Join a museum expert at 10 AM for an up-close look at the impressive architectural details and refinements of the Parthenon.
The Nashville Parthenon, originally built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, is a replica of the historic Parthenon in Athens, Greece. Built between 447 and 438 BCE in the Age of Pericles, the Parthenon was dedicated to the city's patron deity, Athena. This magnificent temple would become the largest Doric Greek temple, although it was innovative in that it mixed the two architectural styles of Doric and Ionic.
Our architecture tours focus on the original construction of the Parthenon in Athens, including its innovative architectural techniques and elements. The tours explore the remarkable skill of the Athenians to construct their mighty temple in less than a decade and to work at a level of extraordinary precision without the benefit of modern tools. Additionally, the tours explain the 2,500 year architectural history of the Parthenon as it is set on fire, converted to a Christian church, converted to an Ottoman mosque, shattered by exploding gunpowder and looted for its stunning sculptures.
These tours are free for Centennial Park Conservancy members or free with the price of admission for non-members.