The Parthenon´s Influence in Art

THESIS STATEMENT

Over the centuries the Parthenon’s unique design and construction has continued to influence art and artwork well into the present day.

PURPOSE STATEMENT

By using different sources, the Parthenon’s importance in the world will be discussed through its history, art and design.

INTRODUCTION

The Parthenon is like the crown jewel of Athens. It is named after the mighty goddess Athena Nike Parthenos, daughter of Zeus. She was born right from Zeus himself. She is the goddess of war, wisdom, and heroism. The entire city of Athens is also named after her.

An acropolis is the highest point of a city and Athens’ acropolis is where the Parthenon was located (see Figure 1). The Parthenon has an extremely unique design that has a lot of modern appeal. There were also many sculptures and pieces of art that were showcased there, but time took a toll on it. Over hundreds of years it suffered from conversions, renovations, explosions and thieves which ruined, harmed, destroyed or lost most of the pieces.

The Parthenon’s design has inspired many modern buildings like banks, museums, libraries and the buildings in Washington D.C. with its modern appeal. As quoted in Life in Ancient Greece, “All the world’s culture culminated in Greece, Greece in Athens, Athens in the Acropolis, the Acropolis in the Parthenon” (Nardo 32).

HISTORY

The Parthenon’s history started back in the late 400 B.C.E. Persia attacked, captured, and destroyed nearly the entire city of Athens, Greece. The Acropolis had not yet included the Parthenon because it had not been built. In 447 Pericles, the king of Athens began to restore Athens to its original state (Nardo). He also had a man by the name of Ictinus design the Parthenon, the T...

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...e Annunciation from the Christian faith (Hopper). Unfortunately, in the 1687 explosion of the Parthenon, they were mostly destroyed.

CONCLUSION

Through its art and unique design, the Parthenon has had an effect on the world over the past centuries. Many modern buildings are designed to look like it from the style of its columns to the materials used. Many sculptors are also inspired by Phidias’ Athena statue or his frieze.

From the demolishing past the Parthenon has endured expert engineers, architects, sculptors, historians are teaming up together. Their goal is within the next ten years to have the majestic monument restored back to its original grandeur. Barbara Barlette, a professor from the University of Florida who is helping with the restoration process stated “[The Parthenon is the] highest level of human creativity” (Gary Glassman).