Parthenon Vs Pantheon Research Paper
Athough from two entirely different cultures and entirely different times, the Pantheon and the Parthenon share similarities, along with a world of differences, in form, function, themes, ideology, and messages about their respective civilizations. By comparing these two structures, it is easy to see why knowledge of context and culture is important to understanding and interpreting art.
The Pantheon was built between 118-125 AD in ancient Rome as a temple to the seven gods of the seven planets. It was first built by Emperor Agrippa, but was destroyed in a giant fire in 80 AD. Later, Emperor Hadrian, who had a strong interest in Greek culture, began to design a new Pantheon, one which was reminiscent of Greek temples. It was built in the …show more content…
Its façade is in accord with the golden ratio, able to be divided into golden rectangles. It is a Doric temple, which means that it is rectangular in style, with steps on each side, and a row of columns, or a colonnade, around the entire perimiter of the building. Inside there are two rooms. The larger room, called the naos, once held a statue of Athena. The smaller room, the opisthodomos, was once used as a treasury. The metopes are 92 panels that run along the outside of the building. The metopes on each side have a different subject: the final stages of the battle between the Greek gods and the giants, the Battle of the Lapiths and the Centaurs, the invasion of the Amazons, and the Trojan War. The frieze is the most notable feature of the Parthenon, in the upper part of the largest room. It is most agreed upon that it depicts a procession from Athens to the Acropolis in celebration of Athena. The pedimens are some of the finest examples of classical Greek sculpture, narrating the birth of Athena and the competition between her and Poseidon to become the patron of Athens. The sculptures depict figures in natural and graceful movement, with idealized and perfected
The Pantheon was built between 118-125 AD in ancient Rome as a temple to the seven gods of the seven planets. It was first built by Emperor Agrippa, but was destroyed in a giant fire in 80 AD. Later, Emperor Hadrian, who had a strong interest in Greek culture, began to design a new Pantheon, one which was reminiscent of Greek temples. It was built in the …show more content…
Its façade is in accord with the golden ratio, able to be divided into golden rectangles. It is a Doric temple, which means that it is rectangular in style, with steps on each side, and a row of columns, or a colonnade, around the entire perimiter of the building. Inside there are two rooms. The larger room, called the naos, once held a statue of Athena. The smaller room, the opisthodomos, was once used as a treasury. The metopes are 92 panels that run along the outside of the building. The metopes on each side have a different subject: the final stages of the battle between the Greek gods and the giants, the Battle of the Lapiths and the Centaurs, the invasion of the Amazons, and the Trojan War. The frieze is the most notable feature of the Parthenon, in the upper part of the largest room. It is most agreed upon that it depicts a procession from Athens to the Acropolis in celebration of Athena. The pedimens are some of the finest examples of classical Greek sculpture, narrating the birth of Athena and the competition between her and Poseidon to become the patron of Athens. The sculptures depict figures in natural and graceful movement, with idealized and perfected