Parthenon Vs Pantheon Research Paper

Athough from two entirely different cultures and entirely different times, the Pantheon and the Parthenon share similarities, along with a world of differences, in form, function, themes, ideology, and messages about their respective civilizations. By comparing these two structures, it is easy to see why knowledge of context and culture is important to understanding and interpreting art.
The Pantheon was built between 118-125 AD in ancient Rome as a temple to the seven gods of the seven planets. It was first built by Emperor Agrippa, but was destroyed in a giant fire in 80 AD. Later, Emperor Hadrian, who had a strong interest in Greek culture, began to design a new Pantheon, one which was reminiscent of Greek temples. It was built in the
middle of the city, surrounded by other buildings and the citizens of Rome. In the 7th century, the Pope converted the Pantheon into a Christian church. After the Renaissance, it was used as a tomb, and is a burial ground for some of the best known artists of the time, such as Raphael. Today, it also holds the bodies of two of Italy's kings. It still remains a Catholic church and mass is often celebrated inside.
The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC as a temple for the Greek goddess Athena. It, too, replaced an earlier version, called the Pre- or Older Parthenon, which was destroyed by the Persians. Like the Pantheon, it was also converted into a Christian church, in the 6th century AD. During the 1460s, it was used as a Muslim mosque. It was constructed away from the center of population, on the Acropolis. Today it is a spot of high tourism, attracting millions of visitors every year.
The Pantheon is a circular building with a portico, a porch leading to the entrance, with giant granite columns. The columns are Corinthian in style, characterized by a thin column and an ornately decorated top, particularly marked by carved leaves and scrolls. The Corinthian style originated from the Greeks, showing again that Emperor Hadrian was greatly influenced by Greek culture. This proves that despite being separated by centuries, the cultures of Rome and Greece were not limited to their specific times. The Romans were greatly influenced by the Parthenon when building the Pantheon. The portico leads into the rotunda, covered by a concrete dome with an opening in the middle to the sky.
The proportions of the Pantheon were designed with the classical ideal in mind, but the building did not end up perfect. The top appears too large for the columns which support it. This is due to the fact that it was originally planned to be much taller, but there was not enough concrete in supply to build the columns tall enough. Thus, the building ended up slightly out of proportion. However, the aim for a classical ideal reflects yet another influence from ancient Greece. While functioning as a Catholic church, the Pantheon was decorated with many Christian images, including many paintings and sculptures that are still there today.
The Parthenon was regarded as the finest, most perfect temple of its day.
Its façade is in accord with the golden ratio, able to be divided into golden rectangles. It is a Doric temple, which means that it is rectangular in style, with steps on each side, and a row of columns, or a colonnade, around the entire perimiter of the building. Inside there are two rooms. The larger room, called the naos, once held a statue of Athena. The smaller room, the opisthodomos, was once used as a treasury. The metopes are 92 panels that run along the outside of the building. The metopes on each side have a different subject: the final stages of the battle between the Greek gods and the giants, the Battle of the Lapiths and the Centaurs, the invasion of the Amazons, and the Trojan War. The frieze is the most notable feature of the Parthenon, in the upper part of the largest room. It is most agreed upon that it depicts a procession from Athens to the Acropolis in celebration of Athena. The pedimens are some of the finest examples of classical Greek sculpture, narrating the birth of Athena and the competition between her and Poseidon to become the patron of Athens. The sculptures depict figures in natural and graceful movement, with idealized and perfected
bodies.