An excellent study of this iconic building. Thoughtful, balanced, and wise, it follows the history of the Parthenon from its construction through its later incarnations as church, mosque, powder magazine and (surprisingly late in the day) national monument. Beard is the ideal guide, never swayed by the political hysteria which dominates any mention of the temple nowadays. Equally useful as an introduction to the building and its controversies, or as a refresher for those more familiar with the issues. ( )

Review: The Parthenon by Mary Beard.

This is an interesting book about the history of a famous building. Anyone touring in that area of Greece or the British Museum in London where Lord Elgin sold many large pieces of marble columns, frieze hangings, and sculptures from the ancient Parthenon ruins may want to read a book like this or even take the book with you for reference reasons. The author reminds us that there are great voids of mystery about what it was built for or the exact date and much of what we see at the Parthenon ruins now is a controversial restoration. Mary Beard takes the reader through the entire history of the Parthenon on truth and assumption. She details its probable early use as a Temple to Athens as well as other theories of being a known utility of a Christian church and Mosque in later years.

The Parthenon has a quite fascinating and rich history, A thousand years as a Pagan Temple, another thousands years as a Christian church and another four hundred years as an Islamic Mosque. Everything that Lord Elgin ended up taking after the explosion in 1687 to the British museum, where they are well taken care of, the Greek’s wants back to place in an even better place, the new Acropolis Museum, to show the world these ancient works of art. The author does go over the controversy over ownership of the Parthenon sculptures, the hanging friezes and the pieces of marble columns that once was part of the elaborate monument.

The background on the 1687 explosion of the Parthenon was caused by stored gun powder of the Ottoman Empire (Turks) using the Parthenon as an arsenal. After the explosion this made the Parthenon a target for the Venetians over the Christian preservation they held in the building. The Venetians started shelling ammunition and didn’t stop until the Parthenon was considered ruin. There has been partial restoration over the years but the building was never brought back to architectural structure it once was. After Lord Elgin collected what he wanted from the Parthenon ruins, what remained deteriorated over the years and became an ancient monument.

The author notes that the Parthenon had the hardest time trying to survive then any other monument. Since the 5th century BC the building has been burnt, sacked, looted, converted to a Christian church, defaced, turned into a Mosque, defaced again, additions added and then removed, and in 1687 it was shelled by the Venetians. It was a fascinating read and sad in a way of how this iconic monument was a glorious structure from the 5th century Athenian history.
( )

My favorite book by Mary Beard (so far). To me, it reads a lot like her blog, A Don's Life, which I enjoy immensely. The scholarship is there, but her writing is so conversational and so interestingly informative that you almost don't realize you're learning something. A fun way to become an expert on the most important building in the history of architecture. ( )

Read it and you'll definitely want to see the Parthenon for yourself.

Witty and dry - true Beard style. ( )