Ancient Greek Parthenon temple with tall columns and detailed sculptures, situated on a grassy site under a clear blue sky, showcasing historical architecture and cultural heritage.
ByVi Pozadzides Posted on

The Parthenon – Nashville, TN

Yes! There’s a Parthenon in Tennessee

Nashville likes to consider itself the “Athens of the South,” because of its emphasis on education, classical culture, and its many colleges.

When Tennessee planned a big celebration in 1897 for the 100th anniversary of its statehood (the Tennessee Centennial Exposition), local leaders wanted a dramatic and symbolic centerpiece. Major Eugene Castner Lewis (director of the exposition) proposed building a full-scale replica of the Parthenon in Athens.

The idea: during the exposition, it would serve as a “Fine Art Building,” a grand exhibition hall, and it would also underscore Nashville’s claim as a regional center of culture.

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Construction and Timing

Original (temporary) version in 1897:

  • The Parthenon was first constructed in 1897, built quickly for the exposition.
  • It was made from relatively inexpensive, temporary materials: plaster, wood, and brick.
  • It was never intended to last, most of the expo’s buildings were meant to be temporary.

Transition to a permanent structure:

  • A black-and-white photo of the Parthenon replica under construction in Nashville's Centennial Park, its colonnade and pediment wrapped in wooden scaffolding.
  • A historical photograph of the Parthenon under construction with wooden scaffolding around the columns, Nashville 1920-1931.
  • A historical photograph of the Parthenon replica under construction showing column forms and scaffolding, Nashville 1920-1931.
  • An early black-and-white construction photo of the Parthenon replica in Nashville, with scaffolding and column work underway.
  • Over time, exposure to weather caused deterioration of the plaster and decorative elements.
  • In 1920, Nashville decided to rebuild the Parthenon in more durable materials (rather than simply patching it).
  • The reconstruction used reinforced concrete, cast concrete aggregate, brick (in some reused parts), and stone basically creating a modern “permanent” version rather than marble.
  • The exterior was largely finished by 1925.
  • The interior (galleries, finishing, etc.) and full replication efforts continued until 1931.
  • Altogether, the permanent rebuild spanned about 11 years (1920–1931), though it was not uniformly busy or continuous.

So, although the temporary version was built quickly for the exposition, the current durable structure effectively took a decade (with intermittent pauses) to complete.

Funding

  • The original 1897 version was funded as part of the Tennessee Centennial Exposition’s overall budget. It was one part of the fair’s architectural program, and like many world’s fairs, a mix of public and private funding (i.e. government support, fair revenues, contributions) underpinned the expo.
  • After the fair ended, the city resisted tearing it down because it was beloved, and demolition costs plus civic pride made it more attractive to preserve it.
  • For the rebuilding in concrete in the 1920s, funding was municipal (city/park board) plus local support. The permanent reconstruction involved the Nashville Park Board, city oversight, and contracting out to firms like Foster & Creighton.
  • When it came to the monumental Athena statue decades later (1980s–1990s), much of the funding was through donations; people dropped “nickels and dimes” in donation boxes, and larger donors supported the project.

So broadly: the original was part of the exposition’s financing; the rebuild was publicly funded; the Athena statue was crowdfunded/donated over time.

Materials and Design Details

  • The replica is a full-scale copy of the original Parthenon in Athens.
  • The exterior surface, decorative sculpture, roof tiles, etc., were done using a cast-concrete aggregate formula (developed by John Earley) so they could mimic carved stone.
  • The apex of the building is about 65 feet high.
  • There are 46 Doric columns in the peristyle .
  • The “naos” (or cella), the main room housing Athena, is about 93 ft long × 63 ft wide, with a two-story colonnade on three sides.
  • The “treasury” room (west side) is 44 ft long × 63 ft wide.
  • The decorative sculptures: the Parthenon includes casts/plaster replicas of the original Parthenon Marbles (from Athens) inside and on the pediments, friezes, and metopes.

About Athena

Giant golden statue of a deity inside a grand hall with tall marble columns and a wooden lattice roof, showcasing intricate details and cultural artistry.
  • The statue inside is called Athena Parthenos, modeled after the original lost classical sculpture by Phidias.
  • It’s 42 feet tall, making it one of the tallest indoor sculptures in the Western Hemisphere.
  • The project to produce the statue was commissioned in 1982 to Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire.
    • It took eight years of research, modeling, and sculpting.
    • The on-site assembly (on scaffolding) took about 3½ years.
  • It was unveiled to the public on May 20, 1990 (though not fully gilded/painted at that time).
  • The finishing touches of gilding (gold leaf) and paint were applied later (in 2002).
  • It’s constructed of gypsum, fiberglass, etc., and then coated with gold leaf.
  • Symbolism & details:
    • In her right hand, Athena holds a small figure of Nike (the goddess of victory).
    • Behind her (near her shield) is a large serpent (Erichthonius) from myth, linked to the foundations of Athens.
    • She wears a helmet and armor (aegis), as per classical representation.
    • Her presence in the naos is very much like the original Parthenon: her statue is the focal point of the interior.

Photo Gallery

Plaster models of the Parthenon's pediment sculptures on a tiered platform inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
Plaster models of the Parthenon's pediment sculptures on display at the Parthenon in Nashville.
The gilded Nike statue standing in Athena's outstretched right hand inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
The gilded relief along the base of the Athena Parthenos statue inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
The massive gilded shield at Athena's side inside the Parthenon in Nashville, embossed with battle figures.
A moody wide view of the Parthenon replica in Nashville under heavy clouds.
The back of Athena's massive gilded shield inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
The gilded, nearly 42-foot Athena Parthenos statue inside the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee
A close view of the face of the Athena Parthenos statue in Nashville, with her helmet and the Medusa head on her breastplate.
A sign showing the actual size of the Nike figure in Athena's hand, with a visitor beside it for scale, at the Parthenon in Nashville.
The face and helmet of the Athena Parthenos statue seen from below inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
The gilded Athena Parthenos statue seen from the side inside the Parthenon in Nashville.
A side profile of the full Parthenon replica across the lawn in Nashville's Centennial Park.
The long side colonnade of the Parthenon replica in Nashville's Centennial Park.
Ancient Greek-style temple with tall columns and detailed frieze, symbolizing history and architecture, located in a park setting with visitors enjoying the site, representing classic design.
Ancient Greek Parthenon temple with tall columns and detailed sculptures, situated on a grassy site under a clear blue sky, showcasing historical architecture and cultural heritage.
The entrance side of the Parthenon replica in Nashville's Centennial Park.
A corner view of the columns and pediment of the full-scale Parthenon replica in Nashville, Tennessee

Overall, the Parthenon (BOTH of them) is an absolute must see!!!

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