The Great Greek Parthenon

Greek culture has given the Western World an extraordinary amount of art, literature, architecture and philosophy. While many have read the great Greek myths and enjoyed learning Greek philosophy, one of the most fascinating aspects about this culture is that many of the great landmarks written about still stand today. One of these impressive landmarks which still bring awe to the masses is the Parthenon. The great Greek Parthenon is truly a masterpiece, not only in its architecturally pure form, but in its ability to inspire.

In the Beginning
The Parthenon is one of the oldest structures in the world left standing. As it is impressive today, it was an incredible monument over 2,000 years ago when it was first designed and built. Originally constructed as a temple for the Greek god of wisdom Athena. The Parthenon was built on the most majestic mountain in Athens- the Acropolis. It was constructed in only a few short years between 447 B.C. and 432 B.C.

The Master Architects
During the 440’s B.C. Athens citizens hired two master architects that would design and build this incredible masterpiece. These two Parthenon architects: Callicrates and Ictinus were some of the most gifted and talented architects the world has ever seen to build such a magnificent temple in a short period of time that has literally stood for thousands of years.

The Parthenon Through the Ages
The Parthenon not only gets its reputation from the majestic beauty it bestows, but the length of time and history it has witnessed. Incredibly, against long odds, the Parthenon still stands today. At first a temple for Athena, it soon became a Christian church in 400 A.D., however 1,000 years later as the Ottoman Empire took control of the region, the Parthenon became a Mosque. Incredibly the Parthenon was even used as a weapons depo during the war between Venice. However, throughout the years and the many different faiths the Parthenon still stood strong.

Read More about the Greek Parthenon at Smithsonian Magazine
The Parthenon has been going through a meticulous restoration process over the last 30+ years. For those that have always been fascinated with this structure and the history and myths behind her, the Smithsonian Magazine offers a fascinating article. To read more, please visit our site at the following link: http://www.smithsonianmag.com/

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