Dan Thornton Loc: Corpus Christi, Texas

I recently passed through Nashville and while Nashville was not my destination, I made a quick stop to view the Parthenon. The Parthenon is the only full scale replica of the original Greek Parthenon and has been used as an art museum since 1931. There are two photos of the detail which is netted to prevent pigeons from nesting. Unfortunately, my photos of the building were taken too close to allow for the additional cropping required to level the building. If you read the description below, you will get an idea of the complications in straitening the building.

All horizontal architectural elements arch slightly in the center. This means there are no true straight horizontal lines in the Parthenon. These architectural refinements made the Parthenon look alive and flawless to the human eye. This curvature is repeated in the Nashville Parthenon.

The Parthenon is 65 feet high at its apex.

The peristyle consists of 46 Doric columns—17 on each side, six on each end (not counting the corner columns twice).

All the exterior columns incline slightly inward. The corner columns are diagonally inclined; that is, they are angled toward both sides. Scholars disagree on the precise reasons for these refinements, but they clearly serve the aesthetic functions of the building.

The columns of the building differ in diameter from the ones beside them and are all spaced slightly differently.

All the columns share a refinement called the entasis, a slight bulge or convex curvature of the column shaft. Although the shaft tapers, the largest diameter is about one-third of the way up the column, rather than at the base.

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ssymeono Loc: St. Louis, Missouri

Your excellent description explains the method of construction that was meant to deviate from the norm. The basic rule was to follow a ratio of 4:9 in all measurements, as opposed to the normal 4:8, starting with the number of columns: 8X17 (corner columns are always counted twice in Greek architecture, your mistake to see six columns at the sides). One detail is plainly visible in your first photograph that deviates from the norm is that the three corner columns are placed closer together in order to strengthen this vulnerable part of the building. Another interesting but invisible detail is that the four corner columns are so slightly inclined inward as to meet at a distance of one mile above the temple.

Blair Shaw Jr Loc: Dunnellon,Florida

Thank you Dan. what a spectacular museum and it virtually looks-alive with the angled columns. Your description of their design is helpful to those of us who have never seen either the real or this replica of that ancient building.

The next time I visit Nashville, I will visit this wonderful place.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Thanks! Good photos and your dialog brought to mind a long ago Art History class that dealt with the Parthenon in detail. Very sophisticated folks back then / there!

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Excellent photos and narration, Dan!

J-SPEIGHT Loc: Akron, Ohio

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Nicely captured Dan - well done!

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Very good set, Dan.

tcthome Loc: NJ