The ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis is the largest architectural monument of the Greek classics. Even dilapidated, it still looks majestic. The center of the ensemble is the grand Parthenon - a temple dedicated to the patroness of the city of Athena.
5th century BC became the most famous period in the history of Ancient Greece. It was then, in the era that received the name of the classical, Greek art reached its peak. The most culturally developed and prosperous city was Athens. The religious and social center in it was the Acropolis - a large oblong hill, on which temples have been erected since ancient times.
Work on the creation of the ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis
The buildings of the Acropolis were destroyed during the wars with the Persians, but the then head of the government of Athens, wise and enlightened Pericles, decided to restore the architectural ensemble. He entrusted his friend, the greatest Athenian sculptor Phidias, to lead the work on its reconstruction. The master dedicated 16 years of his life to the Acropolis. He carried out the general management of the construction of temples, disposed of the detachments of artisans and stonecutters. Under the leadership of Phidias, a magnificent ensemble grew up, arousing the constant admiration of contemporaries and descendants.
Parthenon - the main temple of the Athenian Acropolis
The main building of the Athenian Acropolis was the mighty Parthenon - the temple of Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin). Its immediate creators were Iktin and Kallikrates. It is believed that the former developed the design of the building, while the latter was in charge of the construction work. The temple occupies the highest part of the hill and, to this day, is visible from anywhere in the city. The powerful Doric columns give the Parthenon its monumentality and austere beauty.
The decoration of the temple was created by the great Phidias himself and his disciples. The reliefs of the eastern pediment depicted the scene of the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus. The theme of the western pediment was the dispute between Athena and Poseidon over the supremacy over Attica. The center of the structure was a huge 12-meter statue of Athena Parthenos, created by Phidias from gold and ivory. The goddess's eyes sparkled with sapphires. In the palm of her right hand stood the goddess of victory Nike, and the left leaned on a shield depicting the battle of the Greeks with the Amazons.
The fate of Phidias
Unfortunately, the created masterpiece ruined the great master. At first Phidias was accused of stealing some of the gold from which Athena's clothes were made. However, he easily proved his innocence: the gold was removed from the base and weighed. But the envious and ill-wishers of the artist did not calm down. The second charge turned out to be much more serious. The fact is that the ambitious Phidias depicted himself and Pericles on the shield of the goddess in the images of fighting warriors. In those days, this was considered a terrible sacrilege. The great sculptor was thrown into prison, where he spent the rest of his days. The beautiful and majestic Parthenon to this day towers over the city as a monument to the great art of ancient masters and the great ingratitude of human beings.
