, Pericles decided to rebuild the ruins left as reminders, of the Greco-Persian wars that finished in 449 BC. Not only did the building programme increase Athens’ aesthetics, the grandeur of the city, and satisfy Athenian religious needs, it was an important factor in reinforcing its power as the leader of the Athenian Empire. Equally important is the lasting legacy of the building programme today, as the magnificent structures define the Greek culture,
It is surprising indeed that Even today, tyrannies and dictatorships exist in the world when more than two and a half thousand years ago the ancient Athenians had developed a functional and direct form of democracy. What contributed to this remarkable achievement and how it changed the socio-political. scene in Athens is what will be considered in this paper. The paper will have three sections, each detailing the various stages. of political development from the kings of Attica to the time of Pericles when, in its golden age, Athens was at the height of its. imperial power.
Tzonis, A., & Giannisi, P. (2004). Classical Greek Architecure: The Construction of the Modern. Paris: Editions Flannarion.
"Unhandled Exception." Ancient Greece - History, Mythology, Art, War, Culture, Society, and Architecture. 2008. Web. 27 Feb. 2011. .
Kroll, John H. The Ancient Image of Athena Polias. Hesperia SupplementsStudies in Athenian Architecture, Sculpture and Topography, Vol. 20: pp. 65 – 76 + 203. 1982. E-journal.
For Pericles, Athenian values are realized through culture and “daily devotion.” He claims that Athenian citizens obey both “the laws themselves” and “agreed-on social values (which need no specific legislation),” not requiring legislation to uphold their values. Accordingly, Pericles views exceptionalism as intrinsic to Athenians. Boasting about the city, Pericles questions “how else did she become great but by this genius in her citizens?” A recommitment to civic values, therefore, is simple to Pericles: Athenians are exceptional at the moment of his speech, and must simply continue their past conduct in order to achieve future
In the years following the Persian Wars in 479 B.C., Athens had come out on top being the most dominantly powerful of any Greek city with a navy that had superior strength that increased day by day. The Athenians “ruled with heavy-handed, even brutal force as well as with reason” (Kagan 2). This was due largely to the fact that Athens had a stable and effective government, which only increased their advantage in proving themselv...
Robinson, Charles Alexander. Athens in the age of Pericles. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1959.
In Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War, Pericles commends the ergon of Athenian heroes, which has placed them in the realm of logos, while directing the Athenians to follow these ideals of logos. The maintenance and continued success of Athens' political establishment relies on the prevalence of polis, rationality and discourse over family, emotion and reckless action. However, the indiscriminate turns of fate and fortune, often place logos in opposition with the base, primal nature of ergon. Both Thucydides and Sophocles recognize that when logos conflicts with the unexpected ergon, the preservation of rationality and unanimity among the citizens of the polis depend on the leadership of a single honest leader. In the History of the Peloponnesian War, Thucydides presents Pericles as a man of logos, whom Athens needs to achieve its full potential as an empire and later to rescue her from disaster. Likewise, Sophocles presents Theseus, in Oedipus Colonus, as the perfect successor of Pericles, who returns Athens to its former glory before the end of the war. In these two examples, we see that the dominance of logos over ergon within a polis lies in the ability and logos of the city’s current leader.
As aforementioned, Pericles’ building program caused controversy throughout Greece. However, the building program also created a rift within Athens (Charles River Editors). According to Plutarch, “Thucydides and his party kept denouncing Pericles for playing fast and loose with the public moneys and annihilating the revenues...said [Pericles], "let it not have been spent on your account, but mine, and I will make the inscriptions of dedication in my own name”(14). Evidently, Pericles’ building program may have been just as much for his benefit as for Athens.
During Athen’s Golden Age, Pericles shaped Athens into an artistic and cultural place with beautiful buildings, a strong wall for protection, and a place for blossoming thoughts and ideas for all topics. One of Pericles most outstanding works
Late Helladic fortification walls on the Greek mainland are found surrounding citadels, not the entire city or site. The citadels seem to have housed central administration and housing for an elite class of citizens. They were built on hills, presumably as another layer of fortification. I will examine the sites of Gla, Midea, Tiryns, and Mycenae to look for similarities and differences in the design and architecture of their fortifications, as well as, arguments about the purpose of the fortifications at these sites. I will also explore how some sites were hindered or helped defensively and economically by their location and their use of fortifications.
Judith Barringer, author of the article entitled The Temple of Zeus at Olympia, Heroes, and Athletes, suggests that since the discovery of the temple, the two pediments and six metopes have been treated as entirely separate architectural pieces. Barringer proposes that the pediments and metopes b...
Ideas about architecture were not the only elements that were changed by the Greeks; the view of architects changed additionally. Greek architects were viewed as a job completely different from any other line of work. Architects were not simply designers; they were tradesmen, contractors and builders as well (O’ Neal). They were also extremely smart and skilled: not only did they figure out how to build better works, they figured out why these new designs worked. “Greek architects began developing
The world of Art and Architecture has continually provided the tools to communicate many differing concepts or ideas such as political ideologies like socialism to simple folk-tales or intricate narratives. The elements of Greek Art and Architecture and its direct connection to mythology is the main focus of this essay. I will present the comparison of a "new" representation of a Greek Temple used in the set design of, The Clash of the Titans; to the original where its influence is traced to the classic of all Greek Temples, the Parthenon. By illustrating this comparison of new to original, I hope to communicate the idea of how contemporary society has attempted to retell mythology through entertainment outlets.
The things I learned about architecture are that if you want to practice architecture you must have experience with building structures. If you want to build a structure you must start building small structures so that they could see you have experience. When you become an architect you are full protected by the government. So when something goes wrong you are not accused. So you don't get your architect license taken away. When you are an architect you must build a model of the structure. The model must look alike as the real structure. When you want to build a structure you must first draw it out. Then you build the model. After that you get paid to build it. That is what I learned about architecture.