Pericles Acropolis Speech

Building the Parthenon was a greater feat than they ever would have known. Work on the Parthenon began in 477 BC. A much smaller shrine already stood on this site, one to which we can attribute various pieces of surviving decorative material--lions and snakes, a cornice incised with flying birds, and a blue-bearded trinity that may conceivably represent Cecrops, Erechtheus, and Poseidon. If such an edifice in fact existed, it was torn down to make way for a huge limestone platform, roughly 252 by 103 feet in size, that was built as a base for the new temple. The slope of the Acropolis was such that while on the north side the foundations rested directly on bedrocks, the southeast corner needed to be built up with no

The Greeks finished building an exquisite temple to their beloved goddess, Athena in the year 432 BCE. (Sayre 60). The name of this enriched, unique temple was the Parthenon. The Parthenon took the Greeks approximately fifteen years to complete and as Pericles stated, it was built to give gratitude to their goddess Athena for the salvation of their city, Athens and all of Greece in the Persian Wars (Sayre 60). It was also a symbol of their power and superiority among other cultures. It was something the Greeks took great pride in and recognized it to a great extent. The Parthenon was built on the highest point of the city of Athens to look over the precious Greek city. On the exterior walls of the Parthenon there was beautiful artwork that

Pericles spends most of the speech praising Athens. Pericles’ emphasis on democracy is very clear. He began his speech addressing the significance of the ancestors of Athens. Pointing out their sacrifices for their city and which directly correlates to the fairness and freedoms of the current Athenian democracy. Pericles’ spoke about separation of class of people is not tolerated and if anyone can serve the state they are not judged by their livelihood. He also advocates this position by returning briefly, at the end of the speech, to the fallen soldiers and their families, rather than merely promising glory to those who lose what is most their own (their lives) in defense of their own, Pericles presents glory itself as that

Pericles articulates a strong sense of pride for the Athenian self-image through praising their ancestors, fathers, and the fallen. Pericles stated, “I shall begin with our ancestors: it is both just and proper that they should have the honor of the first mention on and occasion like the present. They dwelt in the country without break in the succession from generation to generation, and handed it down free to the present time by their valor.” The Athenian’s ancestors allowed for the future greatness and the ultimate formation of the government through their great and honorable patriotism. Their ancestors passed down the empire to the fathers of Pericles and other citizens, who only further added greatness to the inherited empire and began forming national habits. However, this greatness was earned through military achievements allowing for the possessions enjoyed by the current citizens, who gained the city from their fathers. The current Athenians, both dead and alive, further progressed the Athenian control and greatness as their successors already did. Pericles stated, “There are few parts of our dominions that have not been augmented by those of us here, who are still more or less in the vigor of life; while the mother country has been furnished by us with everything that can enable her to

Many people consider the Parthenon to be an extraordinary building. Why is this building so celebrated and influential? The purpose of this paper is to discuss some of the building’s history, examine the intricate architectural choices, and explore the extent to which selected Classically-inspired architectural works have taken influence from the Parthenon.

The Acropolis (Athens, Greek) is a city on the hills with four magnificent buildings around. The city built 495-425 BC near the Athens, city of Athens. The meaning of the Acropolis is come from an Acro means highest point and the polis means city. Persians in 490 BCE and again in 480-479BCE destroyed the city in the early Classical period and Athens becomes the dominant political power in that time and a great see and trading power. The Acropolis is a proof of human and Greek ancient who they were created, these huge architectural buildings with a lot of work and creativity this city is a great example of architectural ancient Greek history.

At a time of war, Pericles’s characteristics of wisdom, courage, and self-control were able to maintain order in Athens. His wisdom throughout his reign was mostly displayed by his talent of

The Parthenon is created as an optical illusion. It appears to consist of straight lines but in fact, almost every surface is built to lean and curved from its columns to its foundations. It gives a unique insight into the best that ancient Greek sculptors could produce at the best period of Greek art. The Parthenon is a Doric peripteral temple; it consists of a rectangular floor plan with a series of low steps, and a colonnade of Doric columns. The three main types of columns used in Greek temples and other public buildings are Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Many of the sculpture

“The Parthenon was commissioned by Pericles sometime after Greek victories over the Persians between 490 and 480 BC” (Glancey 26, 27). During the Persian Greek wars, Athens believed that Athena watched over them and that she helped them throughout the war. The Parthenon represents the wealth, power, society, and culture of Athens. The building of the Parthenon cost the Athenians four hundred and sixty nine talents, which symbolized Athens as wealthy.

During the golden age of Athens, pericles achieved one of the greatest architectural victories at that time with the Parthenon. The parthenon took 15 years to build and Cost 469 silver talents to build, which is the equivalent to 9 million dollars. The Parthenon was designed by great

Throughout Pericles’s childhood, he interacted with artist, philosophers, and musicians. This interaction took a huge role in his character, and he became a leader of Athens and a huge supporter of the arts. After the Persian invasion in 480, most Athenians refused to rebuild Acropolis which was in a state of ruin and served as a reminder of the price of the previous war. Regardless of their refusal, Pericles convinced them to rebuild Acropolis. The centerpiece of Acropolis was a temple of

With the program’s promise of glory for the city and employment of many workers which would strengthen Athens’ economy, it was too popular an idea to be dismissed. “It is only fair that when Athens has all the equipment necessary for fighting the war, what is left over should be used for public buildings. When the buildings have been completed, they will bring everlasting glory to Athens”(Plutarch, Life of Pericles). Some of Pericles’ enemies accused him of dressing up Athens as if she were a common whore, “Athens was like a shameless woman, adding to her wardrobe precious stones and expensive statues and temples worth million.” (Plutarch, Life of

The reason as to why I chose to meet Pericles is because Pericles was one of the few people in history who impacted the world enough to have an entire time period named after him. Pericles was one such man to earn that distinction because he accomplished many things while he ruled Athens. He helped subsidize theatrical productions attended by the poor, commissioned several public buildings that employed thousands of artisans and paid for jurors to fulfill their civic duty in the court system. Also during his leadership, the Parthenon, the temple of Athena Nike and the Erechtheum, was rebuilt. He colonized islands and lead Athens in the Delian League. Last but least, as a military leader, Pericles recaptured Delphi from the Spartans and laid

Committed to Athena, the city's benefactor goddess, the Parthenon typifies the design and sculptural greatness. Inside a sanctuary, a goliath gold-and-ivory statue of Athena made by the Greek model Pheidias. The building itself was built altogether of marble and lavishly adorned with figure, a portion of the finest cases of the high Classical style of the mid-fifth century B.C. Its sculptural beautification has majorly affected different gems, from the fifth century B.C. through the present day.

One of the most impressive accomplishments of Ancient Greece is the remarkable structure of the Parthenon on the Acropolis. The Parthenon is one of the most inspiring works of architecture known to mankind. The project of the extraordinary Acropolis was taken on by one of the most influential leaders of history, Pericles. Pericles influenced not only the building of one of the grandest works but the example of democracy displayed by the Greeks. The architecture was unique for its time, it featured excellent structure,the breathtaking Metopes featuring the epic battles of the gods, the Frieze a detailed sculpture displaying a procession of Greeks, and was built to house the magnificent statue of Athena adorned in gold. The Parthenon was