Essay on The Parthenon- A Culture in Itself - 1652 Words

One of the most impressive accomplishments of Ancient Greece is the remarkable structure of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. The Parthenon is one of the most inspiring works of architecture known to mankind. The project of the extraordinary Acropolis was taken on by one of the most influential leaders of history, Pericles. Pericles influenced not only the building of one of the grandest works but the example of democracy displayed by the Greeks. The architecture was unique for its time, it featured excellent structure,the breathtaking Metopes featuring the epic battles of the gods, the Frieze a detailed sculpture displaying a procession of Greeks, and was built to house the magnificent statue of Athena adorned in gold. The Parthenon was†¦show more content†¦The Parthenon was built to express greatness of their influential society and honor the goddess Athena. The Golden Age of Athens is some times referred to as the Age of Pericles, one of the greatest leaders seen throughou t our history. The Parthenon would not have been possible without the efforts and supervision of Pericles, one of the greatest historical leaders. Pericles dominated Greek politics for over twenty years. He gained his political start with the help of Ephialtes, together they reorganized the voting process to involve a popular assembly destroying the power of the Areopagus or the old noble council. This action completely reformed the democratic system in Athens. This reform was affluential part to the legend of the power of Athenian democracy. (PBS) Many critiques of Pericles made gabs at this personal life in which his first wife born him two legitimate sons, he later divorced her. His later foreign lover was Aspasia she was described by Socrates as the most intelligent and witty woman of her time. Pericles treated her as an equal, which was unheard of during that age. They lived together but were never married. It was common for them to host the most intellectual company for part ies and conversation. Pericles was forced to defend Aspasia in a trial has he later gained power, and the only way his rivals could harm Pericles was by attacking those that were close to him.(PBS)Show MoreRelatedEssay about The Parthenon: The Epitome of Greek Culture 1136 Words   |  5 PagesMost every great culture in history has something for which they are famous. The Mayan civilization has the calendar, the Romans have the Colosseum, and I would like to suggest that the epitome of Greek culture is the Parthenon. It reflects the ideas and religious beliefs of the Greeks and incorporates the architectural brilliance seen first with the Greek people. The frieze, the religious idea behind the building of the temple, and the attention to detail in the Parthenon shows a genius that canRead MoreThe Role of Architecture in Art History1373 Words   |  5 PagesArchitecture has proven to be an important part of society and culture in both art history, and human history. Art is created to reflect the values of the society that creates it, and architecture is no different. Each piece of architecture can be identified by certain characteristics that makes it a part of a specific culture. Both the Great Stupa at Sanchi, located in central India, and the Parthenon, located in Greece, are examples of architecture that share similar characteristics, however canRead More Classical Architecture Essay595 Words   |  3 PagesUnited States where a Neo-Classical style predominates. The Lincoln Memorial built in 1822 embodies the conscious attempt to sanctify an American President with a classical model. 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It makes a tremendous impression on visitors.† (Heracleides of Crete, 3rd century BC) The Parthenon serves as a refined Greek Doric temple design that took approximately 2 centuries to achieve. This magnificent temple began undergoing construction in 447 BCE by architectsRead MoreThe Parthenon Essay1464 Words   |  6 PagesThe Parthenon There are some historians that believe before the Parthenon began, Athens concluded a peace treaty with Persia in 449 BC. The Athenian Empire was at the height of its power when the work on the Parthenon began in 447 BC and continued until 432 BC. The Delian League/Athenian Empire continued to exist even after the reason for its existence ceased to be valid. It is now openly acknowledged that Athens was not just the head of the Greek defense league but an imperial master over otherRead More Ideas of the Parthenon Essay1416 Words   |  6 Pagesthe 5th century BC created a culture that was deeply rooted in philosophy and the arts. 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