Athens

The Parthenon is a direct manifestation of the ideals of Greek society at the time. Crowing the hill of the Acropolis in Athens, it is the greatest symbol of Classical Greece. During the Greek Classic Age (c. 500 – 400 b.c.) art, philosophy, and architecture expressed the unique outlook on the world the Greeks had and was a teastament of how they lived their lives. Through the works of artists, playwrights, and philosophers, one can see both …

…Doric columns and the slender scrolled Ionian columns. The Parthenon, the Greek temple for the goddess Athena, is an impeccable example of symmetry and proportion. The sides of the Parthenon give an optical illusion of perfect balance on all sides. Their desire for balance in art and architecture represents the balance of the world; order and moderation are expressed in the simplicity of lines and shapes. The resulting overall structure works together to achieve harmony.