The Parthenon in Nashville

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The Parthenon in Nashville

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Wednesday, 02 February 2011 01:19

Although there are hundreds of graphic reconstructions of the temple all we can say without doubt that seeing a drawing or image is incomparable to stand in front of it and feel its enormity in plain sight. Well, unless we travel to Nashville, where there is a scale replica of the Parthenon. Built in 1897, to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Tennessee as part of the Union, by architects William B. And Russell E. Dinsmoor Hart is the only exact replica, not only in size and shape but also all the decorations are accurate, including the huge statue of Athena about 13 meters in the center, although it is not gold or ivory as the original.

The city of Nashville in Tennessee undertook the construction of a scale replica to celebrate the centenary of the establishment of the city in 1897. The nearby towns, businessmen and other influential interest groups pavilions built to celebrate the occasion. The flag of Nashville was made of brick, lath and plaster. The intention was to demonstrate the city's reputation as the "Athens of the South." Upon completion of the Exhibition, at the request of the City public structure left standing. However in 1921, addressing the problem of crumbling pediments and plaster that was deteriorating, the beloved monument of the city was visibly . Park Board authorized the reconstruction of the building with permanent materials. This time, they faced to create a complete replica, inside and out. Was redesigned inside, discarding the large number of galleries created for the exhibition play for the plane of the original structure. What once was the basement of the Parthenon in 1897, became a gallery at the time. On May 21, 1931, the Parthenon opened its doors to the public, attracting over 10,000 visitors from 46 states and 12 foreign countries during the first month. The Parthenon remained unchanged until 1987, when it began a radical overhaul that lasted 20 months, adding the entry on the ground floor of the east side.

The Parthenon in Athens was built in marble and led the Greek builders about 10 years (447-438 BC) The Nashville Parthenon was built of brick, stone and cement and brought to the city of Nashville nearly 10 years (1921-1931) .

All horizontal architectural elements are bowed slightly in the center. This means there is no real straight horizontal lines in the Parthenon. Architectural refinements made the building look vivid and flawless to the naked eye. This curve is repeated in the Parthenon in Nashville.

The Parthenon is 65 feet high at its apex. The colonnade is Doric columns 46, 17 on each side. All exterior columns lean slightly inward. The corner columns are diagonally inclined; the experts disagree on the exact reasons for these refinements, but clearly serve the aesthetic functions of the building.
The columns of the building differ in diameter adjacent to the gutter with a slightly different.
All columns share a refinement called the rapture, a slight bulge or convex curvature of the shaft. Thus, the column diameter is greater than half its height.

The interior of the Parthenon is divided into two rooms. The eastern area is called Naos and contains the statue of Athena. The Naos is 93 feet long and 63 feet wide and has a colonnade on three of the four sides. The western area is 44 feet long by 63 feet wide and is called the fourth of the Treasury. In antiquity this site contained the treasury of Athens and the Delian League.

The bronze doors pean 7.5 tons each and is the largest set of bronze doors swing in the world. The doors of the Parthenon were made of wood with a bronze coating.

Like its predecessor in Greece, the Parthenon in Nashville faces east. In ancient times this would allow light to enter the building while the sun was rising over the horizon.

Until 1988 visitors entered the Parthenon in Nashville through the doors at the west end of the building. In 1982, the city appointed Alan LeQuire build a replica of Athena Parthenos. Alan LeQuire also depended on the modern classical scholars to contrast his work with the latest archaeological information.

It remains curious that these initiatives come from across the Atlantic as Greece burns in dozens of fire, do not forget that Delphi this summer has been on the verge of disappearing. Such efforts, though they may be branded as outrageous should always be welcome especially in cases where the original work must be protected or worse, has disappeared into the various vicissitudes of history. It is not the first time and hopefully not the last (remember the replicas of the Caves of Altamira).

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