Athenian Mythology

In roughly the center of ancient Athens stood a 500 foot Dolomite outcropping known as the Athenian Acropolis (Greek meaning high city). During the 5th century B.C. an extensive building program, initiated by the statesman Pericles, created several public building on the rocks crowning the plateau. These structures, in the order they were constructed were: the temple of Athena Parthenos (the Parthenon), 447-432 BC; the Propylaea (gateway), 437-432 BC; the temple of Athena Nike, 427-424 BC; and the temple of Erechtheus (the Erechtheum), 421-405 BC.

Although commissioned by Pericles the structure is the work of primarily three men; Ictinus and Callicrates, the designers and architects and Phidias who was responsible for the sculptures. The building, following the Doric Order, is made entirely of white pentelic marble and surrounded by free-standing columns. The structure survived Greco-Roman times as a temple and then in later ages has served in succession as a Byzantine church, a Roman Catholic church, a Turkish harem, and a Turkish powder magazine. The majority of the damage done to the Parthenon occurred on September 16, 1687, when during a war between the Turks and Venice, a direct hit by Venetian artillery caused the Turkish powder being stored in the Parthenon to explode, scattering debris across the Acropolis. This explosion scattered the sculptings of Phidias on the ground where the British governor Lord Elgin (1802-03) collected them and sent them to Britain as naval supplies. Today, they are on display in the British Museum.

The stone for the construction was cut from Mount Pentellicus which stands some ten miles from the city proper. It was rough dressed on the cutting site and then transported to the city by teams of oxen. There it was transferred to wagons pulled by mules for the long haul up to the acropolis. This was hard work for the mules. The Athenians rewarded those mules who worked diligently with grazing privileges in the finest meadows of the city. One particular mule when given his reward ran from the meadows back to the city and seemingly volunteered for more labor. Even when not used he was frequently found trotting along side of the working animals as if encouraging them to greater efforts. The city to honor this loyal beast used his face for the likeness of the horses used on the friezes.

THE FRIEZE

The frieze across the front of the marble base depicts the birth of Pandora whose name means "all gifts." The figures in order from the left to the right are Helios, Hermes, Hera, Zeus, Nike, Dionysis, The Three Horai (Hours or Seasons) Pandora, Hephaestus, Athens, Poseidon, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Demeter, Hestia, Eros, Aphrodite and Selenne

THE SCULPTOR PHIDIAS

The carvings on the Parthenon was the work of the noted stonecutter Phidias. He was known for his detailed and like like carvings. The friezes located on the front and sides of the building are his work.

THE STATUE OF ATHENA

Inside the main all of the Parthenon stood Phidias' crowning achievement, a statue of the goddess Athena. Originally the statue was enlivened with precious and semi-precious gems and largely covered in gold. This original work did not surrive antiquity and was dismantled by various conquerors of Athens. Today, Nashville, Tennessee is the aclaimed sister city of Athens, Greece. In downtown Nashville stands the only life-size replica of the ancient Parthenon. Within this structure can be seen a replica of Athena's statue. The photograph below and the accompanying text explains the important features of this statue.

THE HELMET

The three crests of Athena's helmet are supported by mythological creatures; on the left and right stands a Pegasus (winged horse) and in the center a sphinx (half woman and half lion).

THE AEGIS

The armored breastplate of Athena wears on her shoulders is said to have magic powers. Given to her by Zeus, the Aegis makes Athena imperious to her enemies' weapons. In the center of the breastplate is the Medusa's head, given by Perseus in return for her help in killing the Medusa.

NIKE

In Athena's out stretched right hand hovers Nike, the winged goddess of victory preparing to crown Athena with the laurel wreath. As the personification of Victory, Nike was often associated with Athena in the art of this period and the relationship between the two goddesses was a close one in the minds of the Athenians in the 5th century. The Athenians believed that it was Athena who had protected them from annihilation and had instead granted them their victory over the Persian Empire in 480 BC. The image of a triumphant Athena being crowned by Victory was also symbolic of the Preeminence of Athens amongst the Greek city states.

THE SHIELD

Standing some 15 feet in diameter Athena's shield is a complex sculpture in its own right. On the exterior in high relief is a depiction of Greek heroes and Amazons savagely contesting over an unnamed Greek city. In the Greek mind the amazons were symbolic of other cultures especially the Persians whom the Greeks considered barbarians. In Greek myth the amazons lived in the area of eastern Anatolia, and the long robes and effeminate manners of the Persians were likened to those of the legendary women warriors. In the center of the shield is the grotesque image of Medusa, slain by Perseus with the help of Athena. As a thank offering for her help Perseus gave the gorgon's head to the goddess who put it on her shield as a protective device. The Medusa additionally appears on Athena's breastplate.

THE SERPENT

Thought by some to represent Ericthonios, a legendary defied king of early Athens, the snake is also thought to symbolize the people of Athens themselves who like this creature of the earth arose from the soil of Attica. Athena's shield protects the snake, indicating her role in defending the people of Athens from harm.

THE SANDALS

Athena's sandals are decorated with a scene depicting the slaying of the Centaurs, a reflection of the scenes carved on the metopoes of the Parthenon's Doric friezes

THE NASHVILLE PARTHENON

Photographed in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee

The city of Nashville, Tennessee constructed this full scale replica of the ancient Athenian Parthenon which stands in Centennial Park. The building contains copies of the Parthenon freizes and the statue of Athena. It also houses an art exhibit with traveling displays. Nashville is the sister city of Athena, Greece and as such was given one of the Elgin Marbles which is on display in the building.

In roughly the center of ancient Athens stood a 500 foot Dolomite outcropping known as the Athenian Acropolis (Greek meaning high city). During the 5th century B.C. an extensive building program, initiated by the statesman Pericles, created several public building on the rocks crowning the plateau. These structures, in the order they were constructed were: the temple of Athena Parthenos (the Parthenon), 447-432 BC; the Propylaea (gateway), 437-432 BC; the temple of Athena Nike, 427-424 BC; and the temple of Erechtheus (the Erechtheum), 421-405 BC.
Although commissioned by Pericles the structure is the work of primarily three men; Ictinus and Callicrates, the designers and architects and Phidias who was responsible for the sculptures. The building, following the Doric Order, is made entirely of white pentelic marble and surrounded by free-standing columns. The structure survived Greco-Roman times as a temple and then in later ages has served in succession as a Byzantine church, a Roman Catholic church, a Turkish harem, and a Turkish powder magazine. The majority of the damage done to the Parthenon occurred on September 16, 1687, when during a war between the Turks and Venice, a direct hit by Venetian artillery caused the Turkish powder being stored in the Parthenon to explode, scattering debris across the Acropolis. This explosion scattered the sculptings of Phidias on the ground where the British governor Lord Elgin (1802-03) collected them and sent them to Britain as naval supplies. Today, they are on display in the British Museum.
The stone for the construction was cut from Mount Pentellicus which stands some ten miles from the city proper. It was rough dressed on the cutting site and then transported to the city by teams of oxen. There it was transferred to wagons pulled by mules for the long haul up to the acropolis. This was hard work for the mules. The Athenians rewarded those mules who worked diligently with grazing privileges in the finest meadows of the city. One particular mule when given his reward ran from the meadows back to the city and seemingly volunteered for more labor. Even when not used he was frequently found trotting along side of the working animals as if encouraging them to greater efforts. The city to honor this loyal beast used his face for the likeness of the horses used on the friezes.

THE FRIEZE The frieze across the front of the marble base depicts the birth of Pandora whose name means "all gifts." The figures in order from the left to the right are Helios, Hermes, Hera, Zeus, Nike, Dionysis, The Three Horai (Hours or Seasons) Pandora, Hephaestus, Athens, Poseidon, Artemis, Apollo, Ares, Demeter, Hestia, Eros, Aphrodite and Selenne
THE SCULPTOR PHIDIAS The carvings on the Parthenon was the work of the noted stonecutter Phidias. He was known for his detailed and like like carvings. The friezes located on the front and sides of the building are his work.
THE STATUE OF ATHENA Inside the main all of the Parthenon stood Phidias' crowning achievement, a statue of the goddess Athena. Originally the statue was enlivened with precious and semi-precious gems and largely covered in gold. This original work did not surrive antiquity and was dismantled by various conquerors of Athens. Today, Nashville, Tennessee is the aclaimed sister city of Athens, Greece. In downtown Nashville stands the only life-size replica of the ancient Parthenon. Within this structure can be seen a replica of Athena's statue. The photograph below and the accompanying text explains the important features of this statue.
THE HELMET The three crests of Athena's helmet are supported by mythological creatures; on the left and right stands a Pegasus (winged horse) and in the center a sphinx (half woman and half lion). THE AEGIS The armored breastplate of Athena wears on her shoulders is said to have magic powers. Given to her by Zeus, the Aegis makes Athena imperious to her enemies' weapons. In the center of the breastplate is the Medusa's head, given by Perseus in return for her help in killing the Medusa.
NIKE In Athena's out stretched right hand hovers Nike, the winged goddess of victory preparing to crown Athena with the laurel wreath. As the personification of Victory, Nike was often associated with Athena in the art of this period and the relationship between the two goddesses was a close one in the minds of the Athenians in the 5th century. The Athenians believed that it was Athena who had protected them from annihilation and had instead granted them their victory over the Persian Empire in 480 BC. The image of a triumphant Athena being crowned by Victory was also symbolic of the Preeminence of Athens amongst the Greek city states.

THE SHIELD Standing some 15 feet in diameter Athena's shield is a complex sculpture in its own right. On the exterior in high relief is a depiction of Greek heroes and Amazons savagely contesting over an unnamed Greek city. In the Greek mind the amazons were symbolic of other cultures especially the Persians whom the Greeks considered barbarians. In Greek myth the amazons lived in the area of eastern Anatolia, and the long robes and effeminate manners of the Persians were likened to those of the legendary women warriors. In the center of the shield is the grotesque image of Medusa, slain by Perseus with the help of Athena. As a thank offering for her help Perseus gave the gorgon's head to the goddess who put it on her shield as a protective device. The Medusa additionally appears on Athena's breastplate.

THE SERPENT Thought by some to represent Ericthonios, a legendary defied king of early Athens, the snake is also thought to symbolize the people of Athens themselves who like this creature of the earth arose from the soil of Attica. Athena's shield protects the snake, indicating her role in defending the people of Athens from harm.

THE SANDALS Athena's sandals are decorated with a scene depicting the slaying of the Centaurs, a reflection of the scenes carved on the metopoes of the Parthenon's Doric friezes
THE NASHVILLE PARTHENON Photographed in Centennial Park, Nashville, Tennessee