Speech003

Imagine…it is the year 438 BC, and you are all citizens of Athens, Greece. Since you do not have any scientific understanding of your environment, you believe in gods and goddesses. Your belief in gods and goddesses has been carried through generations, and came about as a means of explaining your world. So when there are floods, or drought, wind, fire, whatever takes place, you know which god or goddess to thank or to plead with. You pray at altars, which exist everywhere, in homes, fields, and places of gathering. They exist everywhere except inside Temples, which are houses for gods and goddesses, not for worshipers. In fact, only high priests and privileged laity are allowed inside temples, and only on certain occasions.

Today is a very special day for you and your fellow Athenians. You have met at the market place in Athens for a procession that will take you to the house of your most revered goddess, Athena, in celebration of her date of “birth”. You worship Athena as the goddess of many different things, among them: goddess of war; a wise and prudent advisor; protector of all cities and states; and protectress of the navy. You believe Athena was the favorite daughter of Zeuss, your Supreme Ruler – and that she sprang from Zeus’s head full grown and clothed in armor!

IMAGINE… The Procession has begun. You and your fellow Athenians are carrying a new robe to Athena at her house – one of the most beautiful and outstanding temples of all time – The Greek Parthenon. Your fellow participants are a varied group-- youngsters and older people, chariots, horses and riders, jar carriers, animals for sacrifice, and marshals directing the procession. Everyone is so excited… a visit to Athena’s temple and a spirited festival to follow!

As you approach the Parthenon, the mood of the celebrants becomes more somber. The sight of Athena’s temple is spectacular…228 feet long, 101 ft wide, 65 ft tall, and made of pentelic marble. At the top of the Parthenon is a sculptured band called a frieze, and it depicts the very procession in which you are participating. Extremely wide pediments on the east and west sides of the building contain deeply carved sculptures easily visible from a distance. The east pediment depicts the birth of Athena springing full grown and armed from the head of Zeus. The west pediment portrays Athena and the god Poseidon pulling away from each other…fighting for the patronage of Athens.

Your statesman, Pericles, ordered the building of the Parthenon and charged the sculptor Phidias with building the Parthenon, and sculpting the goddess Athena. This building took place at the height of Greek confidence in Athenian gods, Athenian moral values, Athenian mercantile success on the seas, and above all, in Athenian culture. Ironically, the construction of the Parthenon also coincided with the beginning of the decline of Athens political power and moral corruption.

IMAGINE…There you are, directly in front of the Parthenon – you strain to see inside, and are rewarded with the most spectacular sight of your life – the 42 foot tall statue of your goddess, Athena. Flesh carved from ivory, and dress and armor of gold, Athena holds her shield and spear in her left hand. In her right hand, she holds a statue of the winged goddess Nike, goddess of victory. As the crowd pushes you on, the festival and games begin.

You cannot know that in a few short years the Peloponnesian War will change spiritual life in Greece, and that your gods will be declared valueless- that the individual will be placed in the highest esteem. Athens will lose her empire, but will remain the leading cultural center of Greece. The Parthenon will later become a Christian Church, and still later, a mosque. Wars will take a huge toll on the Parthenon, destroying much of the roof, walls, and columns, but the core of the building will remain. In 1801, the British Lord Elgin will nearly strip the Parthenon of its frieze, pediments and other sculptures, and place them in the British Museum where they remain in 2002, with the Greek government demanding they be returned to their original home.

No, you do not know those things, you only know that today is the day to celebrate Athena’s birth, and you begin your celebration.

NOW… IMAGINE
You are back in the year 2002, in St. Louis, MO, USA. But, you, too can experience the grandeur of Athena and the Parthenon. Does anyone know how, where??
The Nashville Tennessee Centennial Park is home to a wonderful replica of the Greek Parthenon and Athena’s statue. It is amazing, and well worth the trip.

When you go to visit the replica of the Parthenon, and when you stand in front of the
statue of the goddess Athena…. IMAGINE.