How Parthenon Have Influenced the Modern Architecture

The Parthenon in Athens and the Pantheon in Rome are perfect examples in architectural history that have used the portico and have contributed to the topic of the entrance and transitions in architecture. The Parthenon attaches a great deal of importance to its entrance-portico as it is a clear example to explain the spatial relationships between the outside and inside space (Boettger, 2014).

The Parthenon’s entrance moves away from its conventional idea of just moving from one space to another, but serves as “… an articulation between spaces, i. e. between outside and inside, between one space and another, between reality and another (Venturi, 1977, p. 82)”, - the entrance also represents a transition from the material world to the world of the Gods. The Parthenon is located on the Acropolis, on a mountain, in the city of Athens along with the other buildings: The Propylaea, The Temple of Athena and the Erechtheion. The overall design of the Acropolis and positioning of the different buildings as well as the Parthenon is significant in order to understand the circulation and transitions through the site.

The path, starting at the southern part of the site near the Temple of Athena, allows a step-by-step journey towards the Parthenon, with each transition and entry putting the individual in a new atmosphere and condition, allowing for an exceptional architectural experience (Boettger, 2014). Consequently, prior to actually passing into the Parthenon’s entrance, the individual has to approach this entrance along this directed path (Ching, 1979). The approach to the Parthenon is therefore just as important as its literal entrance when trying to understand these transitions. For example, the Propylaea, which is located just after passing the Temple of Athena, acts as an entrance or transition to a completely new condition. Its portico allows a connection between the inside and outside space as the columns on the inside act as a viewing platform as well as a preparation to what lies ahead. What is interesting is that these columns are able to frame the Parthenon laterally which allows the viewer to appreciate its spatial volume and significance (Boettger, 2014). The ramp in the flight of steps that leads up to the Propylaea also cleverly controls the circulation of the approaching individual which as a result provides a unique path for experiencing the space (Boettger, 2014).

As the journey to the Parthenon continues, a spiral path prolongs the sequence of the approach as well as intensifies anticipation and stresses the importance of the final entry (Boettger, 2014) as the path directs the individual right around its perimeter. The actual entrance to the Parthenon is therefore completely hidden until its point of arrival (Ching, 1979). Subsequently, this combination of walls, paths and separate temples on the individual’s approach to the Parthenon become space-delimiting elements and act as limits which as a result, form the particular route towards the Parthenon.

It is therefore evident that the spatial positioning of the Acropolis is no arbitrary entity, but rather that these different transitions and entrances have been placed in a way for the individual to move through and experience the space in a particular way (Boettger, 2014). It can therefore be argued that entrances have been used to control the individual’s circulation throughout the site.