Description
Book SynopsisThis is not simply a guidebook to the Acropolis Museum: by presenting the works of art exhibited in the museum, it endeavours to resynthesize the history of the Sacred Rock as part of the cultural and the wider historical process of Athens.
Following the sequence of the visitor’s tour of the museum, it is lavishly illustrated with photographs, as well as with numerous plans and reconstruction drawings, which enable the reader to understand each of the fragmentarily preserved works in its context. It also answers many of the questions raised in the discerning reader’s mind: what was the size and the population of ancient Athens? what is the meaning of the beasts represented on the large Archaic pediments? what do the Korai statues represent? why did the Erechtheion become so complex and what was the role of the Karyatids? why was the temple of Athena Nike built in the Ionic order? what led Pericles and his advisers to opt for the specific building programme and how were the major public works financed? why was it decided to place an Ionic frieze on the Doric Parthenon? what political messages were transmitted to Sparta through the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon?
Table of ContentsATHENS
IN THE MUSEUM BASEMENTS
ASCENDING… to the exhibition space and the slopes of the Sacred Rock
HOUSES AND MINOR SANCTUARIES
Τhe sanctuary of Nymphe
The Asklepieion
The sanctuary of Dionysos and the theatre
THE ACROPOLIS
PREHISTORY
THE ARCHAIC ACROPOLIS
Τhe pediments
Τhe ex-votos
The korai
THE ACROPOLIS DURING THE PERSIAN WARS
Works in the ‘Severe Style’
THE CLASSICAL ACROPOLIS
ΜONUMENTS OF THE SACRED ROCK OUTSIDE THE MUSEUM
THE PROPYLAIA
THE TEMPLE OF ATHENA or WINGLESS NIKE
ΤHE ERECHTHEION
The Karyatids and the frieze
EX-VOTOS ON THE ACROPOLIS
THE PARTHENON
Historical and political background
Architectural features
THE SCULPTED DECORATION
The metopes
The frieze
The role of the frieze
Frieze and art
Frieze and politics
The coloration of the monuments
Τhe pediments
Stylistic and interpretative approach
The akroteria of the Parthenon
Τhe cult statue
Ideology and politics in the Acropolis monuments
BIBLIOGRAPHY
