The Parthenon

The Parthenon

The Parthenon, 448-432BC, is festive with balanced grace. It looks tall, compact and self contained with a muscular quality about it, like a nicely toned athlete. It is large in size but does not appear to be as massive as the Basilica. This is because of the added height and tapering which give the columns a slender appearance. Column tops or "capitals" are smaller and spaced wider. The columns carry less of a load then most constructions prior to this time. Visually it appears that the points of greatest stress are supported and provided with counter stress. This is created by the slightly curved building base or "entablature" and inward leaning columns. [MH] {AP}