An Art that Tells a Story

Since people have been creating sculptures using a variety of materials, art is the oldest form of expression in human history. However, because distinct temples can be found in a variety of locales, temples have been a common element in most communities. One of the most famous temples created by the ancient Greeks is the Parthenon. Although it was embellished later, the temple was finished in the year 438 BC (Dominiczak, 2014). Due to its enormous scale and distinctive architectural design, the structure is one of the most recognizable structures from ancient Greece.
The temple's design might lead one to believe it was only a place of worship, however this is not the case. In the early days, people of Greece had many gods who made it necessary to appease them (Sismondo, 2005). The Parthenon, in this case, was used for various purposes apart from religious activities such as storing Persian swords and small statues. It is hence clear that the temple had other purposes apart from religious functions. The temple was later on taken over by various religions such as Christianity and Islam that grew in influence later on. It is one of the most iconic pieces in ancient Greece.

The Temple of Athena Nike is the other piece of ancient history that has stood the test of time. The temple was built around the year 420 BC as a dedication to the ancient goddess Athena Nike (Sismondo, 2005). In the earlier days, the temple was used by a small group of believers who sought help from Athena Nike. It is upon this foundation that the temple was able to stand the test of time. It is one of the few former temples of Greeks that was used as a prayer center.

The temple in ancient times was used for various purposes although religion was the chief use. In the olden days, Athena was considered as a flying goddess who protected people in Greece. The leadership at the time also used Athena as a means to show the military might of the kingdom compared to others. Athens at the time was also considered a politically developed state a point the temple emphasized. The architecture used to build the temple is one of the most distinct as the temple is considered smaller than the other temples.

The temple of Apollo is one of the oldest temples in Greece as its existence is documented. The temple was first constructed in 6 BC, but an unfortunate fire destroyed it leading to its rebuild in the 7 BC (Sismondo, 2005). The temple would, later on, be destroyed although some efforts have been put in a bid to restore its true nature. It is one of the most imposing features of the ruined Greece given its size, compared to other temples. It is considered as iconic given the many adversities that have occurred without destroying it.

The architecture of the temple is the other factor that is distinct compared to other temples in ancient Greece. The temple has six columns at the front with other fifteen columns on the side for support. The temple was also constructed using porous stone and limestone which has slowed its decaying process. It is one of the few temples in the world that has stood various adversities that have emerged. The temple of Apollo is hence an important ruin as it holds history about the growth of Greece.

Question 2

At first glance, it is not possible to notice all the material that has been used to construct the structure. At a closer look, it is possible to identify the limestone that was used to construct the massive foundation. The foundation being the core of the building has been able to survive over a long period (Munn, 2006). The other important feature that one can identify is the Pentelic marble that has been used to construct massive columns for support. The other important thing that stands out is the huge steps at its base that ushers one.

The temple of Athena Nike is considered as one of the smallest temples in ancient Greece. The temple is one of the most expensive temples to be constructed by the Greece as it was wholly built using white Pentelic marble. The other unique feature that one can recognize from the temple is its columns. In the earlier periods, temples had to have columns around, but the Athena temple has columns on the front and back (Munn, 2006). The other important factor that one can notice is the monolithic columns. This is a clear indication that the columns were built using a single block of rock.

The temple of Apollo being one of the most distinct structures in Greece is also built using special material. The foundation of the building unlike any other was built using limestone and Pentelic marble. It is upon this huge foundation that the temple stands to the present age. The walls of the temple are also distinct as there are varying colors in different walls. The material used to color various walls was Succo, which was a mixture of crushed limestone and other components. It is such distinct features that separated the temple from other structures in Greece.

Question 3

In the ancient times, it is clear that architects emphasized their works especially places of honor such as temples. In the three temples, one of the most important factors paid attention in their construction was the foundation. It is important to note that most foundations were laid on imported limestone. Limestone, in this case, was considered an expensive material for building important structures. In normal households, recycled material such as rock was used to put up structures. This, in turn, shows their belief in religion in earlier times as the source of all leadership.

Power is the other factor that is shown in the three temples in the discussion. In the earlier days, people conquered new lands as a show of might. The kings at the time ruled vast kingdoms from headquarters with a temple. It is clear that material used to build the temples such as limestone and marble played a key role in showing might. The other important thing to note is the different decorations used to build the temple. Marble played a key role in raising the status of the temple. Therefore, power was an important aspect in maintaining the vast kingdoms.

In the end, the three temples play a key role in explaining history in the various locations. Religion was one of the most important pillars in holding the vast kingdoms together. The leaders at the time relied on beliefs to maintain their power grip for long periods (Corbett, 1970). The military also played a key role in improving statues of a given kingdom. Religion and power are the most important pillars in building the most iconic temples.

































References

Corbett, P. E. (1970). Greek temples and Greek worshippers: the literary and archaeological evidence. Bulletin of the Institute of Classical Studies, 17(1), 149-158.

Dominiczak, M. H. (2014). Ancient Architecture for Healing. Clinical Chemistry, 60(10), 1357-1358.

Munn, M. (2006). The Mother of the Gods, Athens, and the Tyranny of Asia: A Study of Sovereignty in Ancient Religion. Berkeley: University of California press.

Sismondo, R. (2005). The Study of Greek Sculpture in the Twenty-First Century1. Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, vol. 149(1), 5-102.

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