Acropolis Paper
Acropolis Structures Report,
AREN 2310, Architectural History,
Chelsea Dorris,
Tennessee State University,
Dwight D. Martin,
March 20, 2013
The Acropolis located at Athens, Greece “is the supreme expression of the adaptation of architecture to a natural site,” which can be seen in figure 2 (Acropolis, Athens). This grand composition of perfectly balanced massive structures creates a monumental landscape of unique beauty consisting of a complete series of masterpieces of the 5th century BC” (Acropolis, Athens). The Acropolis is located on a “rocky promontory 156m above the valley of Ilissos” (Acropolis, Athens). During the 2nd millennium BC the Acropolis “was a fortress” that protected places of worship and royal palaces. The only access to the plateau was protected by a wall, the Pelasgicon, “which existed prior to the invasions of the Dorians who threatened Athens beginning in 1200” (Acropolis, Athens). Figure 1 is a representation of the site plan of the Acropolis at Athens, which shows the major archaeological remains. Figure 3 shows the Parthenon which is one of the most famous buildings of Ancient Greece. It was built on an ancient hilltop of the gods, “facing Mt. Hymettos to the east and the Bay of Salamis to the west” (Ching pg, 130). “The east and west facades were lined with eight towering Doric columns, making it the only octastyle, peripteral temple built in ancient Greece” (Ching pg, 130). The Parthenon was built to give thanks to Athena for the salvation of Athens and Greece in the Persian Wars. It houses a 40-foot-high statue of “Athena Parthenos sculpted by Pheidias” (Parthenon, Athens). “Replacing an older temple destroyed by the Persians, the Parthenon was constructed at the initiative of Pericles, the leading Athenian politician of the 5th century BC” (Parthenon, Athens). “The stylobate is the platform on which the columns stand. It curves upwards slightly for optical reasons. Entasis refers to the slight swelling of the columns as they
AREN 2310, Architectural History,
Chelsea Dorris,
Tennessee State University,
Dwight D. Martin,
March 20, 2013
The Acropolis located at Athens, Greece “is the supreme expression of the adaptation of architecture to a natural site,” which can be seen in figure 2 (Acropolis, Athens). This grand composition of perfectly balanced massive structures creates a monumental landscape of unique beauty consisting of a complete series of masterpieces of the 5th century BC” (Acropolis, Athens). The Acropolis is located on a “rocky promontory 156m above the valley of Ilissos” (Acropolis, Athens). During the 2nd millennium BC the Acropolis “was a fortress” that protected places of worship and royal palaces. The only access to the plateau was protected by a wall, the Pelasgicon, “which existed prior to the invasions of the Dorians who threatened Athens beginning in 1200” (Acropolis, Athens). Figure 1 is a representation of the site plan of the Acropolis at Athens, which shows the major archaeological remains. Figure 3 shows the Parthenon which is one of the most famous buildings of Ancient Greece. It was built on an ancient hilltop of the gods, “facing Mt. Hymettos to the east and the Bay of Salamis to the west” (Ching pg, 130). “The east and west facades were lined with eight towering Doric columns, making it the only octastyle, peripteral temple built in ancient Greece” (Ching pg, 130). The Parthenon was built to give thanks to Athena for the salvation of Athens and Greece in the Persian Wars. It houses a 40-foot-high statue of “Athena Parthenos sculpted by Pheidias” (Parthenon, Athens). “Replacing an older temple destroyed by the Persians, the Parthenon was constructed at the initiative of Pericles, the leading Athenian politician of the 5th century BC” (Parthenon, Athens). “The stylobate is the platform on which the columns stand. It curves upwards slightly for optical reasons. Entasis refers to the slight swelling of the columns as they
References: ……………………………………………………………………….. | 10 |