7th Grade The Parthenon

The Age of Classical Greece, between 500 and 323 B.C., was the most influential period of ancient Greece. During this period, the ancient Greeks developed ideas for philosophy, religion, government, science, and art. A few of the great accomplishments of this age included the rise of democratic city-states and the Parthenon. The philosophers Socrates and Plato and playwrights Sophocles, Euripides, and Aristophanes lived during this time.
Ancient Greece was divided into several independent city-states. The city-state of Athens was the center of Greek culture and arts.

Sitting high on a hill at the center of Athens is the Acropolis, a collection of monuments and temples dedicated to the gods. The best known of these monuments is the Parthenon, dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the patron goddess of Athens. Built between 447 and 432 B.C., this monument remains the international symbol of ancient Greece and is probably the best example of classical ancient Greek architecture, especially of the Doric order—the earliest and simplest of the classical Greek styles.

Please visit the following Web sites for more information:

http://academic.reed.edu/humanities/110Tech/Parthenon.html

http://www.ancient-greece.org/architecture/parthenon.html

The Acropolis Experience ( see the 3D animated walk-through of the Parthenon)
http://www.pbs.org/empires/thegreeks/htmlver/index.html

The Goddess Athena
www.goddess-athena.org/Encyclopedia/Athena/index.htm



Discussion Questions
1. Describe the location of the Acropolis and the Parthenon. Explain the significance of this location for Athenians at the time of the construction of the temple.

2. Explain why the Parthenon is one of the best examples of classical Greek architecture.

3. What were the optical refinements used in the Parthenon? How did each one create an illusion that enhanced the gracefulness of the structure?