The Parthenon!

 Trish and I have been in Nashville this week for a couple of work events.  On one afternoon, we drove to Centennial Park to visit Nashville’s Parthenon.

In 1897 Nashville, then often called “the Athens of the South,” played host to a great exhibition celebrating the Centennial of the State of Tennessee.  The centerpiece was a wood and plaster replica of the Parthenon.  When the Exposition was over, people did not want toe Parthenon to be destroyed.

The wood and plaster version was replaced with a permanent stone and concrete version that today perfectly replicates the original temple in Athens.

Inside is perfectly replicated the forty-two foot statue of the Goddess Athena, created from historical records of the original. While the arms, face, and shoulders of the original were made of ivory, in this creation they are replicated by paint color.  The gold, however, is pure gold leaf that took years and many volunteers to apply.

Winged Nike, the Goddess of Victory, stands on Athena’s hand preparing to place the crown of her head.  It is an amazing piece of work!

Inside the Parthenon is an extensive art collection.

Centennial Park is located in the city near Vanderbilt University and it the location of festivals, concerts, and other outdoor events.