DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.14134#0009
GUIDE
TO THE
ELGIN BOOM.
PAET I.
THE SCULPTUKES OF THE PAETHENON.
The Parthenon, or temple of the virgin goddess, Athene,
was constructed by Iktinos, under the administration of
Perikles between b.c. 454 and 438. It stood on the Akro-
polis of Athens, on the site formerly occupied by the
more ancient temple of Athene, which was burnt on the
sacking of Athens by the Persians, b.c. 480. The Par-
thenon, like the earlier temple, was of the Doric order
of architecture, and was of the form termed peripteral
octastyle. The sculptural decorations and probably the
whole design of the temple were planned and executed
under the superintendence of Pheidias.
The cella (seJcos) within the colonnade contained the
colossal statue of Athene, executed in gold and ivory, and
one of the most celebrated works of Pheidias. Externally,
the cella was ornamented by a frieze in very low relief. The
two pediments were filled with figures sculptured in the
round, and above the architrave the spaces between the
triglyphs were decorated with groups sculptured in very
high relief. All these sculptured decorations were
executed, like the architecture, in Pentelic marble.
After the fall of paganism, the Parthenon was converted
by the Christians into a church dedicated to the Pauagia,
part i. b
TO THE
ELGIN BOOM.
PAET I.
THE SCULPTUKES OF THE PAETHENON.
The Parthenon, or temple of the virgin goddess, Athene,
was constructed by Iktinos, under the administration of
Perikles between b.c. 454 and 438. It stood on the Akro-
polis of Athens, on the site formerly occupied by the
more ancient temple of Athene, which was burnt on the
sacking of Athens by the Persians, b.c. 480. The Par-
thenon, like the earlier temple, was of the Doric order
of architecture, and was of the form termed peripteral
octastyle. The sculptural decorations and probably the
whole design of the temple were planned and executed
under the superintendence of Pheidias.
The cella (seJcos) within the colonnade contained the
colossal statue of Athene, executed in gold and ivory, and
one of the most celebrated works of Pheidias. Externally,
the cella was ornamented by a frieze in very low relief. The
two pediments were filled with figures sculptured in the
round, and above the architrave the spaces between the
triglyphs were decorated with groups sculptured in very
high relief. All these sculptured decorations were
executed, like the architecture, in Pentelic marble.
After the fall of paganism, the Parthenon was converted
by the Christians into a church dedicated to the Pauagia,
part i. b