Whether you read the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan or watched the Marvel movies and got obsessed with Thor and Loki, which led you to develop an interest in Greek mythology, chances are that you developed a fascination with ancient tales of heroism, gods, and epic quests. In this article, I’ll be highlighting four of the most significant Greek architectural pieces and the myths behind them.
Acropolis of Athens:
Architecturally speaking, the acropolis of Athens is placed on a hill with a height of 156 meters, which gives it its name, “acropolis,” which is the Greek term for “high city.” The overall dimensions are approximately 170 by 350.
Now, mythologically speaking, the significance of the acropolis of Athens is that it is a symbol of Athenian power, wealth, and cultural achievement. It is also home to a number of monuments dedicated to the Greek goddess of wisdom and war.
The tale behind this famous monument is as follows:
The goddess of wisdom and war, Athena fought a battle with Poseidon, the god of the sea and horses. Both desired to claim Athens; to do so, they both presented a gift each. Athena offered an olive tree, which represents peace, prosperity, and friendship. Whereas Poseidon, for his gift, struck his trident on the rock to create a stream of water. The populace chose Athena’s gift over Poseidon’s. Due to this, the city of Athens obtained its name from its first ruler, Athena.
Odeon of Herodes Atticus:
One of the world’s oldest and finest open-air theatres, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus was built between 160 and 174 AD. The Odeon of Herodes Atticus stands at a height of 28 meters, followed by a diameter of 92 meters. Its structure is that of a semicircular shape of a three-story stage building that holds limestone seating clad with blue-hued marble.
The significance of this sublime architecture is that it is a Roman theatre that is a symbol for the love story of Herodes Atticus and his wife, Aspasia Regilla. It is said that Herodes Atticus was a well-known, wealthy senator, and he built this theater after his wife passed away in order to commemorate her memory.
Now, the Odeon of Herodes Atticus is regarded as a significant architectural achievement in the music industry. Commonly used by artists during their world tours, such as Elton John, who performed two concerts there during his Medusa tour in the year 2000, or simply in music videos, such as by Coldplay in their music video “Feels Like I’m Falling in Love” in 2024, some may say that the once renowned architect is now diminishing in significance, whereas others may claim that its use and importance are evolving with time.
The Erechtheion:
The Erechtheion is an ancient Greek temple on the Acropolis of Athens. The height of this temple depends on the area the person is looking towards; for example, the North porch has a height of 7.64 meters, whereas the East porch has a height of 6.59 meters. The six female statues on the south porch that support the roof, which are also known to be the most striking feature of the temple, are estimated to be around 7.5 feet tall. The unusual shape and different heights of the temple are due to the uneven base that it was built on, followed by its need to serve multiple cults. The walls of the temple are designed using Pentelic marble while also holding a blue Eleusinian limestone frieze.
The temple is known to be significant due to its religious importance. It is named after the mythical king Erechthesus, and it is believed that the temple was built in honor of Athena, as she had protected Athens and Poseidon-Erechthus. Alongside this, as mentioned before, the temple is believed to be the house of many ancient cults, such as those of the Boutes, Pandrosos, and Hephaistos. Erechthesus is also known to introduce the worship of Athena in Attica, which has now progressed into the annual Panathenaea festival that is similar to the Olympics.
Parthenon of Athens:
The Parthenon of Athens is a temple built to honor Athena in Greece. The temple has an approximate height of 14 meters, is 70 meters long, and has a base 31 meters wide. The temple uses geometric ratios to create the illusion of a perfectly rectangular building while also making the columns in the middle slightly wider to give the effect of them being more even.
The Parthenon holds an important and rich history, having been the place of worship for many religions over time. It is known to be one of the most iconic temples in Greek architecture. The temple was originally made for worshiping Athena, which then got converted into a Christian church in the 6th century and later on a mosque by the Ottoman Turks. It was then converted into an ammunition depot and shelter by the Ottoman Turks in 1687.
Greek architecture is known for its magnificent Doric and Ionic temples. Although many years have passed since they were created, the restoration committee has dedicated their life and effort in order to keep these intact for future tourists.