The Athenian Acropolis (PDF)

THE ATHENIAN ACROPOLIS Athenian Acropolis AC odyssey ARCHAIC ACROPOLIS Archaic Temple of Athena, built after 520 BC The “Pro-Parthenon”, started around 490 BC but never finished. On same site as the earlier Hekatompedon/”Blue beard” temple Note earlier alignment of Propylon and bastion of A...

THE ATHENIAN ACROPOLIS Athenian Acropolis AC odyssey ARCHAIC ACROPOLIS Archaic Temple of Athena, built after 520 BC The “Pro-Parthenon”, started around 490 BC but never finished. On same site as the earlier Hekatompedon/”Blue beard” temple Note earlier alignment of Propylon and bastion of Athena Nike. OLDER TEMPLES Old Temple of Athena Polias Constructed last quarter of 6th C BC, replacing earlier small temple from the 8th or 7th C. Housed the wooden statue (xoanon) of the goddess Athena Largely destroyed in 480 BC Hekatompedon Constructed around 570 BC on the general area of the current Parthenon. Name refers to length of 100 ft Assumed to have been dedicated to Athena Parthenos Referred to in the Hekatompedon inscription (right) EM 6794 (IG I3 4B), Ephigraphical Museum OLD ATHENA TEMPLE OLD ATHENA TEMPLE Depiction of Gigantomachy Athena, originally with spear, attacking Engelados – only remains of which are the tip of a foot Bottom right – wounded soldier next to Engelados leaning on lost shield Fallen giants in corner – possibly defeated by other gods not preserved High quality craftsmanship – attributed to Antenor or Endoios. OLD ATHENA TEMPLE Foundations of ruined temple Visible to the south of Erechtheion PERICLES Leader of Athens 461 –429 BC Attempted to institute Congress Decree 449 BC Envisioned an Acropolis that was a religious centre and also a symbolic cultural centre for Athens and its allies Plutarch: Life of Perikles: So the works arose, no less towering in their grandeur than inimitable in the grace of their outlines, since the workmen eagerly strove to surpass themselves in the beauty of their handicraft. PERICLEAN BUILDING PROGRAM Concerted effort to rebuild the everything on the Acropolis in scale of grandeur not previously seen Architects: Mnesikles, Iktinos, Kallikrates Artist: Phidias Important Elements: The Propylaia (Mnesikles) The Parthenon (Iktinos) The Erechtheion Temple of Athena Nike (Kallikrates) ERECHTHEION ERECHTHEION 421 – 407 BC Multifunctional religious building Housed cult statue of Athena (wooden Xoana or Palladion), olive tree, and Poseidon’s mark of his trident Cult centre dedicated to mythological founders of the city: Athena, Poseidon Erechthonios, Erechtheus, and Kekrops Pandrosos, Aglauros, and Herse More indepth on myth elements later in course INTERIOR ARRANGEMENT Interior arrangements not clear due to later modification – medieval cistern Multiple sanctuary divisions are clear Exterior Pandroseion to the west housed other cult areas Top: East Face Bottom: West Face Right: Caryatid Porch NORTH PORCH Hole in roof where Poseidon struck the earth with trident Matching hole in porch floor PARTHENON PARTHENON 447 – 431 BC 69.5 by 30.9 m, 8 x 17 columns 1687, damaged by Venetian mortar fire Carrey, 1674 (metope 14); Stuart 1762 OPTICAL REFINEMENTS ENTASIS Curved stylobate METOPES West: Greeks and Amazons North: Trojan War East: Gods and Giants South: Centaurs and Lapiths Total of 92; 1.2 h x 1.24 w All mythical themes Reinforcing triumph of Greek courage NORTH 32 Only good condition metope from north side Hera talking with Hebe EAST PEDIMENT Birth of Athena from Zeus’ head EXTANT – BRITISH MUSEUM WEST PEDIMENT Contest between Athena and Poseidon WEST EXTANT IONIC ELEMENTS The Frieze Four Ionic Columns in treasury Construction reason or social identity? Combination also seen in the Propylaia PANATHENAIC FRIEZE FRIEZE II CULT STATUE Mythological elements: Nike in right hand Aegis with Medusa’s head Serpent (Erechtheus) Shield with Amazonomachy on exterior and Gigantomachy on interior Sandal rims: centaurs Statue base: Pandora’s creation Mythology and religion brought together to emphasize the polis Environmental experience – reflective pool The Parthenon Marbles Controversy (PBS NewsHour 8:36) Bonnie Greer on keeping them in London (British Museum Trustee 6:23) CIVIC RELIGION - ATHENS Know the most about Athens due to amount of written (text and epigraphy) sources preserved Many religious festivals – Athena wasn’t alone! Presence of so many festivals demonstrates how intertwined religion was in all aspects of Greek culture Polis, the city, was center of identify, therefore also key realm of religious expression Around 2000 cults in Attica alone, including that of Dionysus! Anthesterion – spring festival for Dionysus. 3 day celebration of opening new wine. Great Dionysia – when tragedies and comedies were performed. Established 6th C. Blur between religious and secular. Komos scene, black-figure amphora by member of the Tyrrhenian group, ca. 560 BC, Staatliche Antikensammlungen (Inv. 1432) NAMA 3524 TUNE IN NEXT TIME… Aphrodite NAMA 3335