DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0109
92 THE ISLES AND SHRINES OF GREECE
ture, method, and intent. It was more than a cen-
tury and a half after the temple had become known
to the Western world through Spon and VVheler, in
1678, that the curvature was discovered by Penne-
thorne in 1837. There are elements in it which the
eye can discover only when aided by the rule.
The Parthenon is a symphony in stone. It is not
to be grasped in any melodic phrase of construction,
but only in the full, rich harmony of its perfection.
From a study of the whole one is led inevitably to a
study of the parts; and from a study of the parts he
comes back to a fuller, more perfect conception of
the whole. Alas that gunpowder and vandalism
should have made such inroads upon its beauty!
Though shaken by earthquakes, the tooth of time has
spared it. There is scarcely a wrinkle on its counte-
nance which can be ascribed to age or decay. It
was the divine energy of man that reared it, and the
diabolical energy of man that broke its columns and
architraves and stripped its frieze and pediments of
their treasures. This is the melancholy thought
which forces itself on the visitor. Let the bombard-
ment of the Parthenon be another count in the in-
dictment against the costs and hardships of war.
Though literally " broken and cast down," the tem-
ple is " not in despair." The drums of many of its
columns are scattered about, and great gaps are left in
the stately row which supported the roof; but there
is a grandness, a solidity, a strength, in the ruins
which brook no suggestion of decay. The Parthenon
was young when it was dismembered, and it is young
still. The fallen drums are white and sound to the
core.
ture, method, and intent. It was more than a cen-
tury and a half after the temple had become known
to the Western world through Spon and VVheler, in
1678, that the curvature was discovered by Penne-
thorne in 1837. There are elements in it which the
eye can discover only when aided by the rule.
The Parthenon is a symphony in stone. It is not
to be grasped in any melodic phrase of construction,
but only in the full, rich harmony of its perfection.
From a study of the whole one is led inevitably to a
study of the parts; and from a study of the parts he
comes back to a fuller, more perfect conception of
the whole. Alas that gunpowder and vandalism
should have made such inroads upon its beauty!
Though shaken by earthquakes, the tooth of time has
spared it. There is scarcely a wrinkle on its counte-
nance which can be ascribed to age or decay. It
was the divine energy of man that reared it, and the
diabolical energy of man that broke its columns and
architraves and stripped its frieze and pediments of
their treasures. This is the melancholy thought
which forces itself on the visitor. Let the bombard-
ment of the Parthenon be another count in the in-
dictment against the costs and hardships of war.
Though literally " broken and cast down," the tem-
ple is " not in despair." The drums of many of its
columns are scattered about, and great gaps are left in
the stately row which supported the roof; but there
is a grandness, a solidity, a strength, in the ruins
which brook no suggestion of decay. The Parthenon
was young when it was dismembered, and it is young
still. The fallen drums are white and sound to the
core.