The Parthenon

Introduction

The Parthenon in Nashville is a full-scale 1:1 replica of the Athenian Parthenon, standing in Centennial Park and built for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition of 1897. Originally a temporary plaster and wood structure, it was permanently rebuilt in concrete between 1925 and 1931. It is the world's only complete full-size replica outside Athens, measuring 101.7 meters long and 69.5 meters wide, with a colonnade of 46 Doric columns faithfully reproducing the ancient Greek original. Inside, an art museum houses 19th- and 20th-century American paintings, and the central naos holds a gilded 13-meter statue of Athena, one of the largest indoor sculptures in the world. The surrounding Centennial Park is a beloved civic space, hosting the Tennessee International Film Festival and Greek festivals that earn Nashville its nickname, the Athens of the South.

✨ Highlights

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