The Parthenon, Temple to Athena
Athens, Greece
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Ancient Greek culture reached
its classical phase in the 5th century BCE, achieving a refined style
in sculpture and architecture that has influenced the western world
ever since--many of our buildings in Washington, D.C., are based on
Greek temples, for instance, and later sculptors, including
Michelangelo, studied Greek sculpture in order to perfect their own
styles. The Parthenon (above) overlooks the city of Athens form a fortified hilltop. The building was created to look impressive from a distance, using every perfection the Greeks could imagine. They fluted (notched) the columns to capture contrasts of light vs. dark, making the columns seem rounded. They enlarged the four corner columns so they do not appear spindly when viewed by themselves. And, they widened all columns at the base, so they appear solid, strong and sculptural. All these "optical refinements," as they are called, reflect the Greek belief that beauty is rational. With enough thought and logic, the Greeks believed they could create beautiful sculpture and architecture. Most of us seem to agree with them. |
Several
earlier cultures existed in the Aegean region before the ancient
Greeks, including the Cycladic, Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations. The
Lion Gate (left) was produced
by the ancient Mycenaeans, the people who lived on mainland Greece
before the Greeks. The Mycenaeans were a warrior aristocracy, seeking
glory on the battlefield, and questing after trophies taken in
war. The Mycenaeans lived in the fortified city of Mycenae,
which could be entered through the
massive stone Lion Gate
(left). The gate is roughly carved, with vigorous and bold lions above
the door. Stones are massive and imposing. The entire
design was intended to impress approaching visitors, including armies
that might want to enter the citadel of Mycenae. This unrefined
architecture was exactly suitable for the warrior society in
served. It was even designed to be effective defensively--access
through the door was limited by a narrow road, only about 20 feet
across, which would slow the advance of an incoming army. In
addition, walls above the door and entrance road allowed Mycenaean
archers to target unwelcome visitors trying to breach the entrance
below. Although the buildings at Mycenae are quite unlike later Greek architecture, the Mycenaeans do contribute to later Greek culture. After the collapse of Mycenae, the stories of Mycenaean heroes--warriors fighting bravely and gloriously on the battlefield for personal honor--are kept alive through story telling. As Greek civilization begins to rise, Homer, a great Greek writer, records these tales of Mycenaean heroes, and they become the foundation for ideas by the Greeks for quests for personal glory and achievement. The recent movie Troy with Brad Pitt is based on Homer's stories.
My trip to Greece was a BCC International
Studies Student trip. About 20 students and community members went with
me to Greece, studying the ancient sites and savoring the modern Greek
cities. To the right, you will find the Art History Teacher stretched
out on the back of the massive stone lintel of the Lion Gate at Mycenae.