The Parthenon: Columns and Entablature

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The ParthenonColumns and Entablature
Tyler Stumpf, Shawn Kade, Ian Elmore, Dustin
Raymer, Allen Porterfield
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The Parthenon, A temple to the goddess athena.

• The Parthenon has many important features that
  together create an amazing structure. Today we
  will focus on the columns and entablature of the
  Parthenon.

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Definitions

• An entablature refers to the superstructure of
  moldings and bands which lie horizontally above
  columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures
  are major elements of classical architecture.
• In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a
  long sequence of columns joined by their
  entablature, often free-standing.
• A column is a vertical structural element that
  transmits, through compression, the weight of the
  structure above to other structural elements
  below. Columns are frequently used to support
  beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls
  or ceiling rests.

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Parthenon Floor Plan

• Exterior Columns Doric
• Interior Columns Ionic and Doric
• Structure is a Doric Octastyle Peripteral,
  Amphiprostyle temple.
• According to Vitruvius, the front of the
  structure is a Pycnostyle arrangement.
• Surrounded by a large Colonnade.
• 4 9 Proportion in the plans, which leads to a 9
  4 in the length and height.

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Doric order

• The Doric order is characterized by the series of
  triglyphs and metopes on the entablature. Each
  metope was occupied by a panel of relief
  sculpture.
• The Parthenon combines elements of the Doric and
  Ionic orders. Basically a Doric peripteral
  temple, it features a continuous sculpted frieze
  borrowed from the Ionic order, as well as four
  Ionic columns supporting the roof of the
  opisthodomos.

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Exterior Columns

• Columns created by the stacking of large,
  circular, drums held together by iron covered in
  lead.
• Exterior columns are of the Doric Style.
• Entasis 11/16th of an inch, which gives the
  columns a sense of flexible strength.
• Spacing 1.5 1 D
• 8 17 Column ratio.

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Interior Columns

• Interior columns are tapered, as well as tapered
  inward.
• Ionic style columns.
• Stacked drum columns, with interior iron covered
  with lead.
• The east cella has 2 rows of interior columns
  with 10 columns in each row. The west cella has 
  4 interior columns arranged in a square in the
  center.
• Inside the east cella was a U-shaped colonnade of
  10
• columns and a pier on each long side, and 3
  columns between the 2 piers on the short side.

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Entablature

• The entablature is unusually narrow hence
  visually light.
• The Architrave, Frieze, Cornice create the
  entablature.
• The Architectural elements were painted, Only at
  the top (the entablature). It's thought that
  Horizontal elements were painted red, Vertical
  elements blue.
• The entablature is surmounted at the fronts by
  pediments, whose outlines follow the slope of the
  timber roofing, and is covered with marble tiles.
• At each of the four corners of the cornices was
  sculptured an ornamental lion's head.

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Entablature Cont.

• The echinus marks the transition from the
  perpendicular lines of the column to the
  horizontal lines of the entablature.
• Four annulets under the echinus mark the
  transition from the shaft to the capital, which
  consists of two parts the echinus, or cushion at
  the summit of the column, and the abacus, which
  is a square slab forming the upper part of the
  capital and supporting the entablature.

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The Parthenon...The End