Module 3 Single Artwork: The Parthenon

        

A digital reconstruction of the Parthenon, Athenian culture, 447 B.C. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/k90lyr/a_3d_reconstruction_of_the_parthenon_by_john/. 

What we can see of the Parthenon today, Athenian culture, 447 B.C.

https://worldhistory.us/ancient-history/ancient-greece/the-parthenon.php 

    

The two pediments on the parthenon, Athenian culture, 447 B.C., the east pediment is on the left side of the picture and west on the right

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zepfanman/7059427387 

    

    The Athenians built the Parthenon as a place of worship to Athena, their patron goddess. Other than the worship for their goddess, it proved their military power. Although the spending on the Parthenon took from the defense spending and led them to fall to the Spartans.

     In my opinion, the reason the Parthenon is so important to the world is because of its vast size and the incredible artwork on it. You can see on the pediments that there are sculptures.  If you take a closer look at these sculptures, you can see close attention to details. The women's clothes have a look of realism, same with all the faces, bodies, weapons and animals. I think this was to show that they not only have power in their military but they also have power in their artwork. If you look at the middle of the pediment, there are two figures fighting. The two figures fighting are a woman and man, fighting all by themselves and these two figures are the focal point of this piece. The woman is supposed to represent Athena and the man may represent either the Persians or Spartans. You can also see other men and women on both sides of Athena and the male. This makes it seem like Athena and the man are leading the people into this specific battle. On the other side of the Parthenon, the East side, you can see the depiction of Athena's birth. Everything seems very peaceful on this side. The people look very pleased and happy whereas on the West side the people look scared. In the very middle of this side, you can see Zeus and Hera with a smaller version of Athena in the middle of them, like they are protecting her. 

 This shows a great deal of the culture of Athens at the time. You can also get an idea of their religious beliefs. They believed the goddess Athena helped them win the Peloponnesian War. So they thought that they needed to present her in a way that was very grand in their time. Even today the Parthenon is seen as a very astonishing feat.

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Citations

       Bot, History. “The Parthenon.” World History. World History, June 20, 2017. https://worldhistory.us/ancient-history/ancient-greece/the-parthenon.php.

Goodinson, John. “R/Europe - a 3D Reconstruction of the Parthenon by John Goodinson.” reddit, January 25, 2008. https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/k90lyr/a_3d_reconstruction_of_the_parthenon_by_john/.