The Athenian Acropolis and the Classical Moment

The Archaic Acropolis in Athens in 481 BC

The Classical Acropolis in Athens in 400 BC

I. The making of a “Classical moment” in Periclean Athens (450-430 BC)

The Mycenaean-era Acropolis in Athens 1400 BC

1.2.

I. A. Historical context: What gave Athenians an unprecedented sense of confidence to venture beyond the designs of the Early Classical period?

leading Athens 461 to 429 BC

Pericles

480BC 450Early Classical Classical period

323

Temple of Hera II at Paestum

Temple of Zeus at Olympia

The Parthenon inAthens

The Erechtheion inAthens

Hellen-istic

3.

The Parthenon (Temple of Athena Parthenos), Athens, Greece, 447-432 BC

II. The Parthenon as masterwork of the Classical moment

west side (back)

The Classical Parthenon

II. A. Early Classical vs. Classical temple designs - – what are the characteristics of Classical design seen in the Parthenon?4.

Early Classical Temple of Hera II

The ClassicalParthenon

Early ClassicalTemple of Hera II

ArchaicTemple of Hera I

II. A.

The Classical Parthenon

II. A.

4.Early Classical Temple of Hera II

The Parthenon

II. A.

The Parthenon

II. A.

The Classical Moment 480-450 B.C.Pythagorean symmetria (Early Classical) numbers rule

The Parthenon

II. B. A revolution in Greek architectural theory gives rise to the Classical Parthenon

Temple of Hera II, Paestum

II. B. 1. How can we understand the intended effect of the optical adjustments on the viewing public?

compensation theory exaggeration theory tension theory

II. A. 2. What do the some of the optical adjustments signify in terms of the new emphasis on human experience?

The Parthenon

The Classical Parthenon

II. C. Other ways in which the Parthenon was a unique among Greek temples at the time

8.Early Classical Temple of Hera II

II. C. 1. How was the Parthenon a civic temple in Periclean Athens?

The pananthenaic procession to the Parthenon on the Arcopolis in Athens

II. C. 1.

The Parthenon: continuous frieze of Panathenaic procession around cella exterior

II. C. 2. What is the evidence that the Greeks were interested in producing a true interior space in the Parthenon?

The Classical ParthenonEarly Classical Temple of Hera II at Paestum

8.1.

The Parthenon, Athens Ephesos

Samos

II. C. 3. How were the Athenians making an imperialist statement to the Greek world?

continuous frieze

II. C. 3. a. How does the Ionic order differ from the Doric?

Archaic Ionic temples

Temple of Artemis at Ephesos, Turkey (formerly Ionia), 560-550 BC

Temple of Hera IV at Samos538-22 BC

II. C. 3. a.

The Parthenon: an Ionic frieze running along the cella and porch of this Doric temple

II. C. 3. b. What are some elements of the Ionic order in the Doric Parthenon?

Ionic Temple of Artemis Deep columned porch of the Doric Parthenon

II. C. 3. b. What are some elements of the Ionic order in the Doric Parthenon?

Named for Erechtheus, a legendary king of Athens

The Erechtheion, Athens, Greece, 421-406 B.C.; Kallikrates, arch.

III. The Erechtheion: How would a Classical architect design a temple on uneven topography in honor of pre-Classical mythical events?

west side east side

The Acropolis before Persian sack in 481 BC The Acropolis in Athens in 400 BC

III.

Temple of Athena Polias The Erechtheion

III.

Emerging from the Propylaia: a Democratic choice – optimal visual information

Erechtheion Parthenon

III. A. What non-traditional architectural ingenuity accommodated the Erechtheion’s pre-Classcial shrines on the: 1. west side?

Erechtheion West (garden shrines)

engaged column – ⅓, ½, or ¾ column attached to a wall

III. A. 1.

The Erechtheion, west elevation

The Erechtheion, north elevation

III. A. 2. north side

III. A. 2.

Erechtheion – inside the western chambers

The Erechtheion, north porch seen from east

III. A. 2.

The Erechtheion, east elevation

III. A. 3. the east side?

The Erechtheion, south elevation

V. A. 4. the south side?

The Erechtheion, caryatid porch

III. A. 4. What is a caryatid?

The Erechtheion, caryatid porch

III. A. 4.

The Erechtheion

III. B. The creative classical architect, Kallikrates’ designs solutions for the Erechtheion 1. What practical reasons may have led to the use of the Ionic order here?

east and north porch

III. B. 2. Why is the Doric order inherently problematic (the corner problem)?

columns evenly spaced → metope stretched by half a triglyph width

metopes equal in width → corner intercolumniation must be contracted

Archaic proportions → no problem

according to Greek architect Hermogenes (3rd cen. BC), Vitruvius’ most frequently cited source (Vitr., De arch. 4.3.2)

The Three Greek Classical OrdersInherent “defect” in the Doric order

III. B. 2.

The Erechtheion

Corner irregularities with the capital of the Ionic order as well

III. B. 3. Jewel-like ornateness in the Erechtheion’s Ionic order

The Erechtheion