Therese Hanshaw
Humanities2211
Ms. Karen Frank
April 14, 2007
Parthenon vs. Colosseum
Two ancient structures, the Greek Parthenon and Roman Colosseum, symbolized
changing views in the civilizations in which they were built. It was evident by the
architecture of each building that these attitudes opposed one another. Each used different
mediums, and their shapes varied greatly. The compositions diverged as well, as one was
built in opulent decoration while the other maintained a more conservative style.
To begin, each structure’s intended function determined the building materials. The
Athenian leader Pericles inspired the Parthenon construction in the early 440’s B.C. He
intended it to represent Athens’ power and glory after its defeat of Persia. He selected
Phidias, who is considered the greatest sculptor of ancient times, to supervise the project, and
Phidias, in turn, delegated the construction to architects Ictinus and Callicratres (Nardo,
Parthenon of Ancient Greece 32). The builders decided to use Pentelic marble for most of
the building, since the marble was of high quality and available nearby. In the uppermost
section, iron beams enclosed in marble helped brace heavy statues (Bruno 196). Other
materials included bronze, ivory and gold, especially in the statues found inside. In contrast,
the Colosseum was constructed in a conservative style. In A.D. 72, Emperor Vespasian
decided to build a stone amphitheater as a statement against the former ruler, Nero (Nardo,
Roman Colosseum 30). Nero had been “flamboyant and flashy” (Nardo, Roman Colosseum
29). Vespasian wanted a structure that embodied the complete opposite, more in keeping
with the basic Roman style. The amphitheater consisted mostly of concrete, stone, and
wood. The foundation was made from volcanic ash mixed with lime, which was then added
to coarse sand and gravel (Nardo, Roman Colosseum 38). Underground chambers above the
foundation were covered with a wooden floor, carpeted in sand (Hopkins and Beard 134).
Accordingly, each structure’s shape was different. The Parthenon contained various
shapes within its rectangular silhouette, including alternating rectangles along its Doric
frieze, while a triangular cover completed the design. Inside was a main central room called
a cella, and an opisthodome or rear chamber. Each end had eight columns and each side
consisted of seventeen. This was more than the usual six-by-thirteen arrangement but still
followed the two-to-one ratio common at the time. Conversely, the Roman Colosseum was
oval-shaped, adding to the design of the Theater of Marcellus, after which it was modeled
(Nardo, Roman Colosseum 31). The Colosseum employed many arches and barrel vaults to
support ascending seats (Nardo, Roman Colosseum 33). The oval bowl measured 620 by 513
feet wide and over 156 feet high (Nardo, Roman Colosseum 51).
Finally, the composition of the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Colosseum varied
greatly. The Parthenon was constructed on an existing platform from an older unfinished
Parthenon, but the new one measured more than 24 feet wider and over eight feet longer
(Bruno 172). The Parthenon modeled the basic Doric Style, marked by certain column
shapes and decorative features. The Parthenon employed fluted columns laid directly on the
temple floor. The columns consisted of drums, or rounded stones, stacked tightly on top of
one another. Later, Doric capitals topped the columns, which made each column’s height
about five and a half times its diameter, typical of this style. Above the capitals was the
entablature, which included the epistyle, a beam that supported the upper sections of the
structure. Also part of the entablature was the Doric frieze, a sculpted band that ran
horizontally, broken up by alternating triglyphs and metopes. The triglyphs, rectangular
blocks of three vertical bars, were placed directly above each column and again above each
junction of epistyle blocks, establishing fourteen metopes on each end and thirty two on each
side, another mark of the Doric style (Nardo, Parthenon of Ancient Greece 45). Sculptures in
relief adorned the metopes. The sculptures represented scenes of Athens’ triumph over
various enemies, such as the Olympian gods, the Amazons and the Trojans. Over the
entablature was the final section, the cornice, which also consisted of several parts. The
bottom piece was called the geison. This stone beam lay on the Doric frieze, and on the
underside were rectangular decorations called mutules (Nardo, Parthenon of Ancient Greece
48). On the ends of the Parthenon, the cornice had the raking sima. The raking sima
constituted the sections forming the pediment, which housed sculpted figures. These figures
sometimes carried bronze swords, and many were painted bright colors. They often
represented myths of Athena. The last piece of the Parthenon was the Ionic frieze, which ran
behind and parallel to the Doric frieze. It was a continuous band of sculpted reliefs.
Contrary to the Parthenon, the Colosseum was built on a concrete foundation that originated
as Nero’s drained lake. Since the amphitheater was freestanding with underground corridors
and chambers, the weight had to be born mostly by the walls. An inner ring of concrete
twenty feet thick spread outward from the foundation to support the outer walls (Nardo,
Roman Colosseum 38). These walls were made up of limestone pillars, arches, and vaults.
All together the Colosseum held four levels, mostly filled with seating and exits leading out
to barrel- vaulted corridors. These, in turn, intersected with longer curving corridors and
stairways. There were eighty entrances to the Colosseum (Hopkins and Beard 128). Except
for the three styles of columns found between the arches, the outer façade was fairly plain
supporting the conservative style in which the structure was intended.
The Colosseum’s
bottom level applied Doric half-columns, the second level contained Ionic, and the third
incorporated Corinthian. The fourth level had no arches. Instead, it featured rectangular
half-columns with Corinthian capitals. Originally, the Colosseum had a velarium, or canopy
made of canvas strips to cover the open ceiling. Along with the seating, this feature no
longer exists.
To conclude, the Greek Parthenon was constructed to honor a powerful city-state as well
as the goddess Athena. The structure represented this power through the use of the finest
materials, a grand shape and detailed composition. However, the Colosseum was erected at a
time when Rome hoped to rebound from a lavish and wasteful ruler, Nero. To epitomize this
new conservative mood, the Colosseum employed basic materials, an oval shape and
undecorated arrangement. Both edifices, though very different, were realized through hard
work and dedication.
Works Cited
Bruno, Vincent J., ed. The Parthenon. New York: Norton, 1974.
Hopkins, Keith, and Mary Beard. The Colosseum. Cambridge: Harvard UP, 2005.
Nardo, Don. The Parthenon of Ancient Greece. San Diego: Lucent, 1999.
---. The Roman Colosseum. San Diego: Lucent, 1998.
Word Count: 988