Parthenon (Nashville)

Parthenon (Nashville)
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Name	Parthenon
Caption	The Parthenon in Centennial Park
Location	Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Coordinates	36, 09, 01, N...
Completion date	1925–1931 (permanent structure)
Architect	William Crawford Smith (original architect); Russell E. Hart (supervising architect for reconstruction)
Owner	Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County
Website	https://www.nashville.gov/departments/parks/parthenon

Parthenon (Nashville) is a full-scale replica of the original Parthenon in Athens, Greece. It is located in Centennial Park, Nashville, and was originally constructed for the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in 1897. The permanent concrete structure, completed in 1931, serves as the city's art museum and a monument to classical antiquity.

History

The structure was first built as the centerpiece of the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in 1897, celebrating the state's 100th anniversary of admission to the United States. Designed by architect William Crawford Smith, the temporary building was constructed of plaster, wood, and brick and was so popular that it was left standing after the exposition closed. Due to deterioration, the city of Nashville decided to rebuild it as a permanent landmark using reinforced concrete in the 1920s. The reconstruction, supervised by architect Russell E. Hart, began in 1925 and was completed in 1931, solidifying the city's identity as the "Athens of the South".

Architecture and design

The building is a meticulous, full-scale reproduction of the Acropolis's Parthenon as it would have appeared in the 5th century BCE. Its design adheres to the principles of Doric architecture, featuring eight columns on the façades and seventeen on the flanks. The structure's entasis (subtle curvature) and column proportions were carefully studied to match the original. The pediment sculptures, metope reliefs, and other exterior decorations were recreated based on archaeological research to depict scenes from Greek mythology, including the birth of Athena and the contest between Athena and Poseidon.

Interior and Athena Parthenos

The interior houses an art museum and its centerpiece, a colossal, gilded statue of Athena Parthenos. Sculptor Alan LeQuire was commissioned to recreate the lost chryselephantine statue by Phidias, completing the work in 1990. The statue, standing approximately 42 feet tall, is made of gypsum cement and fiberglass and is covered in over 8 pounds of 23-karat gold leaf. The east room, or naos, where Athena stands, also contains a replica of the Parthenon's original coffered ceiling and displays detailing the statue's construction. The building's lower level serves as gallery space for the Metro Parks art collection, featuring 19th and 20th-century American paintings.

Cultural role and events

The Parthenon functions as the city's official art museum and a major cultural venue. It is a key symbol of Nashville's cultural heritage and its nickname, the "Athens of the South". The venue hosts numerous public events, art exhibitions, lectures, and theatrical productions, including performances by the Nashville Shakespeare Festival. It has been featured in several films, such as Robert Altman's Nashville and the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series. The surrounding Centennial Park is a popular site for festivals, concerts, and community gatherings.

Replica of the Elgin Marbles

In addition to the architecture and statue, the building features direct casts of the original Parthenon marble sculptures, known as the Elgin Marbles. These plaster casts were made from molds taken directly from the surviving sculptures housed in the British Museum in London. The replicas include the metopes depicting the Centauromachy, the pediment figures portraying the birth of Athena, and large sections of the Parthenon Frieze. This installation provides visitors with a unique opportunity to view the complete sculptural program as it was originally intended, in its architectural context.

Category:Buildings and structures in Nashville, Tennessee Category:Museums in Tennessee Category:Art museums and galleries in Tennessee Category:1925 establishments in Tennessee Category:Replica buildings in the United States