The Parthenon in Nashville TN was designed as a replica of the Parthenon in Athens by veteran William Crawford in 1897. The Parthenon in Nashville has become one of the replicated historical representations in the United States. Different scholars, local citizens, and tourists still question why the Parthenon in Nashville was constructed. However, the Parthenon in Nashville shows significant artistic resemblance to the Parthenon in Athens in terms of its structure and the material used to achieve the replica of its original version in Athens as highlighted in this paper.
The Parthenon in Nashville, upon its completion, became a remarkable structure in the Nashville. The metopes found on the outside and the sculpture of Athena depict Greek mythology. As a move to renovate the structure that was deteriorating, Russell Hart rebuilt the interior with concrete and Elgin marble casts to maintain the frieze and pediments. The Elgin marble was also a characteristic feature of the original building in Athens. The columns and walls included curved and painted, finishing, just like the structure in Athens. A 42 feet sculpture of Athena stood on the east of the Parthenon with a golden snake and a shield (Fincham, 2013). Although the designers attempted to achieve the exact Athens replica, there is a significant difference between the two structures. The Parthenon in Nashville has an additional unit that serves as a museum, and the walls are covered with concrete.
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Questions regarding the intentions, meaning, and motivations behind the construction and recreation of the Athenian Parthenon in Nashville have remained a concern among artists. Ideally, it is considered that the Parthenon in Nashville was constructed to affirm the magnificence of the ancient structures, which were deemed to be mere unadorned marbles with poor standards. The recreated Parthenon stands as one of the strongest antique recreations and a representation of the artistic experience of the past. Although the reasons for its recreation are justifiable, it is evident that the structure has become a tourist trap since it steals the glory of the original one back in Athens. One will wonder why an extension that became a museum was included in Nashville’s version (Fincham, 2013). Based on the role of culture in society and its relation to identity, the Nashville Parthenon is an example of cultural injustice.
On the other hand, there are concerns in terms of the quality of the structure of the building in relation to its artistic analysis and evaluation. In terms of quality, the Parthenon in Nashville, at one point, was at risk of depletion because of the material initially used. However, after its rejuvenation, the walls were reinforced with concrete. After rebuilding the structure, the walls of the historic building regained its magnificence since they used concrete even though the original was constructed using marble. The replica statue was coated with only eight pounds of gold while the original was covered with over 2400 pounds. Moreover, the original Parthenon was approached from behind yet the Nashville’s is approached from the front. Additionally, the Parthenon in Nashville has a museum in the lower part, which is not a feature of the original. The doors of Nashville’s Parthenon are made of bronze, while the original one had a wooden entrance (Fincham, 2013). Therefore, it is evident that the quality of the initial structure did not meet the sustainability standards until when Russell Hart took the role of renovating Nashville’s Parthenon.
In conclusion, the Parthenon in Nashville was created as a replication of the Athens’ version. Although it almost lost its structural stability, it was rebuilt to become a strong historical mimic of the Greek artistry. However, significant variations exist when a critical comparison is carried out between the two structures. Regardless of the differences, the Parthenon in Nashville shows significant visualizations in terms of the methods and material used to achieve the replica of its original version in Athens. Nevertheless, it is an essential example of cultural injustice.
References
Fincham, D. (2013). The Parthenon sculptures and cultural justice. Fordham Intell. Prop. Media & Ent. L.J., 943. Available at: https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/iplj/vol23/iss3/4
