Modeling the Parthenon

A model for my senior project, where I built a scaled model of the Parthenon. One side is the restored, original building facade, whereas the other side is dilapidated, reflecting the building's current state in Athens, Greece today.

The materials used were paper, basswood slats, wooden dowels, styrofoam, foam-core, acrylic paint, hot glue, Sobo glue, Sculpey modeling clay, Krylon's Make It Stone spray paint, and tracing paper for the initial 2D design.

I used pictures online as references for the design, and Gardner's "Art Through the Ages" to determine the exact proportions according to the Golden Ratio (9:4) used to create the actual Parthenon.

P.S.: Props to anyone who can name all three songs playing in the background ;)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• parthenon
• acropolis
• model
• make
• create
• clay
• paint
• wood
• dowel
• foam
• paper
• styrofoam
• scaled
• greece
• athens
• art
• crafts

[izzythebuzybee]

IT ALSO HAS TO BE 75% HANDMADE

[chococat704]

@izzythebuzybee And as a finishing touch, to make it look more realistic, you can paint the model an ivory color, or use a type of spray paint called Krylon's Make It Stone in white, which is sold in craft stores like Michaels.

[izzythebuzybee]

great video!

I love how ur really percise with all the measurements. I;m in the 6th grde, and i have to make a parthenon. I was wondering if there is a simpler way to make it, but still look as good. For the columns we r thinking of using dowels. But we r not sure about the top or the overall body. If u have any ideas of vegetation we could include to the display u r welcome to give ur opinion and it will be greatly appreciated, THANKS :)

[chococat704]

@izzythebuzybee Thank you! For a simple version, I'd say that you can use 1/2" foam core for the base and walls, and long dowels for the columns. For the roof and its base, use hot glue to fix two pieces of cardboard or 1/8" foam core into an obtuse triangle shape. Attach this to a rectangular frame of 1/2" foam core that sits on the dowels, and use some clay for sculptures in the pediments (the triangle between the roof and base on both ends). Hope this helps, and good luck! :)

[chococat704]

@41tim Thank you for your honest opinion. I do think I could do a better job, but given time constraints, and considering I've had little experience in model-making, being only 17... I think I pulled it off decently.

If you think your niece could do a better job, please, post a video of her making a similar model... without help from you, or anyone else. But a piece of advice: don't go around insulting people's hard work on Youtube. It's rude and uncouth, especially for someone of your age.

[TillieDIS]

Nice work and project. Thanks!

[Kittengirl123123]

Loved your video! I have to make a model of the parthenon as well. I was wondering what all you used to make yours. I loved how you did yours though i was going to make the refinished model. If you could please let me know what all you used it would be very helpful. Thank you

[izzythebuzybee]

@chococat704 thanks soo much, ill probably leave you a video to see how it turned out :)

[41tim]

this looks shit, my two year old niece could do better, a real bad job, being a joiner myself and having 33 years as a tradesman working with my hands, i should know