Page 33 - Reading Success B9

The Greek people of the 5th century B.C. created a culture that was deeply rooted
in philosophy and the arts. Their endless search for their place in the grand scheme of
the universe and in nature influenced everything in their lives, especially their love of
the arts. Their drama, sculpture, and architecture are examples of the ideas that
prevailed in the minds of the Greek people in that era. What could be considered as
the crown jewel of Greek architecture, the Parthenon, is one such example. The
Parthenon brings into physical form the three principal ideas of humanism,
rationalism, and idealism. These three primary concepts of 5th century Greek
philosophy are represented in the Parthenon’s architectural structure, ornamentation,
and interior design as well.
The Parthenon is a temple of the goddess of wisdom, Athena. Many references to
the goddess herself can be found all throughout the building’s decorative artwork. For
example, a sculpture in the temple depicts the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus.
Also, aligned along the walls of the Parthenon are the statues of the gods and
goddesses of Greek mythology, sculpted in the shape of the human form. As a place
of worship, this style of depicting the gods enabled the Greek people to feel closer to
the gods they worshipped. Doing this brought the heavenly gods down to a level
where they could be better recognized and understood by the earth bound Greeks.
This is true of all the statues of gods and goddesses in all the Greek temples. Though
the gods were sculpted in this way, by no means did they look like regular humans.
The statues of the gods in the Parthenon were highly exaggerated and they were
often made out of material like gold and ivory.

The 5th century Greek people played a pivotal role in the shaping of not only the
world of philosophy, but also the world of art and architecture. Their ideas of
humanism, rationalism, and idealism are brought to life within the walls of the
Parthenon. Its extravagantly ornate columns, repeated ratios, and colossal size
show how these ideas influenced the structure and design of the building.
Consequently, these same ideas that motivated the construction of the Parthenon
have allowed people today an insight into the minds and hearts of an influential group
of people from the past.

Main Idea

What is the main idea of this story?

a. the Greek depictions of gods and goddesses
b. the lives of the ancient Greeks

c. the Parthenon and its reflection of the principles of ancient Greek civilization
d. the Greek goddess of wisdom, Athena

36_Reading Success B 9