The Periclean Parthenon of Athens is perhaps the most complete and well-known example of ancient Greek temple architecture—a Doric order building, the Parthenon reflects the maturity of the Greek classical form. The structure uses marble as its main material, with some ceramics and other non-metallic materials used for decorative purposes.
The Parthenon was built between 447 and 421 B.C. by the Athenian architect Iktinos. It was originally covered in gold and ivory panels, but these were later removed to pay off debts. The present shell of the building is only half its original size.
In 450 B.C., the building of the Erechtheion at Athens was begun in competition with the Parthenon. It was completed about four years later than its rival, so it can be considered as a continuation of the work on the Parthenon. The Erechtheion has been called "the most beautiful temple in Greece" because of its perfect symmetry and elegant proportions. It replaces an earlier temple of the same name which had been burned down several years before the new building was started.
Iktinos also designed the Temple of Hephaestus at Aegina in 438 B.C. This too is a Doric temple with six columns on each side of the entrance.
Pericles directed the construction of numerous prominent temples on the Acropolis in ancient Athens. Among these was the Parthenon, often regarded as the best example of Greek architecture. The Erechtheion is another famous temple on the Acropolis.
The artistic and architectural center of ancient Greece was actually not at Athens but elsewhere in Greece. Athens was just a small town with no official status as a cultural center. Many important works of art were created for other cities such as Corinth, Sparta, and especially Priene in Asia Minor (now Turkey).
Athens did become an important political center though, and many buildings were constructed there during its period of dominance. Some of them are still standing today, such as the Temple of Olympian Zeus or the Royal Stoa. Others have been destroyed over time, such as the Palace of Knossos or the Old Academy.
In conclusion, the artistic and architectural center of ancient Greece was located in various parts of the country. Athens became one of the most important cities but it was never able to rival the glory of places like Corinth or Ephesus for tourism purposes. However, what Athens does have is many preserved monuments and sites that help us understand how people lived back then. These include many temples and other religious structures as well as houses, schools, and offices.
Parthenon The Parthenon is a temple that stands atop the Acropolis hill in Athens. It was dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos and constructed in the mid-5th century BC ("Athena the Virgin"). The word "parthenon" means "virgin's tower" in Greek.
The Athenian treasury did not have enough money to pay for the new building's materials and architects so they turned to other cities across Greece for help. They asked if anyone had ideas on how they could honor Athena and get what they needed done. The city of Elis gave them a good price for their marble so they bought some of it and sent it up to Attica (where Athens is located). But even with money coming in from other places, the builders still didn't have enough cash so they went to Corinth for help again. This time they offered them land if they would build the temple for free. So both countries shared the glory of the building for a while until only Athens remained. In 438 BC, after finishing their own temple, they demolished the one at Parthenon and built this one in its place.
This building is amazing! It has beautiful sculptured decorations and it shows us what kind of art people made back then.
The Parthenon is a magnificent marble temple erected during the height of the Greek Empire between 447 and 432 B.C. The Parthenon, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, stands high atop the Acropolis of Athens, a complex of temples. Today, it is one of the best-preserved ancient buildings in Greece.
Athenians constructed the Parthenon out of local limestone with gold, silver, and ivory decorations. It was originally crowned with a golden statue of the goddess, but only fragments of that sculpture remain today. The building's design is attributed to Iktinos, an Athenian architect who also designed the Nike Temple at Ephesos. The structure has 16 interior columns which were once covered in fine sculpted reliefs, but only fragments of those sculptures remain today.
In 1687 the Ottoman Turks destroyed most of the Acropolis, including the Parthenon. Since then, it has been restored several times, most recently in 1832 under King Otho. Today, the monument serves as a museum housing many of the artifacts found on the site.
In addition to being a religious site, the Acropolis is also home to several important archaeological museums. There is even a small roller coaster that takes visitors up part of the hill where some of the monuments are located.
Stoas, temples, and treasuries Architects employed complex geometry and optical illusions to show structures as perfectly straight and harmonious. The ancient Greeks are deservedly famed for their beautiful Doric and Ionic buildings, the best example being the Parthenon in Athens. These were not simply functional buildings but served as landmarks and gathering places where citizens could meet and display their wealth and status.
Beyond architecture, the Greeks invented many things that have been used ever since: mathematics, philosophy, science, medicine, economics, politics, literature, and theater to name a few. Even today, many terms in these disciplines is derived from Greek words; computer, theory, coordinate system, spectrum, ellipse, hyperbola, anamorphosis, geometrical proof, et cetera.
In conclusion, the ancient Greeks invented much of what we take for granted today. They are too often dismissed as mere traders who built magnificent cities but didn't invent anything new. This is not true; the Greeks invented many things that have been used ever since they did important work in mathematics, physics, biology, and other fields.
Acropolis Temples and political structures were frequently constructed on top of a hill, or acropolis. The famed Parthenon of Athens is a surviving example of a building key to an ancient acropolis. The Parthenon was a temple erected to worship Athena, the goddess of wisdom. It was built by Phidias and finished in 447 BC. Today, it remains one of the most important cultural icons of Ancient Greece.
Other famous ancient Greek temples include those at Apollo Epicurus in Rome, Artemisium in Ephesus, and the Temple of Asclepius in Antioch.
Government buildings were also commonly constructed on top of a hill, especially in Athens where more than 10 percent of the city is made up of archaeological sites. These sites range from large religious monuments such as the Acropolis to small private houses that were originally built for the wealthy class but now house only their foundations instead.
Athens' Parliament Building is another important government structure that's located on top of a hill. It was built in the 1950s after extensive damage caused by Nazi bombs during World War II.
Ancient Greeks used stone architecture because it was easy to work with and durable over time. There were no screws or nails used in construction, only hammers and chisels. Stone blocks were cut to size on site and then joined together with mortar or clay.
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