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Posted on August 20, 2008 by Roger Smith | Posted under Arts and Entertainment
Ancient Greece: The Parthenon
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The Construction of the Parthenon The Parthenon is an enormously impressive structure built originally as a temple for the Greek goddess of wisdom- Athena. The Parthenon is believed to be constructed between 447 B.C. and 432 B.C. The Parthenon sits atop the highest hill in Athens called Acropolis. This area was once the home of kings of Greece, however once Greece changed its government to that of citizens instead of kings, the Greeks decided to build a temple to honor their goddess. Amazingly, the Parthenon was built in such a short period of time- an amazing feat in its own right. The Two Genius Architects of the Parthenon In the 440's B.C., the citizens of Athens hired two architects to create and build the new Parthenon. These architects were Callicrates and Ictinus. Obviously, both were gifted and they created one of the finest temples (or for that matter any structure) the world has ever seen. While the temple has stood for millennia, over the years it has changed from a temple for the patron goddess Athena to a Christian Church in 400 A.D. to a mosque during the Ottoman Empire in 1400 A.D. It was even used at one point during the war with Venice to store ammunition. While the temple has been taken over by many different faiths, thankfully it was never totally destroyed. The Parthenon Still Stands Today Atop the Acropolis The Parthenon has stood for thousands of years and during this time it has been shot at, stripped down and even looted. And while it is only a shell of its former glory, it is being renovated today to replicate as closely as possible what this magnificent temple looked like when it was first built. To read more about the Greek Parthenon and its fascinating history, the Smithsonian Magazine is featuring an excellent article regarding the Parthenon and the current restoration. You can visit our main site today to read the article at our main website. About The Author: http://www.smithsonianmag.com Smithsonian magazine is a monthly magazine created for modern, well-rounded individuals with diverse interests. It chronicles the arts, history, sciences and popular culture of the times. Each month, expect articles from the Smithsonian Institution's award-winning, monthly general interest magazine, plus exclusive Web articles, videos, blogs, photographs and more. |
Tags: CLEOPATRA, BLACK HOLES, DAREDEVIL, FORBIDDEN CITY, WRIGLEY FIELD, NATIONAL ARCHIVES, PARTHENON, GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, DIANE ARB
