koriand’r comegys nii codjoe felicia blake cameron fontaine kevin thompson domenic spencer the...
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Koriand’R Comegys Nii Codjoe
Felicia Blake Cameron Fontaine
Kevin Thompson Domenic Spencer
The Parthenon
Pediments and Coloration
What is a Pediment
low-pitched triangular gable in the Grecian or Greek Revival style of
architecture.
Parts of Pediment Structure
Impact of the pediments
The pediments are designed to evoke an “impression”. These sculptures are three-dimensional sculptures that are life-sized and free-standing.
Unlike the frieze, the pediments describe what has to be imagined. The sculptor of these pediments wants the viewer to see the story lines but at the same time use their imagination.
Perception of the pediments
The pediments gave an opportunity for the beholder to view the life of the Gods.
This is visually seen in the outer boundary of the pediments.
Significance of the Sculptures
A feature that sets the Parthenon apart from all the other temples is the subject matter of the sculpture. The type of sculptures in the Parthenon are
not found anywhere else in Greek classical art.
The unique quality of the Parthenon are brought on by coincidence. This kind of good coincidence rarely happens.
An effect that causes the sculptures to appear more life-like is the dramatic cropping of some of the figures. It is a ‘device that suggest immediacy, a
movement cut off ‘in the act’. Dramatic cropping has an influential impact,
unlike
Construction of the Sculptures
Built 438 BCE to 432BCE Carved from marble The sculptures have a lean Phidias, supervisor of sculptures and
sculptors Architects
Iktonis Kallikreates
Size of Pediment and Sculptures
Pediment base approx. 80 ft and 12ft at center
The Pediment circumscribed the sculptures Believed that the sculptures were carved in
place The sculpture were built to scale fitting in the
Pediment
Phidias Sculpture Arrangement
The center is focus and most important part As the sculptures get closer to the angles,
they are less connected with the central scene
The central sculptures are standing and as they get closer to the angles they start to have kneeling, sitting and, laying postures.
The animals had just their head showing depending on location in the scene
Style and Aesthetics The sculpture were dressed in light linen if the
were dressed at all Sculpted this way to dramatize the body posture Detailed body parts, facial expression and
movements The sculptures were each assigned an angle in
which the can relate to the other sculpture The angles are symmetrical on either side oF the
central structures
Angle Symmetry
Relation of Posture and Angles
The East Pediment
The East Pediment of the Parthenon Restored in Color from the Physical Evidence by: Holmes Bryant.
Reconstruction by: K. Schwerzek
ZEUSKing of the Olympian Gods
HERAGoddess of marriage and childbirth. Wife and sister of Zeus.
HEPHAISTOSGod of time, metal working and the forge. Eldest son of Zeus and Athena.
ATHENA
The goddess of wisdom, the practical arts, and warfare, and the protectress of cities.
NYX
Greek goddess personifying night.
HESPERIDES
Maidens who guarded the tree bearing golden apples that Gaea gave to Hera at her marriage to Zeus.
THREE FATES
(Klotho, Lachesis, Atropos)
ATLAS
Titan condemned by Zeus to support the heavens upon his shoulders.
HERMES
Herald and messenger of the gods and the god of roads, commerce, invention, cunning, and theft.
NIKE
Greek goddess of victory.
HELIOS
God of the sun, represented as driving a chariot across the heavens.
HERAKLES
A hero of extraordinary strength who won immortality.
WEST PEDIMENT
The West Pediment: The Legend
Athena and Poseidon were competing for the protection of the city and each one offered presents. Poseidon struck the rock at the Acropolis with his trident (the three marks can be seen behind the Erectheion.) and a spring with salted water gushed up. With the blow also leaped the first horse, ready to serve the man faithfully, while Athena offered an olive tree. The legend tell us, that all the men of Athens voted for the gift of Poseidon and all the women, for the gift of Athena and because there was one woman more than the men, goddess Athena was selected and from her, the city took her name.
Illisos
Kekrops
Pandrosos
Herse
Erysichthon
Aglauros
Erechthonius
Hermes
Athena
Poseidon
Iris
Amphitrite
Kalais
Oreithyia
Zetes
Melicettes
Cephissos
Currently monochromatic, a golden brown
Evidence suggests an original Doric Polychromy
Coloration
Colors used in Doric Polychrome
Color Scale: cream to dark purple
Most used on Parthenon: Dark red, light red, pink, dark blue, light blue, and green
Colored Depiction of East Pediment
achieve a heightened emotional response.
contributed a more heroic or awe-inspiring likeness
Greeks took pleasure in the combination of formand color
Restoration based on chips of color found on the remains of the statues
Brief History
• 426 AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian Church an was dedicated to Hagia Sophia and later the Virgin Mary: Alter and bell tower added.
• Under the Ottoman Turkish rule in 1458, the Parthenon became a mosque.
• In 1687, the Parthenon suffered extensive damages when a Venetian general laid siege to Athens. The Acropolis was an Ottoman garrison; gunpowder was stored in the Parthenon.
• Venetians fired a cannon which caused an explosion destroying the central part of the building. The roof came off and columns were knocked down.
• It was not until 1928 that efforts were made to restore the building, although the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, Lord Elgin, had taken half of the sculptures to England in the early 19th century.
• The Elgin Marbles were transported by sea; sold to the British Government in 1816; placed in the British Museum. Elgin was criticized for his actions.
• Caused controversy between the Britain and Greece.
Brief History
The British Argument
• The British Museum has preserved and maintained the marbles and have protected them from pollution and other damages that would have occurred if left in Greece.
• If all the world’s artwork were returned to their original locations, most of the world’s greatest museums would not exist. It defeats the purpose of a museum.
• Over half of the Elgin Marbles were lost so even if returned, it would not complete the collection in Greece.
The Greek Argument
• The marbles are an indispensible part of Greek culture.
• Over half of the Elgin Marbles were lost so even if returned, it would not complete the collection in Greece.
• Thus far, fragments of the monument have been returned by the Swedish and the Germans.
• The New Acropolis Museum now has the resources and technology to protect and preserve the sculptures.
• Class Poll
The New Acropolis Museum The New Acropolis Museum
An archeological museum located in Athens, Greece.
The design of the Museum includes a rectangular glass gallery that aligns perfectly with the Parthenon.
It was designed with the expectation that Greece would receive the Elgin Marbles.
The New Acropolis Museum The New Acropolis Museum
Bibilography
Boardman, John. The Parthenon and Its Sculptures. Austin: University of Texas P, 1985.
Murray, A. S. The Sculptures of the Parthenon. London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1903.
Robertson, and Franvtz. The Parthenon Frieze. Phaidon P Limited, 1975.