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Book review: Parthenon, By David Stuttard

 

Christopher Hirst
Thursday 10 October 2013 14:47 BST
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This atmospheric account of Europe's greatest classical structure, built by Pericles in a mere 15 years after the Persians levelled Athens, suggests that it was a piecemeal construction with no masterplan.

Though the reason for the immaculately realised entasis (slight bulging of the columns) or the curved platform is "now debated", there is no denying the power of the equine frieze, "first at a walk but then trotting, cantering".

Given the publisher, it is perhaps unsurprising that we are not informed about Lord Elgin's removal of these sculptures or their current location.

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