The following aids to the study of the Parthenon will be found in the Elgin Room:—
Model of the Athenian Acropolis, showing its condition in the year 1870. Presented by Prof. Adolf Michaelis.
Model of the Parthenon. The model was made by R. C. Lucas, on a scale of a foot to 20 feet, and represents the state of the temple in 1687, after the explosion, but before Morosini had attacked the west pediment.
Carrey's drawings of the pediments. Photographic reproductions of the originals are exhibited.
A restored view of the Athenian Acropolis. By Richard Bohn.
Bibliography of the Parthenon.
The work of Michaelis, Der Parthenon (Leipzig, 1871), collects the material for the study of the Parthenon, and contains an excellent digest of all that had been written on the subject up to the year 1871. For later writers, see below passim, and Wolters. For the chronology of Pheidias, see Loeschcke, in Untersuchungen A. Schaefer gewidmet, p. 25; for the question as to his master, see Klein, Arch.-Epigr. Mittheilungen aus Oesterreich, VII., p. 64; Murray, Greek Sculpture, 2nd ed., p. 186. For the older temple on the site of the Parthenon, see Doerpfeld, in Athenische Mittheilungen, XII., p. 45; Harrison, Mythology of Anc. Athens, p. 467. The plan given above is taken from Michaelis. Important modifications have been proposed by Doerpfeld, Athenische Mittheilungen, VI., pl. 12, p. 283; Harrison, loc. cit., p. 464. For the mediæval history of the Parthenon, see Laborde; Athènes aux XVe, XVIe, et XVIIe Siècles (Paris, 1854); Gregorovius, Athen im Mittelalter (1889). Facsimiles of Carrey's drawings are in the British Museum, and have been partially published in the works of Laborde, Le Parthénon (Paris, 1848). For photographic copies of the drawings of the pediments, see Antike Denkmäler, I., pls. 6, 6a. Dalton's views of the Acropolis were published in 1751, but the remains of Athens were little known till the appearance of The Antiquities of Athens, by James Stuart and Nicolas Revett. (London: vol. I., 1762; vol. II., 1787; vol. III., 1794; vol. IV., 1816; vol. V., 1830). A second edition, with additional matter, but having inferior illustrations, was issued in 1825-1830. The original drawings, made for this work by Pars, were presented to the British Museum by the Society of Dilettanti. The official inquiry into the proceedings of Lord Elgin is contained in the Report from the Select Committee of the House of Commons on the Earl of Elgin's Collection of Sculptured Marbles; &c. (London, 1816).
STATUE OF ATHENÈ PARTHENOS.
The colossal statue of Athenè Parthenos by Pheidias was placed within the central chamber of the Parthenon. The figure was made of gold and ivory, and was, with its base, about 40 feet high. Athenè stood, draped in chiton and aegis. In her left hand she held her spear and shield. Between her and her shield was the serpent Erichthonios. On her outstretched right hand was a winged Victory, six feet high, holding a wreath. The helmet of the Goddess was adorned, according to Pausanias, with a Sphinx and Gryphons. From detailed copies of the head (Athenische Mittheilungen, viii., pl. 15; Cat. of Gems in B. M. 637, 638) we learn that the Gryphons were on the cheek-pieces, and that there was a figure of Pegasos on each side of the Sphinx. There was also a row of small horses at the front of the helmet. All available space was covered with reliefs. A battle between Greeks and Amazons (see below, Nos. 301, 302) was seen on the exterior of the shield, and one between Gods and Giants on its interior. On the base was a representation of the birth of Pandora (see No. [301]) and on the edges of the sandals was a battle between Centaurs and Lapiths.