Research Uncovers Parthenon Spectacular Lighting Effects for Athena in Antiquity

Summary

A four-year multidisciplinary study led by Oxford University Archaeologist Professor Juan de Lara has shed new light on a millennia-old mystery: how the iconic Parthenon temple on the Acropolis was illuminated in ancient Greece. By ingeniously combining archaeological evidence with cutting-edge 3D technology and optical physics, Professor de Lara has meticulously recreated the temple’s lighting system, revealing how it was designed to create a sense of awe and reverence.The research, supported by UCL and The London Arts and Humanities Partnership (LAHP), and published today in the prestigious journal The Annual of the British School at Athens, demonstrates that the Parthenon’s architects and the renowned sculptor Phidias strategically incorporated various elements to manipulate both natural and artificial light. These features included carefully positioned roof openings, interior water basins, strategically placed windows, and the reflective properties of the finely polished marble. Professor de Lara’s detailed 3D model even incorporated the colossal ivory and gold statue of Athena, created in 438 BCE, assigning precise material properties to its surfaces to analyze light reflection. By calculating the sun’s position during different times of the day and year in the 5th century BCE as light entered the east-facing doorway, the study revealed fascinating insights.Enriched frontal view of the interior of the Parthenon. Credit: Juan de LaraThe findings suggest that the interior of the Parthenon was generally kept dim, fostering an atmosphere of reverence. However, during the weeks surrounding the Panathenaic Festival, a significant procession honoring the goddess Athena held every four summers, a remarkable phenomenon would have occurred. For several mornings, the rising sun would have aligned perfectly with the temple’s entrance, casting a brilliant beam of light directly onto the golden robes of Athena’s statue, creating a breathtaking, shimmering spectacle.“Imagine ...