ACROPOLIS, Parthenon Second Part

Despite its huge dimensions, the Parthenon appears perfectly proportioned, giving a sense of serene and magnificent power and balance. To obtain this effect, Ictinus adopted a number of strategies you might find surprising: the base is slightly higher at the center than at the sides, so as not to give the impression of buckling under the weight of the temple. The columns also tilt slightly inwards, otherwise at a distance it would look as if they were protruding from the exterior. At the same time, they are slightly convex so they do not appear too narrow. These optical corrections are barely perceptible, but necessary to harmonize the appearance of the monument to the human eye. As you can see, every aspect has been considered in great detail to ensure the temple looks perfect.

The most glorious element of the Parthenon, however, were the sculptures by Phidias, one of the most famous sculptors of all time and a personal friend of Pericles. On the two pediments were two magnificent groups of colored statues glorifying the birth of Athena and her triumph over Poseidon. Inside the temple was the colossal statue of the goddess, glimmering with gold and shrouded in a mysterious atmosphere. On the horizontal structure supporting the roof, there were 92 tablets of stone sculpted with scenes of myths and episodes of warfare....