Pyramids vs Parthenon
Wesley Cowman
Dusenbery
CIV 111
10/3/2013
The Pyramids vs. The Parthenon Ancient civilizations were capable of producing awe inspiring architectural feats. This holds true with the Egyptians and Romans. The Egyptian Pyramids and the Greek Parthenon are architectural marvels today even though they were built over a thousand years ago. These impressive structures were built over many decades with little tools. By looking at the architecture and understanding the purpose of each structure people can gain insight to the lives of these people and learn about their culture. These structures were different from one another in several ways. Clearly, the pyramids are quite a different shape than the Greek Parthenon. The pyramids were built by pushing giant stones, weighing from two to fifty tons, up dirt ramps using log sleds. The biggest pyramid was The Great Pyramid of Khufu which stands 480 feet tall and covers a vast 13 acres (51). The size of the Pyramids the most astonishing part of this marvel. On the other hand, the Parthenon was a rectangular structure that the Greek people built on the highest point in Acropolis. Unlike the pyramids, the Parthenon was built to be proportioned to the human body as Vitruvius had viewed it (122) The Parthenon used a post and lintel design and was proportional on all sides. This complies with a classical style. The Parthenon uses the Doric order which is one of three architectural designs developed by the Greeks (123). Doric columns were simple and an image known as a frieze was pictured above. It is an image displaying victory in the Peloponnesian war. As with the structural characteristics, the purpose of each building was very different. The pyramids were a keystone for the cult of the dead. The Egyptian people believed in life after death and their lives revolved around their religion and this belief. The pyramids were giant tombs for Pharaohs, who they believed were divine and represented the sun god (49). The body
Dusenbery
CIV 111
10/3/2013
The Pyramids vs. The Parthenon Ancient civilizations were capable of producing awe inspiring architectural feats. This holds true with the Egyptians and Romans. The Egyptian Pyramids and the Greek Parthenon are architectural marvels today even though they were built over a thousand years ago. These impressive structures were built over many decades with little tools. By looking at the architecture and understanding the purpose of each structure people can gain insight to the lives of these people and learn about their culture. These structures were different from one another in several ways. Clearly, the pyramids are quite a different shape than the Greek Parthenon. The pyramids were built by pushing giant stones, weighing from two to fifty tons, up dirt ramps using log sleds. The biggest pyramid was The Great Pyramid of Khufu which stands 480 feet tall and covers a vast 13 acres (51). The size of the Pyramids the most astonishing part of this marvel. On the other hand, the Parthenon was a rectangular structure that the Greek people built on the highest point in Acropolis. Unlike the pyramids, the Parthenon was built to be proportioned to the human body as Vitruvius had viewed it (122) The Parthenon used a post and lintel design and was proportional on all sides. This complies with a classical style. The Parthenon uses the Doric order which is one of three architectural designs developed by the Greeks (123). Doric columns were simple and an image known as a frieze was pictured above. It is an image displaying victory in the Peloponnesian war. As with the structural characteristics, the purpose of each building was very different. The pyramids were a keystone for the cult of the dead. The Egyptian people believed in life after death and their lives revolved around their religion and this belief. The pyramids were giant tombs for Pharaohs, who they believed were divine and represented the sun god (49). The body