One Enduring Example of Greek Architecture – The Parthenon

The Conco Companies are experienced commercial concrete contractors who have had the privilege to be involved in many exciting construction projects built over the last several decades.  In recognition of outstanding construction projects throughout the centuries, we are doing a series of posts on ancient Greek architecture.   

    

Since the word “acropolis,” means high city, it was used to describe many buildings throughout Greece, but in recent times, it has been used to describe the temples overlooking Athens.  There are several buildings that make up the Acropolis that still survive in some part.  The buildings include the Parthenon that was constructed in 447 to 438 BC (some of the decorative features were completed in 432 BC).  The Propylaea, constructed around 437 BC. The Temple of Athena Nike, constructed from 427 to 423 BC.  In addition the Erechtheum, which was started in 421 BC but had construction interrupted, was finally completed in 407 BC.  

 

The Parthenon, considered to be the most important surviving structure that exemplifies Classic Greece architectural style, was built in honor of the goddess Athena, patron of the people of Athens.  Constructed in the Doric order, the Parthenon is “regarded as an enduring symbol of Ancient Greece, Athenian democracy and western civilization, and one of the world's greatest cultural monuments.”  The temple was originally used as a treasury, but in the last decade of the sixth century, it was used as a Christian church.   

The Parthenon measures 45 ft. high and the cella, which is the inner chamber of a temple, is 98 ft. by 63 ft.  The rectangular shaped building is surrounded by a colonnaded portico of columns on all four sides.  Comprised of 8 columns along the front of the building, it has 15 columns on each side, with the two corner columns on each end to total 17.  Originally the structure contained many brightly painted sculptures but they were removed in 1802 and now reside in the British Museum.  Owned by the Greek government, the structure has been under renovation for decades, but this summer visitors to the Acropolis will have the chance to see the Parthenon without scaffolding for the first time since 1983,  

The Conco Companies are a leading supplier of concrete services for the Western United States. We have built a reputation on superior concrete formwork, reinforcing, place and finish, shotcrete and other ancillary services that benefit from our vast experience.  We have four regional offices to serve Southern and Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Colorado. 

Source:  famous-historic-buildings.org.uk/greece_4.html, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon