Analysis

The design of the Parthenon was dedicated to two architects, Ictinus and Calibrates as well as one sculptor Phidias. Observers were always surprised at the sophistication displayed in techniques by the Athenians when constructing the temple. The Doric and Ionic styles were combined in this temple of classical Greek architecture to create an even more stunning effect. Builders started off the process by establishing the measurements of the column of the peristyle and then using those said measurements in order to create a proportion-based module to project the heights, width, and length of the stylobate. In addition to fixing the dimensions of the lower column diameter, they were able to determine the overall height of the column which came out to be 32 feet. With these dimensions, the determination of the ratio as a guide to building turned out to be 2:3, squared to 4:9, and again 16:81. 2:3 shows the relationship between the width of the triglyph compared to the metopes and flanks. 4:9 ratio was the indicator between the lower column diameter and the distance between axes of the neighboring elements. assuming that the builders divided the interaxial by 5 to find the module defining the height of orders. Consistency of the column calculations determined the total order which turned out to be 16 modules (column + Tribulation + greisen). Design emerged in relation to a plan: a pair of 32 foot tall columns, separated by 5 modules equaling out to a 9:4 ratio, and the horizontal members being at the height of 16 modules.

Structural Analysis

There are approximately 3 steps leading to the structure on the site, on the top step is where the structure is located. This step measures out to be 30.9 m x 69.5m (101 x 228 ft). The height of each step was 20 inches, which was tough for the average human to climb so there were lowered steps at the center of the structure to allow people to go in using them. The room on the Eastern end of the building was 98 ft x 63 ft with internal Doric columns in two tiers, this was structurally necessary for support but also allowed for the visual characteristics of the room to be enhanced. On the exterior, Doric columns measured out to be 6’2” in diameter and 34’3” in height. The columns located in the corners of the structure are larger in diameter and reduced in spacing to make sure that the frieze can conform to the rule of terminating with a triglyph. Stylobate has an upward pointing curvature toward its center which comes out to 2 3/8” on the East and West ends and 4 5/16” on the sides.

This analysis shows the different structural supports created through this building. The horizontal structure is shown with the blue and the vertical structure is shown in the red. Columns were used as a structural support in the Parthenon, but the central walls seemed to also help with the structure as well. The horizontal pieces were placed above the vertical structures.

Due to the amounts of columns, there is currently natural light penetrating through the structure. This image shows what the natural lighting looks like today. Before that, lighting that came through the columns never went inside where the statue was placed. The only lighting in the sekos was from the ceiling at the time.

Natural Light

Massing

The Parthenon is very massive structurally. What makes it dense in volume is the Pentelic Marble used in constructing it. This is the current state of the Parthenon, though it is damaged from the past decades, the structure continues to look dense and sturdy.

Plan

In the floor plan of the you are able to see the different variations of structural columns available in the space. The ones within the Naos are smaller in size whereas the ones being used outside are a little bigger. There are three steps to get into the temple, but then an additional two steps to get into the smaller rooms.

Elevation

Elevation diagrams of this structure's East Façade show the different characteristics that make the structure unique. The Doric columns, the metopes, and pediment add so much depth and dimension to the architecture of the Parthenon.

Section

The section cut of the building demonstrates to the viewer the structure of the pediment and what is behind it. It shows the dense material used to construct the building and demonstrated what it looks like from within. We see the darkened top/ roof where the metopes and pediment are located and how the structure of the columns is done in a way to hold everything in its place.