Nashville parthenon art museum nashville, tennessee. The history of nashville tennessees parthenon 2006 dvd. When nashville offered to build the art pavilion for the fair, the natural choice for the athens of the south was a replica of the parthenon. The parthenon is a destination unto itself, but also serves as one of the citys top art installations. Jul 15, 2016 a brief history of the parthenon the parthenon was largely unchanged until the sixth century a. It took the city of nashville nearly 10 years to build their parthenon, 19211931. Theodore roosevelt coined the phrase good to the last drop after drinking a cup of locally produced coffee in nashville at the maxwell house hotel. The building and the athena statue are both fullscale replicas of the athenian originals. Aug 17, 2015 visiting the parthenon in nashville is more than just a historical look at this greek masterpiece.
It was built in 1897 as part of the tennessee centennial exposition. Background information about the history of the parthenon, gods, heroes, monsters in the sculptures, our travel tips, and children s books, will help kids get the most of out of a visit to the parthenon in athens and british museum in london. Why is there a fullscale replica of the parthenon in. The parthenon the parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of centennial park, nashvilles premier urban park. Schools wishing to bring larger groups must schedule multiple tours in a single day or tours over multiple days. A replica of the greek parthenon stands in a park near downtown nashville and i. Parthenon publishing magazines, newsletters, websites.
The parthenon nashville all you need to know before you. This book helps by explaining in detail the history of the sculpted friese around the parthenon the various methope most of which can be found today in the new acropolis museum on the top. The parthenon nashville 2020 all you need to know before. A typical visitor spends 40 minutes in the parthenon. Such buildings span the country, from offbeat roadside attractions to the most expensive and elaborate recreations. Do you need to book in advance to visit the parthenon. Nashville s parthenon contains reproductions of the originals, 24 foot tall and 6. The 2nd floor was totally open and included a huge statue of athena. Ewing leads them on an impromptu journey through the parthenon s history right there on the steps. Why not visit the parthenon, a replica of the one in greece. Feb 24, 2020 while visiting nashville with a few friends and family, we stopped at this fullscale replica of the greek parthenon. The parthenon is located in centennial park, 2600 west end avenue, nashville, tn, 37203. By 1898, most of the building were removed or destroyed. A history of the board of parks and recreation by leland r.
The parthenon at athens greece and nashville tennessee 1956 by benjamin franklin wilson iii, director of the parthenon. The site now serves as the backdrop for nashvilles art museum and the 42foottall statue of athena parthenos designed by alan le quire in 1990. While visiting nashville with a few friends and family, we stopped at this fullscale replica of the greek parthenon. Nashville parks and recreation parks centennial park. It is an impressive fact that nashville, tennessee, my home, is the only city in the world that has reinterpretations of two mythic temples from antiquity. History of the nashville parthenon and the tennessee. They are thought to be the largest pair of matching bronze doors in the world. You can see and walk around the parthenon simply by visiting centennial park. The nashville parthenon was constructed in 1897 as part of the centennial exposition, a sixmonth event held to celebrate tennessees 100 years of statehood. The parthenon is widely considered the high point of doric architecture, though it famously has several ionic elements incorporated in its design, including a continuous sculptural frieze and four ionic columns that support the roof of the opisthodomos. The nashville parthenon is a fullscale replica of the original parthenon in athens. Visit the parthenon on your trip to nashville or united states. So the parthenon was originally built for tennessees 100 th birthday celebration in 1897 and thats all it takes people who were moments ago focused only on getting the perfect selfie are hooked. It is an experience that you will cherish and want to recreate each time you return to music city.
Parthenon publishings content creation services arm now resides under bohan brand. Oct 28, 2012 parthenon means house of parthenos which was the name given in the 5th century bce to the chamber inside the temple which housed the cult statue. For the most part, a visit to the parthenon museum is a selfguided tour. The focus of its permanent collection is a group of 19th and 20thcentury paintings by. Highway 70s from the campus of vanderbilt university. History of the parthenon in the 19th century, nashville earned the nickname the athens of the south because of the number of colleges and universities located within the city and the surrounding areas. The site now serves as the backdrop for nashville s art museum and the 42foottall statue of athena parthenos designed by alan le quire in 1990. Thats as far as you could go, as the average athenian citizen wasnt allowed to step foot inside the parthenon. Today the parthenon remains one of nashvilles most iconic landmarks. Johnson this park was the site of the 1897 tennessee centennial exposition. The parthenon in nashvilles centennial park hachette book.
It previously had been a farm purchased in 1783 by john cockrill, the brotherinlaw to james robertson, then became the state fairgrounds after the civil war and from 1884 to 1895 became a racetrack known. The worlds only exact size replica of the original parthenon t. Originally built for tennessees 1897 centennial exposition, this replica of the. At almost 42 feet in height, athena parthenos is the tallest indoor sculpture in the western world. It was constructed as a temporary building as nashvilles contribution to the 1897 tennessee centennial exposition, which also included dozens of other temporary buildings in. The parthenon travel thru history, nashville, tn youtube. The nashville parthenon is a fullscale replica of the ancient parthenon when it was a pagan temple to athena in the 5th century bce. Sep 10, 2012 nashvilles parthenon contains reproductions of the originals, 24 foot tall and 6. In addition, a sculpture of athena parthenos inside the parthenon is the tallest indoor sculpture in the western world standing 42 feet high. We hope you will read our detailed timeline of the history of the nashville parthenon. The pediment reliefs were created from direct casts of the originals, which are housed in the british museum of art.
Concrete parthenon nashville, tennessee atlas obscura. Yes its an exact replica of the parthenon at greece made. The nashville parthenon houses an american art collection, temporary exhibitions, and is a fullsize replica of the famous ancient parthenon in. Percy jackson journeys to the parthenon in search of a certain object needed to complete his questmission. The parthenon is a resplendent marble temple built between 447 and 432 b. Its unveiling on may 20, 1990, generated excitement and renewal of interest in the nashville parthenon as an icon of the city. The worlds only fullscale reproduction of the famous greek temple, nashville s parthenon stands in centennial park and features both the citys art museum and athena parthenos. The book that gave us shakespeare on tour from the folger shakespeare. Examine the plaster replica of the parthenon marbles and the imposing statue of athena parthenos. Standing as the centerpiece in nashvilles centennial park, the parthenon is a full scale replica of the parthenon in athens, greece. The parthenon served as a church until athens was conquered by the ottoman turks in the fifteenth century, when it became a mosque. There is a fauxvenice in las vegas, and a stonehenge ii in texas which, like all sequels, is not as good as the first one. In this post you will find some interesting facts and history of the parthenon in athens the parthenon is surely the most important monument of ancient greece and is one of the most famous in the world.
Artistic excellence and knowledge about the the then history and cultural expertise, parthenon is a treat to watch. The parthenon, a wonder of the world, is a symbol of classical ancient greece. A brief history of the nashville parthenon share this article. Built as a fullscale replica only on the outside, the interior was a series of galleries for the display of paintings and sculptures gathered from around the world for the exposition. For many years nashville had been known as the athens of the south, and thus it made sense to build a replica of the parthenon of ancient greece and use it as the theme for the exposition. Jul 26, 2017 parthenon, nashville, via wikimedia commons. Inside the parthenon, a small museum showcases souvenir spoons from 1897. Only the parthenon remained after the tennessee centennial celebration because of its popularity. The recreation of the 42foot statue athena is the focus of the parthenon just as it was in ancient greece. Hart was engaged as the architect for the reconstruction and william b. Living in a relatively youthful country thats a mere 241 years old, its understandable that some americans might decide to import a little extra history from abroad. Nashville had been colloquially known as the athens of the south due primarily to the citys focus on higher education long before the exposition. A couple of years ago i was working on an aviation maintenance contract for embraer aviation in nashville, tn.
Athens, greece isnt the only city with a classical stone temple dedicated to the arts. The focus of the parthenon s permanent collection is a group of 63 paintings by 19th and 20th century american artists donated by james m. The ongoing work on the parthenon and erechthion is fascinating if somewhat difficult to understand if you are not aware of the history of these buildings. The parthenon in nashville is a fullsize replica of the famous ancient parthenon in athens, greece built in the 5th century bce. There is a fauxvenice in las vegas, and a stonehenge ii in texas. The original parthenon at the tennessee centennial exposition.
And last but certainly not least, we have centennial parks iconic parthenon replica. Nashville, tennessee boasts a fullsize replica of the parthenon. One temple is the queen of heaven athenas parthenon. In nashville, tennessee you will find a fullscale replica of the parthenon, which was built by americans in 1897, in honour of the ancient. The parthenon nashville all you need to know before. The nashville parthenon alternate history of the world. The parthenon in nashvilles centennial park hachette book group.
Tennessee is home to the worlds only replica of the parthenon. The building also serves as an art museum with a permanent collection of 63 paintings by 19th and 20thcentury american artists. Dinsmoor, eminent architectural historian and author of the architecture of ancient greece, agreed to act as a consulting architect. The nashville parthenon 2500 west end ave nashville, tn 37203. By a masterstroke of synchronicity, it is patterned like. Foster creighton history book collection nashville tn. The city of nashville built a fullscale replica of the.
Park history from the book, the parks of nashville. The parthenon in nashville is the only full size replica in existence. Visitors to the parthenon were instead greeted by a small model of the statue and a donation box. The original is located on the crest of the acropolis, a hill overlooking athens, greece. May 21, 2014 looking for things to do in nashville. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a. Made with the same patience, artistic excellence and knowledge about the the then history and cultural expertise, parthenon is a treat to watch.
Early in the citys history, nashville acquired the nickname athens of the west, because of the emphasis on education. Parthenon means house of parthenos which was the name given in the 5th century bce to the chamber inside the temple which housed the cult statue. In 1687, during the venetian siege of the acropolis, the defending turks were using the parthenon as a store for gunpowder, which was ignited by the venetian bombardment. Why is there a fullscale replica of the parthenon in nashville. The history of nashville tennessees parthenon 2006 dvd parthenon centennial park on. Dedicated to the greek goddess athena, the parthenon. It houses the tallest indoor sculpture in the western world, a statue of athena, ancient goddess of wisdom and learning, the deity for whom the original parthenon was erected. The parthenon stands proudly as the centerpiece of centennial park, nashvilles premier urban park. Book your tickets online for the parthenon, nashville. But nashville, tennessees fullscale replica of the parthenon, while. History of homes and gardens of tennessee nashville.
Chicago turabian author date citation style guide garden study club of nashville, mary brown daniel 1875 moore and roberta seawell. It was constructed as a temporary building as nashville s. Donations for the athena accumulated over the years, and in 1982 the park board commissioned nashville sculptor alan lequire to recreate the fortytwofoot statue for the interior, a task that took almost eight years. It was designed by confederate veteran william crawford smith and built in 1897 as part of the tennessee centennial exposition.
The book is written by one of the more recent remodelers of the historic building, which, as may be expected after another century, has had substantial repairs. Nashvilles parthenon was created from brick, stone, structural reinforced concrete, and cast concrete aggregate. Sep 20, 2012 program depicting the origins and history of the parthenon, both in athens, greece and nashville, tennessee produced by metro 3. The parthenon is the only structure preserved from the historic event. Dedicated to the greek goddess athena, the parthenon sits high atop a. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience the parthenon. It is a monument to the creativity and energy of the new south, and also to nashvilles distinction as the athens of the south. The parthenon in centennial park, in nashville, tennessee, is a fullscale replica of the original parthenon in athens. The 21stcentury headquarters campus of the hospital corporation of america was developed adjacent to the park cultivated as farmland by some of the earliest families in nashville, the.
The nashville parthenon was a moment in the tradition of southern classical reception, using a classical image to glorify a contemporary process of exclusion. It was the most sacred of monuments, and was famous in antiquity as a greek architectural masterpiece the parthenon is located in the southern area of the acropolis, in the heart of the. Nashville s parthenon was created from brick, stone, structural reinforced concrete, and cast concrete aggregate. The statue of athena pallos in the parthenon, nashville, tennessee the original parthenon in athens was created by the architectsictinosandcallicrates, under the direction and watchful eye of the sculptor, phidias, who was also charged with creating the sculptures and reliefs which decorated the building. Located a little more than 2 miles southwest of downtown nashville in centennial park, the parthenon is open tuesday through saturday from 9 a. Nashville may have earned the nickname the athens of the south long before its replica of the parthenon was built in 1897, but today this aweinspiring monument of classical greek architecture is one of the citys most popular attractions. Nashville native alan lequire needed eight years to complete the m 42 ft tall athena statue. The centennial parthenon had been an exterior copy only and not a completely accurate one at that. Its huge 7 ton bronze entrance doors on the east and west sides are the largest of their kind in the world. We have brochures with a floor plan that will help you tour the building. One of the best known sermons in the bible was delivered by the apostle paul on mars hill in the very shadow of the ancient parthenon. Bohan, an independent, fullservice advertising and marketing agency, announced that parthenon publishings content creation services arm will now reside under the bohan brand. This is the worlds only fullsize replica of the ancient greek temple.
Originally built for the tennessee centennial exposition in 1897, the building became unsafe and was rebuilt in 1929. In the reception of classical history and images that inspired the 1898 nashville parthenon, there is not room for all people to be equal. But the one we have today is actually not nashville s first parthenon. Centennial park is a large urban park located approximately two miles three km west of downtown nashville, tennessee, across west end avenue u. The nashville parthenon glorifies ancient greece and the. In 1893, funds began to be raised for a mighty exposition that would celebrate the 1896 centennial of the state of tennessee. The hermitage travel thru history, nashville, tn duration. The parthenon in athens was carved out of pentelic marble and it took the greeks approximately 10 years to construct the building, 447438 b. Additional gallery spaces provide a venue for a variety of temporary shows and exhibits. Group tours for ages prek12th grade must be guided by a parthenon staff member or docent leader. The temple itself was known as the mega neos or large temple or alternatively as hekatompedos neos, which referred to the length of the inner cella. Adding to nashville s image as the athens of the south is the citys replica of the parthenon, built in 1897, as part of the centennial exposition, celebrating tennessees 100 years. The origin of the parthenons name is from the greek word parthenon, which referred to the unmarried womens apartments in a house and in the parthenons case seems to have been used at first only for a particular room of the temple.
815 105 388 872 385 526 775 7 1495 1595 330 1526 925 423 440 999 1360 1425 110 1276 1499 23 252 1040 1297 79 948 962 980 1433 1122 847 870 535 702 1060 203 947 20 831 639