Koriand’R Comegys Nii Codjoe

Felicia Blake Cameron Fontaine

Kevin Thompson Domenic Spencer

The Parthenon

Pediments and Coloration

What is a Pediment

low-pitched triangular gable in the Grecian or Greek Revival style of

architecture.

Parts of Pediment Structure

Impact of the pediments

The pediments are designed to evoke an “impression”. These sculptures are three-dimensional sculptures that are life-sized and free-standing.

Unlike the frieze, the pediments describe what has to be imagined. The sculptor of these pediments wants the viewer to see the story lines but at the same time use their imagination.

Perception of the pediments

The pediments gave an opportunity for the beholder to view the life of the Gods.

This is visually seen in the outer boundary of the pediments.

Significance of the Sculptures

A feature that sets the Parthenon apart from all the other temples is the subject matter of the sculpture. The type of sculptures in the Parthenon are

not found anywhere else in Greek classical art.

The unique quality of the Parthenon are brought on by coincidence. This kind of good coincidence rarely happens.

An effect that causes the sculptures to appear more life-like is the dramatic cropping of some of the figures. It is a ‘device that suggest immediacy, a

movement cut off ‘in the act’. Dramatic cropping has an influential impact,

unlike

Construction of the Sculptures

Built 438 BCE to 432BCE Carved from marble The sculptures have a lean Phidias, supervisor of sculptures and

sculptors Architects

Iktonis Kallikreates

Size of Pediment and Sculptures

Pediment base approx. 80 ft and 12ft at center

The Pediment circumscribed the sculptures Believed that the sculptures were carved in

place The sculpture were built to scale fitting in the

Pediment

Phidias Sculpture Arrangement

The center is focus and most important part As the sculptures get closer to the angles,

they are less connected with the central scene

The central sculptures are standing and as they get closer to the angles they start to have kneeling, sitting and, laying postures.

The animals had just their head showing depending on location in the scene

Style and Aesthetics The sculpture were dressed in light linen if the

were dressed at all Sculpted this way to dramatize the body posture Detailed body parts, facial expression and

movements The sculptures were each assigned an angle in

which the can relate to the other sculpture The angles are symmetrical on either side oF the

central structures

Angle Symmetry

Relation of Posture and Angles

The East Pediment

The East Pediment of the Parthenon Restored in Color from the Physical Evidence by: Holmes Bryant.

Reconstruction by: K. Schwerzek

ZEUSKing of the Olympian Gods

HERAGoddess of marriage and childbirth. Wife and sister of Zeus.

HEPHAISTOSGod of time, metal working and the forge. Eldest son of Zeus and Athena.

ATHENA

The goddess of wisdom, the practical arts, and warfare, and the protectress of cities.

NYX

Greek goddess personifying night.

HESPERIDES

Maidens who guarded the tree bearing golden apples that Gaea gave to Hera at her marriage to Zeus.

THREE FATES

(Klotho, Lachesis, Atropos)

ATLAS

Titan condemned by Zeus to support the heavens upon his shoulders.

HERMES

Herald and messenger of the gods and the god of roads, commerce, invention, cunning, and theft.

NIKE

Greek goddess of victory.

HELIOS

God of the sun, represented as driving a chariot across the heavens.

HERAKLES

A hero of extraordinary strength who won immortality.

WEST PEDIMENT

The West Pediment: The Legend

Athena and Poseidon were competing for the protection of the city and each one offered presents. Poseidon struck the rock at the Acropolis with his trident (the three marks can be seen behind the Erectheion.) and a spring with salted water gushed up. With the blow also leaped the first horse, ready to serve the man faithfully, while Athena offered an olive tree. The legend tell us, that all the men of Athens voted for the gift of Poseidon and all the women, for the gift of Athena and because there was one woman more than the men, goddess Athena was selected and from her, the city took her name.

Illisos

Kekrops

Pandrosos

Herse

Erysichthon

Aglauros

Erechthonius

Hermes

Athena

Poseidon

Iris

Amphitrite

Kalais

Oreithyia

Zetes

Melicettes

Cephissos

Currently monochromatic, a golden brown

Evidence suggests an original Doric Polychromy

Coloration

Colors used in Doric Polychrome

Color Scale: cream to dark purple

Most used on Parthenon: Dark red, light red, pink, dark blue, light blue, and green

Colored Depiction of East Pediment

achieve a heightened emotional response.

contributed a more heroic or awe-inspiring likeness

Greeks took pleasure in the combination of formand color

Restoration based on chips of color found on the remains of the statues

Brief History

• 426 AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian Church an was dedicated to Hagia Sophia and later the Virgin Mary: Alter and bell tower added.

• Under the Ottoman Turkish rule in 1458, the Parthenon became a mosque.

• In 1687, the Parthenon suffered extensive damages when a Venetian general laid siege to Athens. The Acropolis was an Ottoman garrison; gunpowder was stored in the Parthenon.

• Venetians fired a cannon which caused an explosion destroying the central part of the building. The roof came off and columns were knocked down.

• It was not until 1928 that efforts were made to restore the building, although the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin, had taken half of the sculptures to England in the early 19th century.

• The Elgin Marbles were transported by sea; sold to the British Government in 1816; placed in the British Museum. Elgin was criticized for his actions.

• Caused controversy between the Britain and Greece.

Brief History

The British Argument

• The British Museum has preserved and maintained the marbles and have protected them from pollution and other damages that would have occurred if left in Greece.

• If all the world’s artwork were returned to their original locations, most of the world’s greatest museums would not exist. It defeats the purpose of a museum.

• Over half of the Elgin Marbles were lost so even if returned, it would not complete the collection in Greece.

The Greek Argument

• The marbles are an indispensible part of Greek culture.

• Over half of the Elgin Marbles were lost so even if returned, it would not complete the collection in Greece.

• Thus far, fragments of the monument have been returned by the Swedish and the Germans.

• The New Acropolis Museum now has the resources and technology to protect and preserve the sculptures.

• Class Poll

The New Acropolis Museum The New Acropolis Museum

An archeological museum located in Athens, Greece.

The design of the Museum includes a rectangular glass gallery that aligns perfectly with the Parthenon.

It was designed with the expectation that Greece would receive the Elgin Marbles.

The New Acropolis Museum The New Acropolis Museum

Bibilography

Boardman, John. The Parthenon and Its Sculptures. Austin: University of Texas P, 1985.

Murray, A. S. The Sculptures of the Parthenon. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1903.

Robertson, and Franvtz. The Parthenon Frieze. Phaidon P Limited, 1975.