Large spaces within the Parthenon were reserved for important sculptures (see fig. 1) and they were distinct because of their sizes; the smaller ones were either reserved for other temple rites. Furthermore, spaces were separated by walls. The most important and notable architectural elements of Parthenon are the rhythmic arrangement of the columns; alternate triglyphs and metopes (see fig. 2); bilateral symmetry characterized by the equal and same arrangement of pillars, repeated flutes on columns, and harmonic arrangement of solids and the voids (see fig. 3). The temple was built based from peripteral design (see fig. 4); taking up a perfect rectangular shape while the front and back cornices and pediments form a precise triangular shape. Parthenon also had the ‘Golden Ratio’ or aesthetically pleasing natural proportions seen on its sculptural and column arrangement which many believed to reflect the correct body proportion and symmetry (Meisner n.p.). The building is closed because of the thick marble walls (peripteros) encompassing the inner part of the temple. Sculptures of lesser importance were depicted as small compared to Athena’s statue, as a goddess of wisdom had a large and tall ivory and gold statue of herself located at the center part (cella) of the temple (see fig. 5; Sayre 428). From the outside, these sculptures had dominated the outer façade of the building; showcasing the rich history of ancient Greece. Yet hidden in plain sight was another style of Parthenon which was plain and less elaborates compared to the front (see fig. 6). Kleiner explained that sculptures was important for the temple because in an age where only few were able to read and write, sculptures engraved onto the marble provides a detailed account of the deity’s life and legacy. Furthermore, despite the old age, the Parthenon mellowed with age; although ruined due to the many wars that ravaged the land (Kleiner xxvi). The temple was built atop the Acropolis to honor the goddess Athena; columns starting from the front façade to the inner columns of the second façade tend to cluster due to the slightly crowded pillars separated by narrow friezes.
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