Background on the acropolis
Purpose of the Acropolis itself: The Acropolis symbolises the city itself when it reached the ‘height of power.’ After becoming victorious during Persian wars, in 447 BC. Athens had become the dominant power in what is now the country of Greece, the centre at a regional empire. The Acropolis had initially housed the kings in Athens earliest history, although its purpose changed after the war, the site still resonates with temporal authority. Unlike modern buildings for worship ancient temples were not built to accommodate worshippers, but to be looked at and to honour the deity.
The message conveyed by the Acropolis: The Acropolis was very significant as it was the highest ground available in Athens, the temples upon it dominated the skylines of the cites from any view, showing its importance, prestige and power to the gods after it was destroyed by the persians.
The message conveyed by the Acropolis: The Acropolis was very significant as it was the highest ground available in Athens, the temples upon it dominated the skylines of the cites from any view, showing its importance, prestige and power to the gods after it was destroyed by the persians.
Main orders on the Acropolis:
Doric order: The athenians population were displaced from a group known as the Acheans which migrated into the country in waves, pushing the boundary each time further into the country. These invaders entering Greece were known as Dorians, they were nomadic herdsmen whom had the primary concern of appeasing the gods in the sky, they saw gods in the forms of forces of nature and personified them as male figures. Dorians built myths around improbable stories of violent battles and involved the encounter with mythical creatures. Consequently, the dorians lifestyle and building forms revolved around the idea of only male gods.
Purpose of Doric order: Dorians buildings traditionally had very solid/thick columns which were plain and undecorated to represent its solidity, permanence and stability, an attempt to almost resist the gods from entering. To the Dorians the gods were a frightening existence, to be treated with respect and placated. Their architecture were a symbol of rationality existing in a sea of chaos.
Doric order: The athenians population were displaced from a group known as the Acheans which migrated into the country in waves, pushing the boundary each time further into the country. These invaders entering Greece were known as Dorians, they were nomadic herdsmen whom had the primary concern of appeasing the gods in the sky, they saw gods in the forms of forces of nature and personified them as male figures. Dorians built myths around improbable stories of violent battles and involved the encounter with mythical creatures. Consequently, the dorians lifestyle and building forms revolved around the idea of only male gods.
Purpose of Doric order: Dorians buildings traditionally had very solid/thick columns which were plain and undecorated to represent its solidity, permanence and stability, an attempt to almost resist the gods from entering. To the Dorians the gods were a frightening existence, to be treated with respect and placated. Their architecture were a symbol of rationality existing in a sea of chaos.
Ionic order: The natives originally from Greece that emigrated out to the islands were known as the Ionians. Ionians were agriculturalists and believed in the idea of expression of gratitude to the gods for the fertility and growth they brought. They personified their gods as female figures, an idea which bloomed from fertility. Their religion was comprised of goddesses that were more secret and abstruse in comparison to the idea of the Dorian gods which were much more of a direct influence. Ionians worshiped with a greater sense of embracing sensuality and emotionalism, their mythology focusing more on human aspects than violent creatures.
Purpose of Ionic order: Ionians buildings tried to express a female form, the columns were more slender, the details were much finer and more attention was paid to decoration and subtlety. Their architecture were a symbol of fertility, femininity, sensuality and emotionalism.
Purpose of Ionic order: Ionians buildings tried to express a female form, the columns were more slender, the details were much finer and more attention was paid to decoration and subtlety. Their architecture were a symbol of fertility, femininity, sensuality and emotionalism.
Panathenia: This procession is when the people of Attica and the empire combined to honour the patron goddess of Athens, Athene. Athene was presented with a new garment every four years, very much like the olympics that we have today. It involved music concerts which were held in the Odeion, Athletic events held in the stadium and greek theatre. The sacrifices were the most significant aspect of this procession, they were important in that they were an offering to the god in the belief that the god would look favourably on the person making the sacrifice. The Panathenia was the Athenian's way of making a statement of their power, stature and wealth, people from all around the world would go to Athens just to witness this great panathenaic procession.
Evidence: There are limitations of sources and abundance of evidence, as over time evidence has been either destroyed in Athens or dispersed and lost throughout generations. The sources that were used would have come from the Greek's mythological beliefs and from their stories which were painted on vases or portrayed in their architecture.