Parthenon and Lincoln Memorial Essay

I have chosen the above two architectural marvels for this essay. While Parthenon belongs to the ancient times , around 32 B. B. its architects were Iktinos and Kallikratesand. ( Parthenon). It was a post of worship, for the Athenians, the capital of Nebraska memorial was constructed much later, in the 20th century, and was constructed in the friendly retention of the 16th president of the United states of America, Abraham capital of Nebraska. Before analyzing these marvellous whole shebang of art, it is necessary that one is thorough in the concept of an organizational system, cognise as doric order, formulated by the ancientGreeks, in their style of architecture. Both these structures argon based on this concept. In the doric order, a style of architecture, first followed by the ancient Greeks, the column does non have a base. The shaft is either based on a square or a circle. The top end of the shaft, known as the capital, rests under the architrave. It is important to not e that the Greeks had widely used this style, in horizontal alignment, to achieve an impressive ocular appeal. ( Mell Devin, doric style ) bailiwick illustrating the doric column ( Mell Devin )Originally this building was conceived as a tabernacle of Goddess genus Athene. The ball over plan of the Parthenon adheres to the ratio of 9 4 and similarly the summate of columns also adhere to the same ratio. There are 17 columns on the length and 8 along the width. The floor plan of Parthenon ( The Parthenon, page 1) A horizontal row of 6 Doric columns support the front and the confirm porch, and the interior lay was divided in two unequal rooms. The bigger one was devoted to the placement of the statue of Goddess Athena and was surrounded by 23 Doric columns over a two storied structure.The back circumstances was the treasury of the kingdom. The opthalmic elements of this structure are so designed that the visitant to Parthenon experiences a smooth transition from the visual cha racteristics of the exteriors to those of the interiors. The visitor also experiences another(prenominal) smooth transition from earthly to divine, when he watches the Panathenaic procession on the Frieze. The statue of Athena, has mesmerizing hues of Gold and ivory, framed shorter Doric columns, in double decked arrangement.This makes the inner space appear larger and taller than the exterior pace. The planning reveals as if it has been designed as a theatrical event, where after experiencing the grandeur of the structural views and the procession on Frieze, the visitor gets to view the statue of Goddess Athena. ( The Parthenon, page 1) This masterpiece one great flavor of the Athenian sense of visual elements. It is a proof of the fact that they had get the hang the art of the relationship between form and space.The horizontal placement of the Doric columns on the outer edge of the rectangle and the same columns epeated in the inner hall, in a smaller scale, are solid evidences of their understanding of spatial relationships. During so many centuries of its existence, Parthenon has witnessed many attacks and change of functions also. From A Athenian temple, it was turned into a church, and later a mosque also. The structure was partially destroyed as a result of explosion, and today, only the relics of Doric columns can be seen. ( wikipedia)The other marvelous piece taken for analysis in this essay, is the Lincoln Memorial, at cap D.C. , USA. This structure is modeled and inspired by the Doric style of columns. The floor of this monument is also a rectangle, and has 36 such columns along its periphery.. This number represents the number states which had acceded to the federal structure of USA, at the time of assassination of Lincoln. Lincoln memorial sketch, clearly revealing the impact of Doric columns on the visual appeal of the monument. (The Lincoln memorial) This monument was built in the fond memory of Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of USA.It w as opened for public in 1922, and was designed by architect, Henry Bacon. ( Lincoln memorial) The composition of form and space and the visual simile in this case resembles to that of the Parthenon. As a matter of fact, the visual magnificence is enhanced by the graceful, stunning and visually arresting beauty of the white-hot marble. As a visual form, the flatness of the structure above the Doric columns lend s a very pleasing visual appeal. wholeness important aspect of the Lincoln memorial is that it represents the Parthenon, thematically also.The statue of Lincoln represents that of goddess Athena and the procession is represented by historical speeches of Lincoln, namely his second inauguration speech and the Gettysburg address. ( Lincoln memorial). Talking of the elements of design, the striking contrast between the Parthenon and the Lincoln memorial is that the later, perhaps under the effect of modernism and the after cause of renaissance era, has very flat horizontal a nd vertical lines domination the piece of paper of vision.This lends a far more pleasing perspective view from a distance, than he Parthenon, which has inclined lines intercepting the vertical composition formed by the Doric columns. Moreover, the decorative elements, like motifs and patterns which are so evident in the Parthenon, are not seen in the Lincoln memorial This is suggestive of the impact tokenish movement has had on the designers. Conclusively, it can be said that, despite having a time gap of thousands of years between their evolution, the Parthenon and the Lincoln memorial are adhering to similar design principles, the same style of visual expression, and similar perceptions of visual composition.