Lectures 4 and 5: The Acropolis

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The Parthenon, Athens, 447-438 BC. Architects: Ictinus and Callicrates; Sculptor: Phidias

Acropolis copy.jpg (73466 bytes) Plan of the Periclean Acropolis Parthenon in Ruins copy.jpg (84681 bytes) East facade of the Parthenon

Parthenon NE Corner Construction copy.jpg (65182 bytes) Corner showing the narrowing of the intercolumniation to solve the triglyph problem

Parthenon Steps copy.jpg (52172 bytes) Detail of the stylobate showing its subtle curvature

Acropolis Parthenon Bottom of Colum copy.jpg (62146 bytes) Detail of column shaft showing crisp carving of pentelic marble to form the arris between flutes

Parthenon Drawing copy.jpg (61888 bytes) Reconstruction of polychromatic painting of architectural elementsLapitos Centaurus copy.jpg (51287 bytes) Detail of Metope from exterior frieze, depicting battle of Lapiths and Centaurs

Riders copy.jpg (65139 bytes) Detail from frieze within the peristyle, showing the Panathenaic procession

Parthenon copy.jpg (84640 bytes) Reconstruction showing Phidias' Chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Athena (Note: the cella of the Parthenon is no longer thought to be open to the sky, or "hypaethral", as it was when this reconstruction was drawn)

Phidia's Parthenos copy.jpg (50913 bytes) Another reconstruction of the interior of the Parthenon cella with a more accurate representation of the ceiling and scale of the cult statue.

Propylaia, Athens, 437-432 BC, architect: Mnesikles

Propylaea copy.jpg (75763 bytes) View of main approach showing to the right the small Ionic Temple of Athena Nike, c. 425 BC

Acropolis Propylora copy.jpg (53674 bytes) Plan and section, Propylaia

 

Erechtheion, Athens, 421-405 BC

Erectheion East Elevation copy.jpg (67827 bytes)  East porch   Erechtheum Porch of Maidens copy.jpg (86606 bytes) West facade, with Caryatid porch