Athenian Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
This photograph shows the western side of the Athenian Acropolis. While originally a Mycenaean citadel in the Bronze Age, the Acropolis became the chief religious sanctuary during the Classical Period. After most of the religious sanctuaries were destroyed by the Persian emperor, Xerxes, in 480 BCE, the great Athenian Statesman, Pericles, embarked on an ambitious building campaign to illustrate Athens' dominance in the Greek world after the expulsion of the Persians in 479 BCE. This Periclean Age witnessed a rebirth for the Acropolis as a sanctuary for the Athenian world.
Proctor, Christopher
08-June-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Erechtheion: Athena's Olive Tree (Athens, Greece)
Erechtheion (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
This photograph captures the western wall of the Erectheion. Dedicated to the gods Athena and Poseidon, and named after the legendary king of Athens, Erectheus, this temple commemorated the mythic battle for patronage of the city. According to myth, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim the city, so a contest was held to determine which of the two gods would be victorious. Each god had to give a gift to the people, and after careful considering, the people, themselves, would choose their own patron. Poseidon famously provided the people with a saltwater pool, while Athena gave the people what would become the basis of their commercial economy, the olive tree. Athena was chosen as the winner and the city named after her. It was supposedly on this spot where this contest took place, the tree depicted here is believed by Athenians to be the descendant of the original olive tree given by their patron goddess.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Erechtheion: Eastern Views (Athens, Greece)
Erechtheion (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
This photograph captures the eastern sanctuary of the Erectheion. The whole complex was dedicated to the gods Athena and Poseidon, and named after the legendary king of Athens, Erectheus. This temple commemorated the mythic battle for patronage of the city. According to myth, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim the city, so a contest was held to determine which of the two gods would be victorious. Each god had to give a gift to the people, and after careful considering, the people, themselves, would choose their own patron. Poseidon famously provided the people with a saltwater pool, while Athena gave the people what would become the basis of their commercial economy, the olive tree. Athena was chosen as the winner and the city named after her. Although in existence since the Bronze Age, the individual buildings that originally constituted what became the Erectheion were consolidated and enlarged by the building program of Pericles. Construction on the renovated Erechteion began in 421 BCE and lasted until it was dedicated in 406 BCE. Contrary to popular belief, the Parthenon (just south of the Erectheion) was not the most important religious sanctuary in Athens; it was the Erechtheion.
This eastern portion of the temple complex was dedicated to Athena Polias, the manifestation of the goddess as the patron of the city.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Erechtheion: Portico of the Caryatids (Athens, Greece)
Erechtheion (Athens, Greece)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
This photograph captures the southern portico of the Erectheion and its famous Caryatid columns.. The whole complex was dedicated to the gods Athena and Poseidon, and named after the legendary king of Athens, Erectheus. This temple commemorated the mythic battle for patronage of the city. According to myth, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim the city, so a contest was held to determine which of the two gods would be victorious. Each god had to give a gift to the people, and after careful considering, the people, themselves, would choose their own patron. Poseidon famously provided the people with a saltwater pool, while Athena gave the people what would become the basis of their commercial economy, the olive tree. Athena was chosen as the winner and the city named after her. Although in existence since the Bronze Age, the individual buildings that originally constituted what became the Erectheion were consolidated and enlarged by the building program of Pericles. Construction on the renovated Erechteion began in 421 BCE and lasted until it was dedicated in 406 BCE. Contrary to popular belief, the Parthenon (just south of the Erectheion) was not the most important religious sanctuary in Athens; it was the Erechtheion.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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without modification for research and educative endeavors. Please cite the digital resource according to the convention provided by Omeka.
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Erechtheion: Western and Southern Views (Athens, Greece)
Erechtheion (Athens, Greece)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
This photograph captures the western and southern sides of the Erectheion. Dedicated to the gods, Athena and Poseidon, and named after the legendary king of Athens, Erectheus, this temple commemorated the mythic battle for patronage of the city. According to myth, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to claim the city, so a contest was held to determine which of the two gods would be victorious. Each god had to give a gift to the people, and after careful considering, the people, themselves, would choose their own patron. Poseidon famously provided the people with a saltwater pool, while Athena gave the people what would become the basis of their commercial economy, the olive tree. Athena was chosen as the winner and the city named after her. It was supposedly on this spot where this contest took place, the tree depicted on the western side of the Erechtheion is believed by Athenians to be the descendant of the original olive tree given by their patron goddess. This temple is also famous for its porch of the Caryatids, a portico with maidens acting as the supporting columns. Although in existence since the Bronze Age, the individual buildings that originally constituted what became the Erectheion were consolidated and enlarged by the building program of Pericles. Construction on the renovated Erechteion began in 421 BCE and lasted until it was dedicated in 406 BCE. Contrary to popular belief, the Parthenon (just south of the Erectheion) was not the most important religious sanctuary in Athens; it was the Erechtheion.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Parthenon: Eastern Metopes (Athens, Greece)
Parthenon (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
Phidias, approximately 500 B.C.-approximately 430 B.C.
Relief (Sculpture), Greek
The Parthenon is perhaps the most famous Greek temple from Classical Period. Dedicated to Athena's perpetual virginity (Parthenos), the Parthenon was built during the revitalization campaign of Pericles, which rebuilt the infrastructure of Athens after the Persian forces destroyed most of the city in 480 BCE. These new buildings, the Parthenon chief among them, were also meant to demonstrate Athens' dominance over the Mediterranean world. The Parthenon took nearly 15 years to complete, beginning in 447 BCE and finishing in 432 BCE. The main chamber of the building (naos) contained a statue of the goddess sculpted by the artist, Phidias, and standing nearly 40 feet tall. The secondary, smaller chamber behind the main naos was used as a treasury after the Athenians moved the war funds of the Delian League from the island of Delos to Athens.
Bas-relief sculptures known as metopes ran around both sets of external walls of the Parthenon. This photograph captures several metopes on the outer wall, just under the eastern pediment. Each series of metopes on the four sides of the temple had a unified theme, and the eastern set depicted the Gigantomachia: i.e. the mythic battle between the Olympians and the Giants.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Parthenon: Eastern Pediment (Athens, Greece)
Parthenon (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
Phidias, approximately 500 B.C.-approximately 430 B.C.
Greek sculpture
The Parthenon is perhaps the most famous Greek temple from Classical Period. Dedicated to Athena's perpetual virginity (Parthenos), the Parthenon was built during the revitalization campaign of Pericles, which rebuilt the infrastructure of Athens after the Persian forces destroyed most of the city in 480 BCE. These new buildings, the Parthenon chief among them, were also meant to demonstrate Athens' dominance over the Mediterranean world. The Parthenon took nearly 15 years to complete, beginning in 447 BCE and finishing in 432 BCE. The main chamber of the building (naos) contained a statue of the goddess sculpted by the artist, Phidias, and standing nearly 40 feet tall. The secondary, smaller chamber behind the main naos was used as a treasury after the Athenians moved the war funds of the Delian League from the island of Delos to Athens.
This photograph captures the eastern pediment of the Parthenon, which would have stood directly above the doors of the main cult chamber. The scene would have depicted the birth of Athena springing fully armored from the head of her father, Zeus. Now, only a portion of the sculpture remains; the rest of it is housed in the British Museum.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Parthenon: Eastern View (Athens, Greece)
Parthenon (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
The Parthenon is perhaps the most famous Greek temple from Classical Period. Dedicated to Athena's perpetual virginity (Parthenos), the Parthenon was built during the revitalization campaign of Pericles, which rebuilt the infrastructure of Athens after the Persian forces destroyed most of the city in 480 BCE. These new buildings, the Parthenon chief among them, were also meant to demonstrate Athens' dominance over the Mediterranean world. The Parthenon took nearly 15 years to complete, beginning in 447 BCE and finishing in 432 BCE. The main chamber of the building (naos) contained a statue of the goddess sculpted by the artist, Phidias, and standing nearly 40 feet tall. The secondary, smaller chamber behind the main naos was used as a treasury after the Athenians moved the war funds of the Delian League from the island of Delos to Athens.
This photograph captures the eastern entrance of the Parthenon, which would have housed the doors leading into the main cult chamber. If the Parthenon sanctuary included a temple, it would have been located on this side of the building. During sacrifices, the naos' doors would have been left open so that the massive statue of the goddess could watch over the festivities.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Parthenon: Southern View (Athens, Greece)
Parthenon (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
The Parthenon is perhaps the most famous Greek temple from Classical Period. Dedicated to Athena's perpetual virginity (Parthenos), the Parthenon was built during the revitalization campaign of Pericles, which rebuilt the infrastructure of Athens after the Persian forces destroyed most of the city in 480 BCE. These new buildings, the Parthenon chief among them, were also meant to demonstrate Athens' dominance over the Mediterranean world. The Parthenon took nearly 15 years to complete, beginning in 447 BCE and finishing in 432 BCE. The main chamber of the building (naos) contained a statue of the goddess sculpted by the artist, Phidias, and standing nearly 40 feet tall. The secondary, smaller chamber behind the main naos was used as a treasury after the Athenians moved the war funds of the Delian League from the island of Delos to Athens.
This photograph captures the southern wall of the Parthenon. The gaping hole in this side of the temple was the result of an explosion in 1687 after the Ottoman Turks had converted the Parthenon into a mosque and began storing gun powder in the main chamber. Efforts are currently underway to piece the main chamber back together.
Proctor, Christopher
29-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Parthenon: Western View (Athens, Greece)
Parthenon (Athens, Greece)
Athena (Greek deity)
Acropolis (Athens, Greece)
Temples, Greek--Greece
Ancient Greek religion
Athens (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.
Age of Pericles
Pericles, 495-429 B.C.
The Parthenon is perhaps the most famous Greek temple from Classical Period. Dedicated to Athena's perpetual virginity (Parthenos), the Parthenon was built during the revitalization campaign of Pericles, which rebuilt the infrastructure of Athens after the Persian forces destroyed most of the city in 480 BCE. These new buildings, the Parthenon chief among them, were also meant to demonstrate Athens' dominance over the Mediterranean world. The Parthenon took nearly 15 years to complete, beginning in 447 BCE and finishing in 432 BCE. The main chamber of the building (naos) contained a statue of the goddess sculpted by the artist, Phidias, and standing nearly 40 feet tall. The secondary, smaller chamber behind the main naos was used as a treasury after the Athenians moved the war funds of the Delian League from the island of Delos to Athens.
This photograph captures the western side of the Parthenon. When one first enters the Acropolis through its main gate, the Propylaea, this is the first view one will have of the famous temple. This side of the structure would have contained the riches of the Delian League after the treasury was relocated from the island of Delos to Athens.
Proctor, Christopher
23-May-2007
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Attikē (Greece)
Greece--History--Athenian supremacy, 479-431 B.C.