Parthenon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parthenon |
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Παρθενώνας
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The Parthenon in 1978
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| General information | |
| Type | Temple |
| Architectural style | Classical |
| Location | Athens, Greece |
| Coordinates | 37°58′17″N 23°43′36″E / 37.9715°N 23.7266°E |
| Construction started | 447 BC |
| Completed | 432 BC |
| Destroyed | Partially on 26 September 1687 |
| Height | 13.72 m (45.0 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Other dimensions | Cella: 29.8 by 19.2 m (98 by 63 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Pentelic Marble |
| Size | 69.5 by 30.9 m (228 by 101 ft) |
| Floor area | 73 by 34 m (240 by 112 ft) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Iktinos, Callicrates |
| Other designers | Phidias (sculptor) |
The Parthenon (Ancient Greek: Παρθενών, meaning "maiden's apartment") is an ancient Greek temple. It stands on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. This famous building was built for the goddess Athena in the 5th century BC.
Its beautiful sculptures are seen as some of the best examples of Greek art. The Parthenon is a lasting symbol of Ancient Greece, democracy, and Western culture.
The Parthenon was built to thank the gods after the Greeks won against the Persian Empire in the Greco-Persian Wars. Like most Greek temples, it also served as the city's treasury.
Building started in 447 BC when the Delian League was very powerful. It was finished in 438 BC, but work on the decorations continued until 432 BC. For a time, it held the money of the Delian League.
Later, the Parthenon became a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. After the Ottoman Turks took over in the 1400s, it became a mosque. In 1687, during a war, a bomb hit the Parthenon. The Ottomans were using it to store gunpowder. The explosion caused a lot of damage.
Between 1800 and 1803, the Earl of Elgin took some of the remaining sculptures. These are now known as the Elgin Marbles. Many people then and now believe this was an act of damage and theft.
The Parthenon replaced an older temple of Athena. Historians call this the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon. It was destroyed during the Persian invasion in 480 BC. Since 1975, many large projects have worked to fix and protect the Parthenon.
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What Does "Parthenon" Mean?
The name "Parthenon" comes from the Greek word parthénos. This word means "maiden" or "virgin." It likely refers to the goddess Athena, who was a virgin goddess. Some experts think it might have meant a special room in the temple. This room might have been where young girls wove a special dress for Athena.
In ancient times, the building was sometimes just called "the temple." It was also called Hekatómpedos, meaning "the hundred footer." This name might have come from its size or its beauty. The name "Parthenon" for the whole building became common later.
What Was the Parthenon Used For?
The Parthenon was built as a temple, but it was also a very important building for Athens. It held a huge statue of Athena, made by the famous sculptor Phidias. This statue was not just for worship; it also served as a gold reserve.
During the Peloponnesian War, the leader Pericles said the gold from the statue could be used if Athens needed money. He said it could be put back later. Other treasures, like Persian swords, were also kept inside. So, the Parthenon was like a grand display for a huge statue and a city vault.
Some experts believe the Parthenon's sculptures told stories about Athenian history. These stories taught people about their identity and values.
The Older Temple
Before the current Parthenon, there was an earlier temple on the same spot. This first temple was started around 490–488 BC. It was still being built when the Persians attacked Athens in 480 BC. The Persians destroyed the Acropolis, including this older temple.
For a long time, the ruins of this older temple were left untouched. This might have been because the Greeks swore an oath not to rebuild temples destroyed by the Persians. They were only allowed to rebuild after a peace treaty in 450 BC.
Building the Present Parthenon
In the mid-5th century BC, Athens was a very important cultural center. Pericles, a famous Athenian leader, started a huge building project. This project included the Parthenon and other famous buildings on the Acropolis.
The Parthenon was built under the overall guidance of Phidias. The main architects were Iktinos and Callicrates. They started work in 447 BC, and the main building was mostly done by 432 BC. The decorations were finished a bit later.
Skilled workers, especially marble quarrymen, built the Parthenon. They were experts at cutting and shaping the marble. Many different people worked on the project, including citizens, foreigners, and slaves. They all did the same jobs and received the same pay. This shows how important the project was. Carpenters, metalworkers, and many unskilled laborers also helped. Everyone had a key role in creating this amazing building.
Parthenon's Design
The Parthenon is a peripteral octastyle Doric temple. This means it has columns all around it, with eight columns at each end. It stands on a platform with three steps. Like other Greek temples, it was built using a post and lintel system. This means it has strong vertical posts (columns) holding up horizontal beams.
Inside the columns is an inner stone structure called the cella. This cella is divided into two rooms. The back room, called the opisthodomos, held the money from the Delian League. At each end of the building, there is a triangular section called a pediment. These pediments originally held large sculptures.
The Parthenon is known as a perfect example of Doric architecture. Doric columns are simple, with fluted (grooved) shafts and no bases. Above the columns, there is a frieze with carved panels called metopes. These are typical of the Doric style. However, there is also a continuous frieze around the inner walls, which is an Ionic feature. This mix of styles makes the Parthenon unique.
The base of the Parthenon measures about 69.5 meters (228 feet) long and 30.9 meters (101 feet) wide. The outer columns are about 1.9 meters (6.2 feet) wide and 10.4 meters (34 feet) tall. The columns at the corners are a bit wider. The Parthenon had 46 outer columns and 23 inner columns. Each column had 20 flutes. The roof was covered with large, overlapping marble tiles.
Optical Illusions in Design
The Parthenon is famous for its "optical refinements." This means the builders made tiny adjustments to make the building look perfectly straight. For example, the columns have a slight bulge in the middle, called entasis. This bulge, about 4 cm (1.6 inches), makes the columns look straight from a distance. Without it, they might appear to curve inward.
The platform the columns stand on, called the stylobate, also curves slightly upwards. This helps drain rainwater and makes the building stronger against earthquakes. The columns also lean slightly inward. If they continued upwards, they would meet far above the temple. These subtle curves were designed to make the Parthenon appear perfect to the human eye.
Parthenon's Sculptures
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The Parthenon was once filled with amazing sculptures. The most famous was the huge statue of Athena Parthenos inside the main room. This statue, made of gold and ivory, was created by Phidias. It was finished around 439 or 438 BC. The outside of the temple was also decorated with colorful stonework.
Today, only a few of the original sculptures remain on the building. Most of the surviving pieces are in the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Many others are in the British Museum in London, known as the Elgin Marbles. Some pieces are also in museums in Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Vienna, and Palermo.
Metopes: Battle Scenes
The Parthenon's outer frieze had 92 carved panels called metopes. These were carved in high relief, meaning they stood out from the background. The metopes on the east side showed the Gigantomachy, a mythical battle between the gods and giants. The west side showed the Amazonomachy, a battle between Athenians and Amazons.
The south side depicted the Centauromachy, a battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs (half-human, half-horse creatures). The north side showed scenes from the sack of Troy. Many of these mythological figures were damaged by early Christians. Some metopes are still on the building, but many are damaged. Others are in museums.
Frieze: The Great Procession
A special feature of the Parthenon is the Ionic frieze that runs around the outside of the inner walls. This frieze was carved between 442 and 438 BC. It shows an idealized version of the Panathenaic procession. This was a huge parade held every four years in Athens to honor the goddess Athena.
In this procession, Athenians and foreigners marched to the Acropolis. They offered sacrifices and a new woven dress (a peplos) to Athena. The frieze shows the procession getting more crowded as it nears the gods on the east side of the temple.
Some experts believe the frieze tells a mythological story. It might show a sacrifice made by King Erechtheus to ensure victory in battle. The procession would then be a thanksgiving celebration after the victory.
Pediments: Birth and Battle
Above the entrances of the Parthenon, there are two triangular sections called pediments. These once held large sculptures. The east pediment showed the birth of Athena. The west pediment showed a mythical battle between Athena and Poseidon to see who would control Athens.
Most of the sculptures from the east pediment are now lost. Only figures showing the passage of time, like the horses of Helios (the sun god) and Selene (the moon goddess), remain. The west pediment showed Athena and Poseidon with their supporters. Many of these sculptures were damaged when people tried to remove them.
Athena Parthenos Statue
The most important sculpture inside the Parthenon was the huge statue of Athena Parthenos. This statue was made by Phidias. It was made of gold and ivory. The original statue is now lost, but we know what it looked like from copies, drawings, and descriptions.
Parthenon's Later Life
Around the mid-3rd century AD, a big fire damaged the Parthenon. Later, in 276 AD, pirates attacked Athens and damaged many buildings, including the Parthenon. Repairs were made in the 4th century AD.
As a Christian Church
The Parthenon was used as a temple to Athena for nearly 1,000 years. Then, in the late 5th century AD, it was changed into a Christian church. It was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The entrance was moved to the west, and an altar was placed in the east. Walls were built between the columns.
The Parthenon became a very important Christian pilgrimage site. It was one of the most important in the Eastern Roman Empire. During the Latin occupation, it became a Roman Catholic church for about 250 years. A tower with a spiral staircase was added.
As an Islamic Mosque
In 1456, the Ottoman Turks took over Athens. Before the end of the 15th century, the Parthenon became a mosque. The Christian altar was removed, and the walls were painted over to cover Christian images. A minaret was added to the tower.
Even with these changes, the Parthenon's main structure stayed mostly intact. Travelers from that time described it as an amazing building.
The Great Destruction
In 1687, during the Morean War, the Venetians attacked Athens. The Ottoman Turks were using the Parthenon to store gunpowder. On September 26, 1687, a Venetian bomb hit the Parthenon. The explosion destroyed the middle part of the building. The walls crumbled, and many sculptures fell. About three hundred people died.
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After the explosion, the Venetians tried to take some sculptures, causing more damage. When the Turks took back the Acropolis, they built a smaller mosque inside the ruined Parthenon. For the next 150 years, parts of the Parthenon were taken for building materials.
In the 18th century, more Europeans visited Athens. They drew and painted the Parthenon's ruins. This helped create interest in Greek independence. In 1801, the Earl of Elgin, a British ambassador, took many sculptures from the Parthenon. These are now known as the Elgin Marbles.
Independent Greece
When Greece became independent in 1832, the minaret on the Parthenon was removed. All medieval and Ottoman buildings on the Acropolis were also taken down. The Parthenon became a historical site controlled by the Greek government.
Today, the Parthenon is a very popular tourist spot. Millions of people visit it every year.
Dispute Over the Marbles
There is a long-standing disagreement about the Parthenon Marbles. These are the sculptures taken by the Earl of Elgin and now in the British Museum. Some sculptures are also in the Louvre in Paris and other museums. More than half are in the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Since 1983, the Greek government has asked the British Museum to return the sculptures to Greece. The British Museum has refused, and the British government has not forced them to return them. Talks have happened, and some pieces have been returned to Greece from other museums.
Restoring the Parthenon
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Since 1975, there has been a big effort to protect and restore the buildings on the Acropolis. A group of experts, called the Committee for the Conservation of the Acropolis Monuments, guides this work. They use computer models to figure out where original pieces belong. Important and fragile sculptures have been moved to the Acropolis Museum.
A special crane was installed to move marble blocks. Some old repairs were found to be wrong and were taken apart. The original builders used iron pins coated in lead to hold blocks together. This protected the iron from rust. But pins added in the 19th century were not coated. They rusted and cracked the marble.
In 2019, a new project was approved to restore parts of the inner walls. This project will put back many ancient stones and add new marble pieces. The goal is to restore parts of the Parthenon's interior walls.
See also
In Spanish: Partenón para niños
- National Monument of Scotland, Edinburgh
- Parthenon, Nashville – Full-scale replica
