greece - Index of

CENTRAL ATHENS SOUTH 99
Statue of Athena
The huge chryselephantine
(ivory and gold) statue of
Athena, patron goddess
of Athens, was the focus
of the Parthenon. No
trace of it remains
today, but this smaller
Roman copy can be
seen in the National
Archaeological
Museum (see
pp68–71).
The internal
columns were in
two rows and Doric
in style.
Entrance
THE ILLUSION OF PERFECTION
Every aspect of the Parthenon
was built on a 9:4
ratio to make the
temple completely
symmetrical. The
sculptors also
used visual trickery
to counteract
the laws of
perspective. The illustration below is exaggerated
to show the techniques they employed.
Entasis
(a bulge in the
middle) makes each
column look straight.
The steps
curved upwards
slightly at the
centre to make
them appear
level from a
distance.
Northeast Corner
This corner shows the
remains of the pediment
sculptures and the vertical
carvings of the triglyphs
alternating with the
faded metope carvings.
View of the East Cella
The cella was the inner room of the temple.
In the case of the Parthenon, there were two –
east and west. The east cella contained the
enormous cult statue of Athena and the offerings
bestowed upon it. The west cella was the
back room, reserved for the priestess.
4
Each column
leans inwards slightly.
9
The base of the
temple is higher in
the middle than at
the edges.
The roof was made from
Pentelic marble tiles supported
on wooden rafters.
9
4