The Athenian Acropolis and the Classical Moment

1. The Athenian Acropolis and the Classical Moment

2. I. The making of a “Classical moment” in Periclean Athens (450-430 bc) 1. 2. The Mycenaean-era Acropolis in Athens 1400 bc The Archaic Acropolis in Athens in 481 bc The Classical Acropolis in Athens in 400 bc

3. I. A. Historical context: What gave Athenians an unprecedented sense of confidence to venture beyond the designs of the Early Classical period? 3. 480bc 450 323 Early Classical Classical period Hellen -istic Pericles leading Athens 461 to 429 bc Temple of Zeus at Olympia Temple of Hera II at Paestum The Parthenon in Athens The Erechtheion in Athens

4. II. The Parthenon as masterwork of the Classical moment The Parthenon (Temple of Athena Parthenos), Athens, Greece, 447-432 BC west side (back)

5. 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 Classical Parthenon

6. II. A. Archaic Temple of Hera I Early Classical Temple of Hera II The Classical Parthenon

7. II. A. 4. Early Classical Temple of Hera II The Classical Parthenon

8. II. A. The Parthenon

9. II. A. The Parthenon

10. II. B. A revolution in Greek architectural theory gives rise to the Classical Parthenon Pythagorean symmetria(Early Classical) numbers rule The Classical Moment 480-450 B.C. Temple of Hera II, Paestum The Parthenon

11. II. B. 1. How can we understand the intended effect of the optical adjustments on the viewing public? compensation theory exaggeration theory tension theory

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

13. II. C. Other ways in which the Parthenon was a unique among Greek temples at the time 8. Early Classical Temple of Hera II The Classical Parthenon

14. II. C. 1. How was the Parthenon a civic temple in Periclean Athens? The pananthenaic procession to the Parthenon on the Arcopolis in Athens

15. II. C. 1. The Parthenon: continuous frieze of Panathenaic procession around cella exterior

16. II. C. 2. What is the evidence that the Greeks were interested in producing a true interior space in the Parthenon? 8. 1. Early Classical Temple of Hera II at Paestum The Classical Parthenon

17. II. C. 3. How were the Athenians making an imperialist statement to the Greek world? The Parthenon, Athens Ephesos Samos

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

19. II. C. 3. a. Archaic Ionic temples Temple of Hera IV at Samos 538-22 bc Temple of Artemis at Ephesos, Turkey (formerly Ionia), 560-550 bc

20. II. C. 3. b. What are some elements of the Ionic order in the Doric Parthenon? The Parthenon: an Ionic frieze running along the cella and porch of this Doric temple

21. 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

22. III. The Erechtheion: How would a Classical architect design a temple on uneven topography in honor of pre-Classical mythical events? Named for Erechtheus, a legendary king of Athens The Erechtheion, Athens, Greece, 421-406 B.C.; Kallikrates, arch. west side east side

23. III. Temple of Athena Polias The Erechtheion The Acropolis before Persian sack in 481 BC The Acropolis in Athens in 400 BC

24. III. Emerging from the Propylaia: a Democratic choice – optimal visual information Erechtheion Parthenon

25. III. A. What non-traditional architectural ingenuity accommodated the Erechtheion’spre-Classcialshrines on the: 1. west side? Erechtheion West (garden shrines)

26. III. A. 1. The Erechtheion, west elevation engaged column – ⅓, ½, or ¾ column attached to a wall

27. III. A. 2. north side The Erechtheion, north elevation

28. III. A. 2. Erechtheion – inside the western chambers

29. III. A. 2. The Erechtheion, north porch seen from east

30. III. A. 3. the east side? The Erechtheion, east elevation

31. V. A. 4. the south side? The Erechtheion, south elevation

32. III. A. 4. What is a caryatid? The Erechtheion, caryatid porch

33. III. A. 4. The Erechtheion, caryatid porch

34. 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? The Erechtheion east and north porch

35. III. B. 2. Why is the Doric order inherently problematic (the corner problem)? Inherent “defect” in the Doric order The Three Greek Classical Orders columns evenly spaced → metope stretched by half a triglyph width Archaic proportions → no problem metopes equal in width → corner intercolumniation must be contracted according to Greek architect Hermogenes (3rd cen. BC), Vitruvius’ most frequently cited source (Vitr., De arch. 4.3.2)

36. III. B. 2. Corner irregularities with the capital of the Ionic order as well The Erechtheion

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