THE SCULPTURES OF THE PARTHENON
By: Mason Neal, Sharon Houstoun and Kendle Windham
This web page focuses on the sculptures that are inside of the Parthenon. The Parthenon is located on the Athenian Acropolis, a hill in the center of the ancient city of Athens. It is dedicated to the Goddess Athena who is the patron God of Athens. The sculptures, both inside and on the outside of the Parthenon, mainly depict that goddess in different situations such as her birth. The Parthenon was built by the Athenian Empire that was in power from the mid 5th century BC until 404 BC.
Building of the Parthenon (sculptures)
o The relaxed figures and seated poses show more confidence than the Olympian sculptures
o The artists do not portray emotion because the figures depict the ideal mortal who is near-divine and above human emotions (Boardman 37)
What the Parthenon looks like today
Photo Credit: Dillon Houstoun. Taken in 1999
The Parthenon- Athens, Greece circa 432 BCE
Sculptures
o Depicted 350 people and 125 horses participating in the Great Panathenaea -procession in which the youth of the city accompanied a wheeled ship carrying a new robe for an ancient wooden statue of Athena.
The Statue of the Athena
Pediments in the Parthenon
Metopes in the Parthenon
The Statue of Athena at Parthenon Athens, Greece Circa 432 B.C. http://www.socialtravellersite.com/the-most-photographed-places-in-the-world |
Sculptures from the pediment at the Parthenon
http://image59.webshots.com/159/0/56/5/2443056050089165801csPgVA_ph.jpg
A very abstract frieze on the west side of the Parthenon depicting horses and horsemen http://idliketocallyourattentionto.blogspot.com/2007/05/ parthenon-sculptures-frieze.html |
Bibliography
Boardman, John. Greek Art- Fourth Edition. New York, New York: Thames and Hudson, 1996.
Boardman, John, and David Finn. “Parthenon.” World History: Ancient and Medieval Eras. 2008. ABC-CLIO. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.ancienthistory.abc-clio.com/>.
Pasquier, Alain. The Greek World. New York, New York: Rizzoli, 1996.
Stockstad, Marilyn. Art: A Brief History- Third Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc., 2007.