1. The Parthenon: Columns and Entablature
Tyler Stumpf, Shawn Kade,
Ian Elmore, Dustin Raymer,
Allen Porterfield

2. The Parthenon, A temple to the goddess athena.
The Parthenon has many important features that together create an amazing structure. Today we will focus on the columns and entablature of the Parthenon.

3. Definitions
An entablature refers to the superstructure of moldings and bands which lie horizontally above columns, resting on their capitals. Entablatures are major elements of classical architecture.
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing.
A column is a vertical structural element that transmits, through compression, the weight of the structure above to other structural elements below. Columns are frequently used to support beams or arches on which the upper parts of walls or ceiling rests.

4. Parthenon Floor Plan Exterior Columns: Doric
Interior Columns: Ionic and Doric
Structure is a Doric Octastyle Peripteral, Amphiprostyle temple.
According to Vitruvius, the front of the structure is a Pycnostyle arrangement.
Surrounded by a large Colonnade.
4 : 9 Proportion in the plans, which leads to a 9 : 4 in the length and height.

5. Doric order
The Doric order is characterized by the series of triglyphs and metopes on the entablature. Each metope was occupied by a panel of relief sculpture.
The Parthenon combines elements of the Doric and Ionic orders. Basically a Doric peripteral temple, it features a continuous sculpted frieze borrowed from the Ionic order, as well as four Ionic columns supporting the roof of the opisthodomos.

7. Exterior Columns
Columns created by the stacking of large, circular, drums held together by iron covered in lead.
Exterior columns are of the Doric Style.
Entasis 11/16th of an inch, which gives the columns a sense of flexible strength.
Spacing: 1.5 : 1 D
8 : 17 Column ratio.

9. Interior Columns
Interior columns are tapered, as well as tapered inward.
Ionic style columns.
Stacked drum columns, with interior iron covered with lead.
The east cella has 2 rows of interior columns with 10 columns in each row. The west cella has  4 interior columns arranged in a square in the center.
Inside the east cella was a U-shaped colonnade of 10
columns and a pier on each long side, and 3 columns between the 2 piers on the short side.

11. Entablature The entablature is unusually narrow hence visually light.
The Architrave, Frieze, Cornice create the entablature.
The Architectural elements were painted, Only at the top (the entablature). It's thought that Horizontal elements were painted red, Vertical elements blue.
The entablature is surmounted at the fronts by pediments, whose outlines follow the slope of the timber roofing, and is covered with marble tiles.
At each of the four corners of the cornices was sculptured an ornamental lion's head.

12. Entablature Cont.
The echinus marks the transition from the perpendicular lines of the column to the horizontal lines of the entablature.
Four annulets under the echinus mark the transition from the shaft to the capital, which consists of two parts: the echinus, or cushion at the summit of the column, and the abacus, which is a square slab forming the upper part of the capital and supporting the entablature.

14. The Parthenon The End