The Acropolis in Athens was considerably more than a city of functioning buildings, although it is was that as well. Its buildings, and their adornment, makes it function as it does – demonstrating the values held by Athenians, a showcase for their achievements and as a means of sustaining Athens as a major force to be reckoned with. In every sense the Acropolis is a conscious programme of display but in every sense there is also a purpose behind this programme. I will now attempt to justify this statement.
But first we need to narrow the field. The Acropolis covers a large area and contains numerous buildings. So we will concentrate on the Parthenon only.
Before we look at the design of the building, I’d like to consider some of the factors which would have been an influence on its construction and on the construction of the Acropolis generally.
Location
The Acropolis is situated atop a large outcrop of rock in the centre of what is now modern Athens. This makes it an ideal place to repel any attacks and with some little fortification the Acropolis becomes easy to defend. This elevation means that it can be seen from a great distance. Indeed, the glint of the sun on the spear of the statue of Athena Promachos could be seen by sailors rounding Cape Sounion to the south of Athens. Given that this is 40 odd miles away, it could be possible if conditions were right. Being seen is only half the benefit though. The ability to see your enemy approaching from far off is a great advantage.
Persian influence
The Greeks had waged war with the Persions since the middle of the sixth century BCE until they were defeated by Cimon at Eurymedon in 467 BCE. It’s inconceivable that after some 100 years of conflict both sides wouldn’t be in some way influenced by their opponent. The Greeks regarded Persians as barbarian and mocked their culture of wearing finery and ‘showing off’ their wealth. Another way of looking at this is illustrating your success. At the time when the building of the Parthenon commenced in 447 BCE, the Persians were beaten. The Parthenon is a reminder of that success. This is particularly true given that many of the earlier buildings on the site were destroyed by the Persians when they sacked the city in 480 BCE.
What defines Greek?
Athenians already had strong ideas on their own identity through issues such as democracy, citizenship and laws which discouraged marriage with ’foreigners’. The Persian wars also helped raise awareness of what being Greek meant. Fundamentally, it was the opposite of barbarianism, a closer affinity with the gods and a sense of cultural unity. And like all cultures, they needed a physical symbolic presence which celebrated their ‘Greekness’. The Acropolis provides a focal point for this unity.
Civic development
The earlier Acropolis buildings of the sixth century BCE, commissioned by Peisistratus, were built to create employment for the urban poor and build a beautiful city that would create more jobs, foster patriotism and attract wealthy foreigners. Any right thinking public official would agree that finding ways to create wealth in a city is a prime requirement to ensure its continued prosperity. It’s not unnatural then that when Pericles commenced his rebuilding programme in 447 BCE he would have had similar thoughts in mind. His aim was to create the ’school of Greece’ and clearly this would not be achievable with a series of lacklustre buildings.
As a building the Parthenon does carry several functions. It is a religious centre. Not simply a place for worship and sacrifice, but also a ‘home’ for Athena, the goddess whom the Athenians believed was their protector and foster mother. Inside the temple stood a large statue of Athena – a wooden structure covered in plates of gold and ivory. Today we imagine this as gaudy and obscene. But there is no denying that it’s sheer size and the fact that it was made from such expensive materials, would have ensured that it made a significant impression. The Parthenon was more than a temple. A smaller room at the west of the building was the treasury for Athens. Since Athens had taken over protection of the treasury of the Delian League in 454 BCE, the need for protection of this wealth was essential; there were many who believed Athens should not be responsible for these funds. The ‘fortified’ site of the Acropolis would have provided as secure a place as any for storing wealth. In Pericles’ funeral oration he states, "even the gold ornaments of Athene ... contained forty talents of pure gold and it was all removable". Perhaps he considered the statute to be a part of the treasury.
Finally it’s worth saying something about the building itself. The Parthenon was the largest building of the Acropolis – the base at the top step of the stylobate measured around 70 metres by 31 metres – and one of the largest of the temples in ancient Greece. Apart from the roof, it was built entirely of marble. It is an example of Doric order of architecture, arguably the finest example from that period.
More than its size though is the level and intricacy of its decoration which sets it apart – it is the most highly decorative building on the site. The metopes, a series of panels that run around the building just below roof level, form an exceptional sculptural decoration. On the east they depict the battle between the Olympian gods and the Giants. The south metopes show the battle between the Lapiths and Centaurs. On the west there are scenes from the invasion of Athens by the Amazons while the north contains scenes from the Trojan War. The sculptures on the metopes are created in high relief. By placing themselves at the same physical level as their gods, the Athenians give us a clear indication of their belief in their own superiority over other cultures. It’s hard to deny that in many respects this is true.
The Parthenon frieze sits at the same height as the metopes but is around the interior wall. Sculpted in low relief, this shows a long procession of people, horsemen, musicians and others. Though there is no ancient record of the meaning of this frieze, today it is generally regarded as the march to the Panatheniac Games, held every four years as part of a larger religious festival.
The most striking exterior design aspect of the Parthenon is the pediments. The east pediment shows the birth of Athena while the west shows the battle between Athena and Poseidon to become the protector of Athens. What is quite remarkable about these sculptures it their quality and attention to detail. Even the reverse of the figures, which can not be seen from the ground, are finished to a high degree. This illustrates the quality of Athenian craftsmanship which was around at that time.
In conclusion, the Parthenon is, even by our standards today, a fabulous building. It does have a practical purpose. But it is also extremely intricate in its design. And this design also has a purpose – to illustrate the values, culture, power and wealth of Athens. And in promoting this conscious programme of display to firmly position Athens as the greatest cultural centre of its time.
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