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greek ideal of excellence

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The Parthenon is the third temple built for Athena at the site of the Acropolis.

The first temple stood for 100 years.

It was then somewhat destroyed in the Battle of Marathon and contruction began to replace.

This II Parthenon (replacing the prior one) was destroyed by the Persians whilst in contruction and unfinished.

The Parthenon standing now is the III, and its contruction was called for by Pericles. It took 10 years to build.

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greek ideal of order

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chaos vs order

civility vs barbarity

greeks vs persians

greeks vs animals/beasts

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Public building program in Athens apart of his legacy/effect.

Acropolis was not notable compared to other Ionian temples before his effect. 560 BCE and onwards, Acropolis under continuous construction.

Athenians adopted trend of grand temples, typically intented for "self-promotion" of wealthy families such as the Peisistratids.

Temple of Zeus unfinished when dynansty fell in 510s BCE.

During reign, Athens economy depended on grain imports from north coast of the Black Sea.

People began expressing wealth through fashion.

Theatre is a formal, structured religious spectacle.

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Tyrant Hipparchus assassinated by Harmodius and Aristogeiton. Now alone, brother Hippias spirals into paranoia and violence as an oppressive tyrant which the people despised.

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Isagoras and allied Spartans against the people, a revolt harboured by leader Cleisthenes.

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Transformed Solons constitution into democracy.

Previous system = Plainsmen (wealthy landowners, Shoresmen (merchants), and Hillsmen (rural poor). These were further divided into 4 hereditary tribes (or phylai).

New system =

approx 139 demes, division units comprised of all male athenians in local neighbourhood/area.

demes divided into 3 geographical regions. City, Hills, Shores.

Each region has 10 Trittyes, 30 in total.

10 tribes (phylai) comprised of 1 Trittyes of each region.

Boule or council of 500. comprised of 50 men from each tribe (phylai)

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Athens, under Cleisthenes rule, were attacked by Sparta and their allies of Boeotians and Chalcidians, but they withdrew due to Cleisthenes armys intimidation. As vengeance for the attack , and pride for their victory, Athenians "slaughtered vast numbers" of Boeotians and Chalcidians. The Athenians then dedicated a bronze chariot drawn by 4 horses to Athena, with an inscription mentioning the victory over the Boeotians and Chalcidians.

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parthenos loosely = virginity? unmarried?

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Size = 2145m^2

Stylobate/base = 69.5m long by 30.9m wide

Cella = 29.8m long by 19.2m wide

Exterior doric columns =

1.9m in diameter and 10.4m high

*corner columns slightly larger in diameter*

4 centimeter "swelling" in the center of the columns

Frieze = 160m long

East metope = 14 1.35m x 1.35m squares

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location = West Pediment

depicted as

athena born, fully grown and armed

athena standing beside Zeus

next to zeus is Hephaestus and Hera

around central action is chariots

at far left hand side Helios is rising in his chariot of the sun

at right end moon goddess Selone descending

Details

athena in full glory, fully grown, ready armed

athena was birthed from Zeus' head

Hephaestus split Zeus head open for athena to come out

chariots frame centre from other olympians witnessing event

meaning / purpose / function

"..the revelation of the power of intellect and the establishment of Athena, wisdom, civilization, light as the leader and focus of Athena.."

celebrate heritage and protectoress Athena

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West Pediment = Athena and Poseidons contest for the Patronage of Athens 

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West Pediment = Athena and Poseidons contest for the Patronage of Athens 

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Location = West Pediment

Depicted as

athena and poseidon in centre

chariots surrounding them/ framing them

around action is well-dressed figures , likely ancient kings of athens and their families

at either end river gods reclining peacefully

Details / story

athena offered olive tree

poseidon offered salt spring

athena won

Meaning / purpose / function

"..struggle between irrational, hostile, bestial forces and the enlightened, reasoned world of civilization.."

"..struggle between the earth shaker, the old Titan-born god of earthquakes, the god of the terrifying sea, the god of the uncontrollable, violent forces against nature, and the goddess of intellect and reason, a second generation olympian, symbol of wisdom and light, of the positive forces of the cosmos.."

Techniques

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Made from 20 thousand tons of marble quarried from nearby Mount Pentelicus. The marble was shaped at the quarry and transported to Athens and finally hauled up the steep slopes of the Acropolis.

The huge pieces of stone had to be hauled to the building site by oxcart.

Many of the sculptures were made of the more expensive Parian marble, from the island of Paros, which most sculptors proclaimed the best kind of marble for their work.

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Apart of Pericles building program

planned between victory at Marathon and 480 BCE persian occupation

Architects = Ictinus and Callicrates

Director of Sculpture = Phidias

Goldsmiths, coppersmiths, marble sculptors, carpenters, rope makers and ox owners worked for the construction of the Parthenon.

Designed by the architect Iktinos to hold the monumental gold and ivory (chryselephantine) statue of Athena designed by the sculptor-architect Pheidias.

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Columns

Amount of Outer Columns = 46 (have to take away corners)

Amount of Inner Columns = 23

Amount on short side of outer (front/back) = 8

Amount on long side of outer = 17

Each column had 20 flutes. (Flutes are the grooves carved vertically up the column)

Entasis refers to the slight swelling, of 4 centimetres (1.6 in), in the center of the columns to counteract the appearance of a hourglass shape that could be interpreted as weak or flimsy, and make them appear straight from a far.

Blend of Doric and Ionic styles.

Stylobate

designed with mathematical ratio to create subtle rounded base, intended to counteract or compensate for anticipated "sagging" effect that the temple, if on a straight surface, would have had on the human eye from a far.

Roof

consisted of large overlapping marble tiles knowns as imbrices and tegulae, supported by massive wooden beams.

The roof itself consisted of wooden structural members and marble tiles to cover and enclose the space.

The roof was sloped, resulting in a triangular shape at the front and rear ends.

When a roof forms a triangular shape, it is called a gable, and in Classical architecture, this triangular element is known as a pediment.

Frieze

This continuous sculpted frieze is normally characteristic of Ionic temples.

Pediments

Metopes

Cella

Sculptures

sculptural program completed 6 years after building process

Architrave

Entablature

The entablature is divided into two horizontal bands: the architrave and the frieze. The architrave is unadorned , but the frieze is divided into nearly square-like sections.

Temple

rectangular load-bearing structure that consists of a front porch and a back porch (which was largely decorative and served no ceremonial or functional purpose).

In the naos, a double-height colonnade laid out in a "U" shape ringed the room.

In the back room, four Ionic columns stood in the middle, another Ionic touch in an otherwise Doric temple.

inside naos was cult statue of Athena

Statue of Athena

sculptor Pheidias created a wooden armature that was covered in a veneer of ivory with gold plating for the clothing and precious stones for the eyes. This type of sculpture is known as chryselephantine (gold and ivory).

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The cost, according to public accounts engraved in stone, was 469 silver talents.

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Parthenon III 4x bigger then Parthenon I

More metopes and columns than necessary in design.

Larger than the previous temple for Athena.

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Pronaos facing away from the propylaia to force visitors/citizens to walk around the buildings exterior and admire the sculptures/architechture

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Columns spaced in such a way that the building doesn't seem as heavy as they could have been.

The fact they slant slightly inward and the floor is slight bowed (about 10 centimeters on the sides and six centimeters on the front and back with a slight bulge in the middle) not only helped to relieve some of the stress of the roof but it also gave the structure the illusion that it was reaching towards a pinnacle.

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Doric =

massive, 'masculine' appearance

heavy and robust

thicker and shorter

no base and sits flush on temple floor/top step (stylobate)

doric capital is simple, resembles pillow/cushion

columns middle is carved into deep flutes that come to a point

columns taper slightly towards the top (parthenon has this)

Ionic

'feminine' appearance

taller and slimmer

more embellished then doric

ionic capital less simple, more detailed/embellished

Peristyle

When a single row of columns surrounds a Greek Temple

far more common temple type on mainland greece

typically would have 6 columns on front/rear, parthenon has 8

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In traditional temples this is a single room but in the case of the Parthenon, the Cella has been divided into two rooms. In the larger one, a huge standing statue of Athena was located, resting on a support slab. In front of the statute…a reflecting pool. In the smaller room, with the four interior columns, was kept the state treasury, including cash gifts to the deity.

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The joints between the blocks are all but invisible even with a magnifying glass. The blocks were fitted together with iron clamps placed into carefully-carved grooves, lead was then poured in the joints to cushion them from seismic shocks and protect them from corrosion.

Time-consuming and labor intensive detail work such as making the flutes (vertical grooves) that run up and down the columns.

professional estimated that making the flutes in each column was as costly as all the quarrying, hauling and assembly combined.

After the columns were smoothed and polished, a stripling pattern was added to dull the shine and mask the flaws.

It (parthenon) has been surmised using ropes, pulleys and wooden cranes like those used to build their great navy.

Some scholars also believe the Athenians possessed chisels, axes and other tools that were stronger and more durable that their modern counterparts and this, combined with superior temple building skills honed over a century and a half, enabled them carve blocks at twice the speed of modern restorers.

The walls of the cella were built with no mortar. They were carved perfectly to fit into place with one another. The same was true for the drums of the columns.

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Transportation =

In order to transport the marbles, the ancient craftsmen built the "Lithagogias Street". The road started from the quarry in the cave of Davelis in Penteli and ended at the south side of the Acropolis. The journey took about 6 hours. It is estimated that there were about 20 carriages that covered the route ten times a day.

Contruction methods =

The peristyle, entablature, and pediment are built using the post-and-beam method of construction.

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everything painted in a bright, polychrome scheme of gold, red, and blue.

effectively 0 straight lines

The Parthenon and Greek Temples are built according to the principle of the "Golden Mean" or the "Golden Section." This is an irrational proportion that informs the entire design. It is said that the proportion was derived to ensure a clear and perfectly framed view of the cult statue as one would approach the entrance to the temple. On the Parthenon, the Golden Mean is 5:8.

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The interior of a Greek Temple was not the site of any religious practices; all ceremonies, sacrifices, and worshiping took place outside of the temple, at an adjacent altar.

greek temples primary purpose was to protect the statue from the elements and birds.

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Athena the maiden, or virgin. She had no consort or lover.

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location = south side

centaurs battling lapiths

at the wedding of Pirithoos, the lapith prince

centaurs apparently admired by persians , bc of pride in horsemanship, according to Xenophon

represents persians invading and intruding on greek territory

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location = west side

enemy again eastern

very much like persians

= rode on horses and used bow/arrow

= aimed to capture Attica

*shield of athenas statue in parthenon showed amazons attacking acropolis

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"...the same secret of beauty which governs natural forms...the tempering of geometric accuracy by minute deviations in the interest of irregularity..."

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"...the same secret of beauty which governs natural forms...the tempering of geometric accuracy by minute deviations in the interest of irregularity..."

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decorations on metopes and mediments enrich the building

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location = east side

"the Giants courted their own primordial destruction by a challenge of extreme self-esteem or hubris -

the same sort of hubris that Xerxes would manifest when he launched his invasion via the Hellespont, threatening the very elements of the earth." referring to story of Xerxes whipping sea in revenge after a bridge broke, which was "archetypal of the greek characterization of their Oriental enemy."

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"...type of slavery, burdened with the weight of their shame and so making atonement for their State. Hence, the architects of the time designed for public buildings statues of these women, placed so as to carry a load, in order that the sin and the punishment of the people of Caryae might be known and handed down even to posterity."

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Measurements

length of triangle base line = 28.35m

largest height = 3.428-3.47 m

depth = 0.90m

cornice overhung/protruded = 70cm

Techniques

carved in the round, high relief, free standing to give realism and use light/shadow

symmetry and balance of centre and sides

line of sight used by triangular shape and central action

chisels, axes used etc

other

marble extracted 439-438 BCE, sculpture commenced following year

sculptures carved freestanding "in the round" by various artists

sculptures of pediment installed nearing end of full construction, but before the roof was installed

western pediment seems more refined or "artificial" then the eastern

the statues of the parthenon pediment are the largest of all the pediments of ancient greece

some artists may have finished them in entirety after mounting

some sculptures which details would be invisible from below were left untouched whilst other finished

some statues had to be planed to fit in placement

Deep rectangular grooves at the corners of pediments could indicate the presence in these places of a lift-type mechanism for mounting statues.

sculptures placed on overhanging cornice (of 25 marble blocks) above frieze

"sima" detail of end of roof which was like a gutter? painted with "palmettes" and golden lotus flowers

statues either on laying bed or plinth

temple of zeus major influence on realism of pediment statues

pediment and statues dimensions somewhat equal to temple of Zeus

west pediment inspired by east pediment of Olympia

"spectator" statues idea borrowed from sanctuary in the Peloponnese

phidias modelled sculptures in clay or plaster

phidias banished before completion

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North Metope = Sack of Troy / Trojan war 

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North Metope = Sack of Troy / Trojan war 

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Narrative =

Depictions =

Purpose/function =

Troy and the land of troy would become the persian empire.

Expressing glory and victory

battle between eastern enemy

Techniques =

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Narrative =

olympians battle giants for control of greek religion

religion had been dominated by the Giants parents, Gaia and Uranus

Gaia had previously attempted to hinder Zeus with the Titanomachy, which failed and only strengthened Zeus

Olympians win battle when realising the "immortal" giant was only such at his place of birth

giants killed, or alternately trapped underground - reason for earthquakes and volcanoes

Figures depicted =

Hermes

Dionysus; aided by lion and snake

Ares or Hephaistos

Athena and Nike

A chariot/unkown charioteer

Poseidon; crushing giant with rock

Chariot with winged horses on rocky ground?

Zeus; pulling at a Giants shield

Heracles; with lion skin, defending himself

Chariot; (woman?)

Eros; with a bow

A goddess (Artemis?)

Hephaistos; wielding fire brands

Chariot rising from sea, with driver (likely Helios)

Ideas / themes

Order vs Chaos

Civility vs barbarity

influence of the gods

respect to the gods

war within the gods

power of intelligence

Techniques

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Narrative =

Depictions =

Purpose / function =

an example of what women should not be, and the failure or losses which will always follow such behaviours of rejecting their feminine archetype.

Amazon loosely translates to "breast-less"

To condemn primitive instincts

shows powerlessness and victimisation of women

lack of moderation; not being able to control or restrain oneself = what Athenians were against and what the centaurs represent

Techniques =

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Pericles initiated it in 447

proposal provoked controversy in its own time

acropolis = upper city/ city height

acropolis towered over centre (agora)

the agora is where the original greek settlers built their homes, urban sprawl ensued past it to create the city

'sacred way' = the path from agora to acropolis and parthenon

enemies "maligned and slandered" pericles program as a sort of jealousy or not wanting their opposition to succeed? according to Plutarch

Protesters cried that "removed public moneys of the Hellenes from Delos into its own keeping" - Plutarch says

opps had feeling of being subjected to tyranny under Pericles and the program

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Construction =

created between 420-438 BCE

sculptures formed a continuous relief depicting a single unified action that encircled the outer side of the cella.

starts at southwest corner, meets at centre east

Panathenaic procession

was the greatest festival held in athens every 4 years, lasting 12 days

festival included, rituals, sacrifices, athletic/musical contests

non-mythological event = considered peculiar, ostentatious to depict, especially with mortals next to gods etc

Depictions/figures =

figures = gods, heroes of the city, archons, citizens, men and women, children, youth and elders

animals = mainly horses, some bulls and rams

378 figures , over 200 animals

%70 dedicated to cavalcade led by chariots

diverse moving groups

Ideas/Themes =

Purpose/Function =

adorns upper part of parthenons naos

Socio-historical =

random =

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Discuss how the Parthenon reflects the socio-historical values of 5th century BCE Athens.

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Discuss how the Parthenon reflects the socio-historical values of 5th century BCE Athens.

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persian war, xenophobia, fear or hatred of barbaric, chaotic, primitive, immodest, uncivilised = centaurs vs lapiths, olympians vs giants, athena vs poseidon, amazonians vs greek men, "eastern" "oriental" enemies

Democracy/economy/militarypride, supremacy, victory and confidence for athens/ being an athenians, but also greek = mortals with gods on frieze , athenians victory over struggles in metopes, athena winning contest, athenas birth from greatest god zeus , delian league money - economic prosperity of olive tree, the housing of the most valuable object and treasury in greece in athens centre

gender dynamics, role of men vs women = amazonomachy, athena cult statue, women vs men in procession, clothed vs nude, modesty, victimisation of women

militarism, aggression, warfare, battle, competition = centauromachy, gigantomachy, amazonomachy, sack of troy, athena vs poseidon, persian enemy

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1. chaos vs order, civilisation vs barbarity evidence =

centauromachy - barbaric, immodest, uncivilised figures, persians great horsemanship as a symbol of barbarism

amazonomachy - eastern enemies , chaos , going against natural feminine order

gigantomachy - chaos and destruction of nature, strength of giants at a loss to intelligence of greeks

poseidon "uncontrollable sea" "shaker of the earth"

2. Athenians pride, hubris, victory, supremacy evidence

mortals shown on frieze next to/with gods

victory over enemies (persians and spartans?) = centaurs, trojans, amazons, giants

athena victory in contest with poseidon

athenas birth = heritage, supremacy of being born from zeus

economic prosperity of olive tree and holding most of greek treasury in athens centre

3. Womens role and fate, gender dynamics evidence

amazonomachy = condemning women who reject feminine role/expectations, always lose to greek men, translation to breastless

women being clothed, modesty expected whilst men nude

athena vs poseidon gender dynamic

womens clothing being torn or dropped when in harm/danger etc

victimsation of women - centaurs vs lapith wife

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1. order vs chaos

ananke = order , in design and construction

2. pride, victory, supremacy

challenging doric and ionic order, design movements/standards

competing with other temples such as at olympia

bigger then rivals/ then needed

athenas cult statue materials of gold and ivory

on top of acropolis = oversees agora and whole city

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Athens doesnt attempt to rival the lifestyles or systems of other poleis

Athens is individualistic, doesnt copy other poleis but is rather exemplary

equal justice to all in their private life (but not women, who arent allowed near any recreational freedoms)

citizens who excel are distinguished and praised/ rewarded through oppurtunity (parallel to spartas group-mindset)

poverty does not prohibit a citizen from participating in government or benefitting his country in military/politics

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Athenians appreciate art and recreational activites to enjoy life by = regular games, sacrifies through the year, beautiful/elegant homes, which all make them feel delight and hinder "sorrow"

athens is a global havern for cultures, beliefs etc to flourish, they enjoy resources or cultures of others as much as their own

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athenian military is superior to neighbour poleis

athens is open for foreigners or others to visit, they dont engage in secrecy and arent fearful of information damaging them

they do not oppress the citizens or force their hand to supprt or abide by the law/government etc, citizens freely decide to live in and support athens

athens education programs are superior to spartas harsh, unneccesary and inefficent methods

athenians live at ease

although athenians arent in constant fear such as spartans, they act equally as brave and strong in war

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athenians are lovers of art and the beautiful

their strength lies not in discussion but the knowledge/wisdom gained from it before action

they have "peculiar" ability to think before speaking, wisdom

others are merely brave from ignorance or force

athenians proved more brave by remaining fearless when totally aware of the circumstances of harm

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merit of men he is commemorating

the city if reflective of its citizens, a compliment to athens is a compliment to athenians (democracy)

the men referenced actions are what make athens great and glorified

unlike many greeks, these mens deeds are equal to their fame

death of them a true measure of a mans worth (masculinity, heroism)

none of them hesitated to sacrifice themself for their country due to their good position of wealth or naivety in hoping one day they could be

hope of becoming rich is natural to poverty

they understood their enemies punishment was more satisfying then their wealth

they didnt turn around and run, theys tuck it to the end and sacrificed themself for athens

their death a scene of glory

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men were worthy of athens, with the most heroic spirit

indescribale value of heroic spirit

audience should look at athens and reflect on these mens impact / contribution which makes the city and its glory

men knew their duty and had the courage to do it

always remained fearful of dishonour above else

their lives the fairest offer to athens feast

take not of them as an example

to a righteous man, to be a coward is worse then to die

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men at home or women will have difficulty "emulating" the mens role

the best the women who are now widows can do is not be anymore weak then they already inherently are as a woman and to not give reason for men to speak of them whether good or bad

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divided into approx 1000

consisted of large town/city in centre with acropolis and land surrounding

geographically plains bound by mountains that divided the poleis

has patron god/goddess

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Men

(Athens) the only citizens

duty was citizenship, contributing to army and politics/community

Women

(Athens) manage household = make clothes, oversee slaves, educate kids

(Athens) unable to vote, represent themselves in legal system and manage large amounts of $$$

(Athens) significance in funerals / care for dead

(Sparta) trained/ excercised to withstand childbirth and produce superior kids to become soldiers

(Sparta) allowed to own land, became significant landowners in 4th cen BCE

Slaves

acquired from foreign conquest, raiding, piracy, breeding etc, sometimes to other greeks

depended on for agriculture, mining, manufactoring

when freed dont get citizen rights

(Sparta) conquered messenians became helot slaves

(Sparta) helots farmed land, did housework for masters

(Athens) either public or private = in households or civil service or contruction, managing city accounting and building temples etc

(Athens) worst fate was to be sent to silver mines at Laurion

(Athens) when freed = same status as metics - foreigners

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Similarites

shared infastructure/ buildings such as = religious sanctuaries, fountains, gymnasia, theatres, assembly halls, agoras

Colonialism , Hegemony

when populations grew beyond poleis agricultural land/resources, colonisation and trade sought

greek colonies around mediterranean and black seas set up similarly to poleis

larger, more powerful poleis dominated, pressured smaller neighbors

Spartan Helots

helots work in household/farms etc gave citizens time to train/participate in community

citizens/spartans lived in constant fear of helot uprising/revolution

Athenian Metics

became involved in trade bc Athens unable to access land for agriculture

had a community at port of Athens ( Piraeus)

required to pay monthly tax, a source of funds for athens

role in economy = trade, commerce, manufacturing

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same height as metopes

12m above temple floor

located on the external walls of the long sides and above the porch columns on short side

frieze unique in doric temple architecture of mainland greece

placed high up behind the colonnades = difficult to see

1m high

160m in total length

carved in low relief, 6-7cm depth

festival took place height of summer

procession represented by 2 branches

each branched off from south-west corner

shorter branch ran long south side until turning corner onto east side

other ran west side, turned onto long north side, reached north-east corner and turned onto east side

depiction of non-mythology and mortals with gods broke tradition/norm/standard

athenians could see themselves

west, half of long & south = horsemen

west shows prep/before procession with men dressing themself, arranging horse equipment and testing horse (put through their pace)

cavalcade proper is dedicated to north and south friezes , 60 horsemen each, arranged in ranks at most 8 deep

Pericles recently expanded state cavalry to 1000

cavalry became new important element of athens military

many horse riders wear armour, but none have weapons

cavalry gathered in "peaceful parade of horsemanship"

feature a new thrilling spectacle of athenian marketplaces parade ground

event of horseman not actually apart of procession itself, but staged as part of festival

hard to imagine cavalcade as depicting actual participants and chariot race ahead of cavalcade as actual event

instead, chariot race event of festival games

games included musical / athletic contests

Moments preserved =

2 figures in each car, a driver in long ceremonial tunic and a armed warrior/hoplite

hoplite supposed to jump off chariot to finish race on foot at a certain point

infront of chariots, groups of pedestrains walk slowly / solemnly

slow contrasts fast tempo of cavalcade

pedestrains comprise of =

bearded men (maybe elder civic or religious officials)

musicians

young men carrying water-jars

tray-bearers

youth leading sacrificial cattle or sheep

on turning corner onto east frieze =

women/girls first depiction

heavily draped

moving forward in slow time

carrying paraphernalia of ritual sacrifice = jugs and bowls for pouring libations, one stand for incense burning

women/girls on north and south led / met by male marshalls

men leading women = transitional figures between procession proper, do not participate in it, lean casually on sticks to converse with others

leaning figures could be magistrates of athenians democratic government or eponymous heroes who gave name to 10 tribes of athens

they provide cosmological interval between mortals behind and divine olympian family ahead of them

Immortals/gods/divine

gods seated

they are on larger scale then previous figures

2 groups of them, arranged like grand-stand audience

one group faces the southern division of the procession, the other faces the northern

panthenon conceived very much as human

each god depicted with distinguishing attributes and posing

dionysus leaning drunken arm on hermes , demeter rests chin solemnly on her hand (grieving daughter persephone loss), zeus leans arm over back of his thrown

between 2 groups of gods is a carved scene of a religious ritual

ritual left - right = 2 girls carry cushioned stools on heads towards priestess who is standing back to back with priest who is handling folded blanket cloth with young boy

cloth = peplos, new robe for athens that is women every year and presented to her/put on her statue as the final event of the festival/procession

historic

frieze doesnt present a literal rendering of the panathenaic procession

instead shows an idealised, artificial synthesis of festival events which wouldnt have occured how it is shown

competition and sacrifices together in idealised rendering of the people of athens

athenains dressed in best atire and parading before their gods

gods depicted as larger-then-life humans

uncertain whether gods are watching procession from sacred citadel or holy mountain

either heaven has come to earth or earth has gone to heaven

ambiguity flatters athenians

encapsulates moment where both human/animal, male/female, citizen/slave, young/old, mortal/divine, pay honour and are honoured in return

431 bce , athens had just had a disastrous war with sparta, consequence was a plague that grew behind athens fortified walls and ultimately killed pericles 2 years later

uncertainty of human fortune

stone sculptures of living flesh rescues life from earths corruption

immortalized athenians

often in greek sculpture deceased represented as "perpetual bloom of youth", not being old or withered , rotted etc

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378 figures depicted

245 animals depicted

narrative begins at southwest corner = procession divides into 2 separate files

Procession preperation

1st third of west frieze is not apart of procession, rather showing preparations for participants

marshal (officer) dressing, men prepping horses = could have been dokimasia or enrollment of knights

Horsemen, cavalry

constitute %46 of whole frieze

horsemen divided into 2 lines of 10 ranks – same number as Attic tribes

all except 2 are beardless youths

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Measurements

original frieze 160m

only 128m survives - approx %80

1m in height

5.6cm forward at its max depth

composed of 114 blocks

blocks average of 1.22m length

Design

doric temple expected to have doric metopes where the ionic frieze is

Building

below the moulding and above the tenia there is a channel 17 mm high that would have served to give access to the sculptor's chisel when finishing the heads or feet on the relief; this scamillus or guide strip is the best evidence there is that the blocks were carved on the wall.

the many drill holes found in Hera's and Apollo's heads indicate that a gilded bronze wreath would probably have crowned the deities.