Architectural Purity of The Parthenon

The Parthenon is both a religious and political structure. The war between the Greek city-states and Persia interrupted almost all temple building for a generation while the Greeks concentrated on restoring their defensive walls, civic buildings, and the fleet. When the Persians were defeated in 479 BC, Athens emerged as the leader among Greek cities. Thus Athens controlled the war chest of the Delian League, a Panhellenic league.

Under Pericles, Athens initiated an extravagant program to rebuild the sanctuary of Athena on the Acropolis. Albeit this scheme met with fierce criticism from representatives of other cities in the Delian League. Pericles, however, prevailed: "Athens was entitled to use the surplus, not only to beautify the city, but to provide full employment for her citizens."

In classical Greece every important settlement had an acropolis. In Greek, acropolis means "uppermost city," and refers to the highest and most defensible part of the city's terrain. On the acropolis was placed temples, treasuries, and other important buildings. During times

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e larger chamber housed the huge image of Athena by Phidias, the chief sculptor of the Parthenon. This monumental statue, encrusted with gold and precious stones, was much later removed by the Crusaders to Constantinople and there destroyed. Not only was Phidias the chief sculptor of the Parthenon, he served as the designated overseer. This designation demonstrates the importance held by art in classical Greece: "A sculptor as overseer made sense at the time, because the temples were in some ways exhibition halls . . . and sculpture was considered the superior art." A second statue of the goddess Athena, standing on the Acropolis, was also sculpted by Phidias. This statue was made of bronze and was said to be so big that sailors used the sun flashing from its helmet as a beacon by which to set their course: "Our information concerning the huge and long-since-disappeared Athena comes from literary sources, later and much smaller versions in marble, and from Athenian coins of the period." Unlike modern temples, the Parthenon was not designed as a building to be entered by worshippers. Only the priests were privileged to serve within the cella, where the statue of Athena stood. The focus of religious worship for the com
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