Ravaged by 2,500 years of destruction, decay, and misguided restoration attempts, the ruins of the Parthenon still stand on the Acropolis in Greece as an enduring symbol of democracy and architectural perfection. Currently receiving a facelift as part of the $100 million, 30-years-plus Acropolis Restoration Project, the Parthenon is the most copied building in the world. Built with amazing efficiency in eight years, its massive columns and other structural elements (comprising 70,000 unique pieces of carved marble) carry mysteries related to construction that experts are only now beginning to unravel. The NOVA-aired Secrets of the Parthenon invites viewers to “enter the mind of the ancient builders” of 5th-century Athens to discover how such an astonishing feat of construction was engineered. One of the pieces of the puzzle involves an analysis of its “optical refinements”—the result of an architectural process called entasis—in which subtle curvatures are employed to give the appearance of perfect proportion and symmetry. Because entasis is found throughout the Parthenon, the painstaking restoration requires a thorough understanding of the different standards of measurement that were originally used. Combining computer-animated recreations, expert testimony (from historians, engineers, and architects), and comparative examination of other Greek ruins, this is a fascinating look at a complicated project. DVD extras include printable materials for educators. Highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Shannon)
Secrets of the Parthenon
(2008) 54 min. DVD: $24.95. WGBH Boston Video. PPR. Closed captioned. ISBN: 978-1-59375-796-0. Volume 23, Issue 5
Secrets of the Parthenon
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