I have been to Greece numerous times. My wife was born there. I don't think I have ever seen a more magnificent structure anywhere. It is absolutely perfect, even down to the steps not being perfectly flat, but curved to trick the eye. The columns as well are an optical illusion. Brilliant engineering and workmanship. Thank you, Greece 🇬🇷 💙.
When I first learned of all the deceptive asymmetrical features that actually improved symmetry to the eyes perspective, I was blown away. Seeing it in person must be on another level.
As a Greek and an Athenian my whole life, I've been raised to believe that the Ottomans were savage and uncivilized. So it was quite a shock, when I recently found out that the Parthenon wasn't destroyed by the Muslims, but by the "civilized" Venetians!
The Acropolis comes from the Greek word 'highest point' and overlooks Athens, so it's the most important strategic point of the city. The Ottomans didn't fill the acropolis with people and gunpowder because they thought Venice would respect its historical value, it was simply the most defensible point of the city. It had been a defensive citadel for thousands of years and served as the local headquarters of the Ottoman army
Honestly never thought about how the Parthenon came to be in the state it's in, just assumed it was the passage of time, really didn't know it was blown up in such a way fantastic video as always good sir!
How true! In Western Civilization classes were were told about the rise and fall of the Greek cities. And were were shown pictures of artist interpretations of what it looked like back then, and then pictures taken here in the modern times. I had never heard this story, that this wonderful architecture had remained strong and nearly original until recent times. Sort of a sad story to hear and consider.
@@ronfullerton3162 I remember learning about Greek and Roman mythology in school back in the 1960s. I had a chance to be dropped off in Athens for 5 days and took it when I was 20. I walked all over the city taking in the history. 50 years later and I still remember the story about the gun powder causing the explosion that destroyed these works of art.
Yeah, I didn't realize this, either. Most of the ruins of similarly-aged structures I've seen have been ruins for thousands of years, certainly not destroyed by gunpowder and a mortar.
@@Chris_at_Home WOW! First hand experience! Sounds like a very memorable time. That is so grand. My furthest teip out of the States was to Montreal, Canada. i am so glad you got to experience it. Because you now have been able to share with us, and now we have that little bit if personal insight. The world is shrinking, but still is wide and holds do many treasures for us in all corners. I am just glad that we had so much World Civ and other courses in school that gave us a world view. I feel that we had a stellar education at that time compared to times before or since. They worked our tails off in school, but it paid us back in so many ways. Thank you again for your reply.
I've never been to the Parthenon but I have visited the recreation of it in Nashville. That is incredible to see. It has its own interesting story that deserves to be told by The history guy.
I was stationed in Athens in the military in 1975. I made it a point to learn how to get to the Parthenon by bus and I went there quite a few times. I touched every pillar, ran my finger around the inter sanctuary and walked all around the building. And the Plaka was fun as well.
Corpsman 86-98; in North Africa & the Mid East/Central Asia I was struck by the weight of history; walking among the ruins that were built from the rubble of the previous city that was built on the ruins of an even older city… I managed a basket leave & got to Western Europe, mostly France & Belgium. I was awed & humbled by the cloak of antiquity; staying in a Garrett flat that had been occupied for centuries upon centuries- knowing that people had lived & died, loved, been born & grown up in that little room, suffered the same trials and tribulations I do really got me. (I was also struck by how many memorials do the fallen of The Great War & 2nd World War there were in every little town, Berg and Ville. They really put the US to shame.)
VP-10 in 1971 got some R&R in Athens. Sitting on the steps of the Parthenon and thinking of the historic names who had tread in the same place. I was amazed. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Fly Navy 🇺🇸
I got there after college in 1975. Finished my Teamster job, sold everything and went to Europe. Friends lived in Athens and I visited, spending almost every day at the acropolis. Another commenter mentioned the weight of history, I felt that too. Did a return trip with my family in 2005, couldn't get as close to any of the ancient ruins, but I could still feel that history. The only other place that felt as strong to me was Dachau, but that's a different feeling.
@@navret1707 I remember getting a lunch to go and sitting alone on the nearby hill where there was a monument on a place Socrates spoke and just contemplated it all. There was also a good view of the Parthenon from there. My brother was in VP-10 a few years before you. I was in VP-23 when I went to Athens. If you were around Brunswick in 72 we probably passed each other on base a few times.
Each person should, if at all possible, visit the Parthenon once in their life. I remember vividly the first time I saw it, having first seen the Agora building at the foot of the table mountain, and I remember marveling as an engineer at the Agora because the pillars were so large, and how the hell could they stack those things, and get car-sized blocks of stone up 30 ft on top of the columns. Then we walked up to the Parthenon. In ways that photos do not convey, this thing is... obscenely huge in comparison, 12 ft diameter columns, gigantically tall, and the very face of ancient age, makes my hairs stand up even now, 30 years later. It conveyed to me the feeling of the presence of the Greek gods. Humbling. Many thanks Lance for a fascinating and poignant presentation, passionately delivered, and for bringing some special memories back to me this morning. This is why I have become your fan. And I'm not a fan of anything or anyone else.
I will just add marble was brought all the way from mount "penteli" ..!! Actually the marks from the slides on the road the ancient Athenians used to bring in those huge blocks of marble are still visible to this day 😁
Now that I am 30 I am amazed at how much history I still don’t know, this is my first time hearing about how the Parthenon became the way it is now. Great work history guy! 5 years of watching you and I am still learning!
Once again , thank you so much for what you do. My late wife and i wandered around the Parthenon about 12 years ago, I have wonderful memories of it. I assumed it had become "ruins" many centuries ago . I wish I could share this story with her now.
In 2018 and 2019, I visited Greece and Rome twice, and was amazed at so many antique structures are still standing. The Acropolis is awesome, and even the museum was still excavating ruins. Even within the modern city, ruins dating thousand of years are still visible everywhere. Just dine and shop in Monasteraki. Great video.
Was there last month. Still stunning and was amazed by the size. One of the most memorable things in my life. Thank you for going through the history, there is so much about Greek history...that deserves to be remembered....
Went to Greece in 2006. No pictures do this amazing site justice. We visited many other sites with and without tour guides. Interestingly, tour guides there all have to have degrees in history - 2 we met held Masters degrees. Definitely not a summer pick up job. Many thanks from Canada.
Have been there several times in my life. The first as a 6 year old, and I distinctly remember running inside of the Parthenon (It is closed to foot traffic for decades now and rightly so) . Every time I visit, I see it with a different eye. Truly amazing. A great wonder of antiquity.
Many years ago I was learning some 3D software and decided to use the Parthenon as my project to learn with. I found cross-sections of what the fluted columns looked like, images of the friezes that remained, drawings of the original statue of Athena, and so on. It also led me to reading up on the history of it, including learning about how it was destroyed. That just left me angry in the end.
@@chrisfuller1268 In those days it wasn't so much life as it was money, passion, and fame. "Fighting for life" only really became a thing as warfare became so dangerous as to be able to exterminate life within an instant. Something more appealing is that history is being destroyed daily. The middle ages had towers of stone bordering on the heights of our buildings - destroyed in WW2. Alhambra can not be seen in the same way. Its gold and tin-foil roofs are covered with plaster. Occasionally you will also see purple as water corrodes the gold and tin which prompted them to be covered in white.
@@poetryflynn3712 I agree people were less concerned with the end of their lives as death was around them all the time, but cannons/mortars were weapons of mass destruction of their era to which siege defenders of Athens clearly tried to adapt for their own survival.
@@poetryflynn3712 um, when one or the other side was on the verge of losing they would have to be fighting for their lives, taking prisoners is a soft and modern concept, wars of religion were always about extermination. The gold is with the officers, not the fighting men. Hundreds of years ago being captured was only the beginning of the pain inflicted on you. People are as cruel as they are inventive, all they need is Permission.
@@sharongriffin2673 That is a vast oversimplification that largely isn't true. Prisoners have been a thing for centuries most often with the losers becoming slaves. Taking prisoners goes back to ancient Assyria and likely much, much earlier. In many cases, those captured would just be assimilated into the new army or immediately let go after a certain time. It was more important to route the enemy than it was to kill them, and in most cases an option of surrender was clearly understood. While war has always been violent, it wasn't until the modern era that it became "unjustified". The likelihood of you dying directly in war back then was much lower, and much, much higher was the death from diseases you could get on these journeys.
What a sad and yet very common theme of human history. On the other hand, the fact we still have its ruins to view, admire, lament, and historically ponder is a wonder of its own.
These passionate presentations by The History Guy convinces us that history deserves to be remembered, for how do we know who we are if we have forgotten who we were?
Just watching now, thanks for the upload. I have only been to Greece once by cargo ship, we had about 6 hours shore time. Took the metro to the Parthenon walked all the way up to the entrance only to have the gate slammed in our faces as they had decided to close early that afternoon and wern't letting any more people in. Gutted
I know your feeling very well, every famous archeological site is open only in the morning, civil servants in this country work only in the morning (or never) they´re horribe.
My ship made a port call there in 1969, and I got to take a USO- sponsored tour of Athens, including the Acropolis, so I had a close-up look of the Parthenon. Truly impressive.
@@manapo8205 thanks to IMF the country can only hire 1 new government employee for every 10 retired or ending their contracts. That means that some agencies don't have enough people to get more than one swift. As a matter of fact when they do get to have some people work overtime in symbolic dates, national holidays ect they literally make public announcements
It's not a wise move to visit the Acropolis especially in the summer heat which can be as high as 40 degrees C in the shade and much higher under the sun's rays.
I visited Akropolis and Parthenon today, and honestly didn't know the history behind it before today. It's a shame this building could have been intact today with just a little bit of luck.
How about this for a Greek mythology inspired synopsis of what had occurred to the Athenian Parthenon in 1687: For millennia the great temple dedicated to Athena had stood defiant to the history that passed around it. This infuriated the god of war, Ares, who held great resentment of the temple dedicated to his greatest rival, Athena. Ares was constantly plotting to take down the temple as he felt that since no great temple stood for him, why should one stand for her? In 1687ce, Ares stumbled upon the opportunity. Amongst the many wars that raged during that age, Ares used the ensuing chaos to take advantage of a brief moment when Athena was momentarily distracted elsewhere. Ares saw the volatile powder being stored in the great temple and so guided a single munition towards the temple roof and, just before impacting the top of the structure, Ares slammed his hand down with the projectile allowing it to penetrate through. This, of course, causing the destruction. How Athena responded to this treachery is anyone's guess.
@@JarthenGreenmeadow Exactly. Chaos Theory would argue your point, that the creation of life itself, is destruction. In order to create, you must also destroy. Watch a small child build something with blocks, they will sit there for 15-20 minutes working on it. Then when done, they sit back, look at what theyve done, and then tear it apart in seconds. Its a circle.
Thankfully our competiton is a world filled with volcanoes, malaria, and entropy. Its good to be the only source of goodness in a world where the cuckoo evolved.
I had not heard the details of what had happen to the Parthenon before now. Even in its diminished state, it is a beautiful structure in a beautiful place. I had the pleasure of touring it in 2006.
I've visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon, but had no inkling that a war between the Venetians and the Ottomans had severely damaged the Parthenon. I just assumed it was the passage of time. Always look forward to your videos as I always learn something.
There are a whole host of ancient ruins that I had assumed were destroyed incredibly long ago, but later learned only became ruins within the last few centuries. It's quite sad to think there's all kinds of things that, if they had just not been fought in for a minor tactical advantage, could've been left for posterity. The Siege of Athens itself was so stupid. The turks gained nothing from holding it, the Venetians gained nothing from taking it, the bombardment made no difference in the outcome. War really is nothing but a waste.
When I was there in the 70s, the Greek tour guide said that the columns were held in place by lead which was used because it neither expands nor contracts during extreme weather.
There is a PBS documentary that showed the connecting device. It was a cubish block with rounded faces that had a dowel protruding from the top and bottom. It fit loosely into a cut out between the blocks with a hole for the dowel. Allowed for harmonic movement during earthquakes. Very interesting design.
@Carlton B Thank you. I'm actually watching it now (not realizing it was the one you were referring to) .. yes, Nova/PBS always has interesting content.
I watch every episode just to hear if the history guy says "and don't all great stories include/involve pirates?" You rarely let me down! Be well from washington state ❤️
I've never been to Athens but have viewed Greek Architecture in Italy at Paestum near Salerno and Syracuse, Sicily. Its stunning to say the least. The beauty you showed that was destroyed is absolutely mind blowing.
I went to Paestum while on an archaeological dig about 25 years ago. Back then there were no fences and it was possible to walk in and around the temple ruins; the feeling I had inside these structures, designed before the perfection that was the Parthenon, was one of the sublime. Even in ruins these structures were both functional and beautiful all the same.
I was deployed to Sicily in 1973 when I was 20 years old and I was asked if I wanted to go somewhere for a 5 days and I said Athens. I was dropped off and walked all over this area with my tour book. I took a lot of pictures.
One can still see the dents on some of the columns from the impact of the cannonballs, estimated to have been hundrends of them fired. We have been restoring the entire Acropolis site since the 70s and we are not even near finishing...
Let's put this in perspective. It stood (in good condition) for 2,000 years. I was born in 1987. So it's only been 300 years (at my birth) that it's been "ruins". Only 1/6 it's total existence. That's extremely sad. Although I am grateful that it is still standing. Maybe in ruins but it's still there nevertheless... unlike other places (The Colossus of Rhodes or Lighthouse of Alexandria).
THG put in a nice message of the futility of war, there. People, desperate in the moment, neglect to think about the future. Reminds me of Lavoisier getting his head chopped off in the French Revolution. "Only the dead, know the end of war."
Thank you for talking about the Parthenon and its replicas. I'd kind of presumed the Athens structure had been war torn but not that it had been done that recently.
What a surprise that the Greek's two greatest foes through the end of the Medieval era were responsible for the destruction of one of Greece's greatest monuments in the early modern era.
Simply Excellent. I’ve known the story for decades but it was great hearing it again from The History Guy. In spite of world-wide travels, I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the original in Greece or the reproduction in Tennessee. With luck I’ll get to visit one or both in my remaining years.
Wow i had no idea. I thought it fell into ruins in antiquity. We were not taught any of this in public school. It's thought provoking that some of the ancient temple still stands, and is in fact still glorious to see, whilst those who sought its destruction have faded into the past and are forgotten.
I remember visiting the Acropolis as a child in 1970. Back then, you could walk right up to the Parthenon. I remember it being very, very windy (it is on a hill, after all!) and the marble rubble underfoot being very, very slippery. I was always left with the impression that the damage was from time, or an earthquake. I had not heard of this war or of the tragic destruction. Perhaps if we'd been part of a tour group, the guide may have said something, but we were visiting from a cruise ship that had decided that the tour of Athens would be in the evening (without telling the parents of two small children that they'd be stuck at a beach without swimsuits all day!). My dad found a taxi driver with probably ten words of English (but who served in Korea at the same time as Daddy! Instant bonding!) who was willing to drive us around to see the sights, etc. So we headed back to the ship about the time the official tour got on a bus to head into Athens lol.
Ozymandias comes to mind: "... look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! The lone and level sands stretch far away.” & Spock;" As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create." We think of these ruins and a few others a few Millennia old as ancient, but the first evidence of surgery was recently found and dated 31,000 years ago! How much history has passed, and how little evidence of it remains.
I think you are referring to a burial site where the occupant had had a leg amputated and lived for several more years. Amazing, because in the US Civil War the majority of amputees would later die of infection, how did this person avoid that fate?
Well said! The destruction of the Parthenon is heartbreaking, but all of our wars look small when viewed from the far reaches of space. In a few million years there will be little evidence left of any human civilization. Perhaps a better version of us will evolve in the future.
So sad that so many ancient buildings and statues have been destroyed in the recent past. The Colisseum, statues all through the Middle East, other buildings, so sad.
I watched a documentary on the current restoration of the Parthenon. The documentary stated that the most damage to the Parthenon was done during a previous restoration effort in the early 1900s. They covered much of the aspects of its engineering. Very interesting design.
They showed the Parthenon was on the Super Friends Challenge cartoon series it was frozen by Captain Cold and Toyman looking for a mineral and Green Lantern and Aquaman had to stop them but not until they turned themselves into Giants
Another, “Been there.” 1981 on a trip around the world with a bicycle making hast to get to Bethlehem for Christmas. The pictures show an adjacent mountain peak towering above the Acropolis. The overhead view of the Acropolis is well worth the climb.
the modern equivalent of this happened durning ww2 with the bombing of monte cassino because the allied commander thought the germans were using it to observe their movements (they were`nt) and the almost destruction of the leaning tower of pisa for the same reason(this time they allies learned there were no germans literally seconds before they were going to destroy it)
I've been to the one in Nashville at night. It was beautiful and very quiet and serene. And HERE I thought it was an earthquake. Thank you History Guy. Oh maybe I heard wrong BUT I THINK that no heavy equipment is allowed near the structure as it is believed to be on shaky ground.... or maybe they just don't want tourists around. I looked and could not find a reference to that ... so never mind. lol
Francisco Morosini brought his cat along on campaign…no doubt to check that his strategy was up to scratch 🐱 Unbelievable to have such a fine edifice last for millennia, only for a huge part of it to be blown to smithereens in a largely forgotten war, in a bombardment which accomplished nothing, except wrecking an architectural masterpiece. An important function of history is to learn from it, lest the mistakes in history be repeated, yet the fate of those statues in Bamiyan, and the damage done in recent times to the ruins at Palmyra indicate that respect for things of historical and cultural value has not been learnt.
There are similar Greek temples in Southern Italy that are intact. The wooden roofs are long gone, but all the columns are standing. The Greeks colonized Southern Italy, but were overwhelmed by the Romans.
Your tagline kills me. At first l thought it to be a coincidence of the story. Now l just kinda wait and see how it works it's way into a "good story". Thanks for all these seemingly insignificant factoids of history. I enjoy them all. Have you ever seen the (to scale) replica of the Parthenon in Nashville TN.?
The history of modern Greece is quite fascinating and her history almost matches the history of modern Israel. There was an early revolt in a lawless part of Greece that was put down by the Ottoman Empire in the late 1700's but the Greeks did not forget! Remember, at the time, most Greeks didn't want to leave the Ottoman Empire, their economy was wedded to Istambul. That started to change and in 30 years, different Greek factions were brought together by the British (yes they had a major hand in this) and these factions began a new revolt. The revolt was almost crushed thanks to their infighting but thanks to British help, they succeeded in establishing the Kingdom of Greece, which was just confined to the Peloponnese Penninsula at first but in a series of wars she regained most of European Greece. The Greeks in Turkey were flatly told "you are Turkish" by the new Attaturk Government and it was confirmed by Treaty between both nations to stop their war. Some Greeks still desire to regain what they see as their crown city of Constantinople but what on earth would they go with it even if they did gain it? It's 100% Turkish now! The Greeks were kicked out of the city eons ago. Hopefully the two nations will remain at peace.
A story inside this story: The lion's statue that was plundered by the Venetians carries viking runes on his shoulders that were left by a raiding party in Athens centuries prior, detailing their deeds. Edit: typos
Reminds me of a purportedly African proverb: "when elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers".
I have been to Greece numerous times. My wife was born there. I don't think I have ever seen a more magnificent structure anywhere. It is absolutely perfect, even down to the steps not being perfectly flat, but curved to trick the eye. The columns as well are an optical illusion. Brilliant engineering and workmanship. Thank you, Greece 🇬🇷 💙.
When I first learned of all the deceptive asymmetrical features that actually improved symmetry to the eyes perspective, I was blown away. Seeing it in person must be on another level.
As a Greek and an Athenian my whole life, I've been raised to believe that the Ottomans were savage and uncivilized. So it was quite a shock, when I recently found out that the Parthenon wasn't destroyed by the Muslims, but by the "civilized" Venetians!
It was joint effort.
The Acropolis comes from the Greek word 'highest point' and overlooks Athens, so it's the most important strategic point of the city. The Ottomans didn't fill the acropolis with people and gunpowder because they thought Venice would respect its historical value, it was simply the most defensible point of the city. It had been a defensive citadel for thousands of years and served as the local headquarters of the Ottoman army
The Venetians are what enabled the Ottomans
Venetian
Always the venetian
Honestly never thought about how the Parthenon came to be in the state it's in, just assumed it was the passage of time, really didn't know it was blown up in such a way fantastic video as always good sir!
How true! In Western Civilization classes were were told about the rise and fall of the Greek cities. And were were shown pictures of artist interpretations of what it looked like back then, and then pictures taken here in the modern times. I had never heard this story, that this wonderful architecture had remained strong and nearly original until recent times. Sort of a sad story to hear and consider.
@@ronfullerton3162 I remember learning about Greek and Roman mythology in school back in the 1960s. I had a chance to be dropped off in Athens for 5 days and took it when I was 20. I walked all over the city taking in the history. 50 years later and I still remember the story about the gun powder causing the explosion that destroyed these works of art.
Yeah, I didn't realize this, either. Most of the ruins of similarly-aged structures I've seen have been ruins for thousands of years, certainly not destroyed by gunpowder and a mortar.
How true.
@@Chris_at_Home WOW! First hand experience! Sounds like a very memorable time. That is so grand. My furthest teip out of the States was to Montreal, Canada. i am so glad you got to experience it. Because you now have been able to share with us, and now we have that little bit if personal insight. The world is shrinking, but still is wide and holds do many treasures for us in all corners. I am just glad that we had so much World Civ and other courses in school that gave us a world view. I feel that we had a stellar education at that time compared to times before or since. They worked our tails off in school, but it paid us back in so many ways. Thank you again for your reply.
I've never been to the Parthenon but I have visited the recreation of it in Nashville. That is incredible to see. It has its own interesting story that deserves to be told by The history guy.
Agreed!
And since this one is so new, he should do the Nashville Parthenon next. : )
That was my thinking exactly!
Agreed! The Centennial Exposition would make a cool episode!
Top Notch Exhibition. Plus the Gardens surrounding it are pretty cool!
I was stationed in Athens in the military in 1975. I made it a point to learn how to get to the Parthenon by bus and I went there quite a few times. I touched every pillar, ran my finger around the inter sanctuary and walked all around the building. And the Plaka was fun as well.
Corpsman 86-98; in North Africa & the Mid East/Central Asia I was struck by the weight of history; walking among the ruins that were built from the rubble of the previous city that was built on the ruins of an even older city… I managed a basket leave & got to Western Europe, mostly France & Belgium. I was awed & humbled by the cloak of antiquity; staying in a Garrett flat that had been occupied for centuries upon centuries- knowing that people had lived & died, loved, been born & grown up in that little room, suffered the same trials and tribulations I do really got me. (I was also struck by how many memorials do the fallen of The Great War & 2nd World War there were in every little town, Berg and Ville. They really put the US to shame.)
VP-10 in 1971 got some R&R in Athens. Sitting on the steps of the Parthenon and thinking of the historic names who had tread in the same place. I was amazed. I’d go back in a heartbeat. Fly Navy 🇺🇸
I got there after college in 1975. Finished my Teamster job, sold everything and went to Europe. Friends lived in Athens and I visited, spending almost every day at the acropolis. Another commenter mentioned the weight of history, I felt that too. Did a return trip with my family in 2005, couldn't get as close to any of the ancient ruins, but I could still feel that history. The only other place that felt as strong to me was Dachau, but that's a different feeling.
My Granpa was there in 1942.
@@navret1707 I remember getting a lunch to go and sitting alone on the nearby hill where there was a monument on a place Socrates spoke and just contemplated it all. There was also a good view of the Parthenon from there. My brother was in VP-10 a few years before you. I was in VP-23 when I went to Athens. If you were around Brunswick in 72 we probably passed each other on base a few times.
This was most informational. Thanks for posting!
Each person should, if at all possible, visit the Parthenon once in their life.
I remember vividly the first time I saw it, having first seen the Agora building at the foot of the table mountain, and I remember marveling as an engineer at the Agora because the pillars were so large, and how the hell could they stack those things, and get car-sized blocks of stone up 30 ft on top of the columns.
Then we walked up to the Parthenon. In ways that photos do not convey, this thing is... obscenely huge in comparison, 12 ft diameter columns, gigantically tall, and the very face of ancient age, makes my hairs stand up even now, 30 years later. It conveyed to me the feeling of the presence of the Greek gods. Humbling.
Many thanks Lance for a fascinating and poignant presentation, passionately delivered, and for bringing some special memories back to me this morning.
This is why I have become your fan. And I'm not a fan of anything or anyone else.
I will just add marble was brought all the way from mount "penteli" ..!!
Actually the marks from the slides on the road the ancient Athenians used to bring in those huge blocks of marble are still visible to this day 😁
Now that I am 30 I am amazed at how much history I still don’t know, this is my first time hearing about how the Parthenon became the way it is now. Great work history guy! 5 years of watching you and I am still learning!
You are so lucky to have started now and have a long life ahead of you to learn and appreciate!! 👍👍
"A war almost no one remembers, a war that accomplished nothing." I guess that summarizes just about all wars.
Once again , thank you so much for what you do. My late wife and i wandered around the Parthenon about 12 years ago, I have wonderful memories of it. I assumed it had become "ruins" many centuries ago . I wish I could share this story with her now.
In 2018 and 2019, I visited Greece and Rome twice, and was amazed at so many antique structures are still standing. The Acropolis is awesome, and even the museum was still excavating ruins. Even within the modern city, ruins dating thousand of years are still visible everywhere. Just dine and shop in Monasteraki. Great video.
Was there last month. Still stunning and was amazed by the size. One of the most memorable things in my life. Thank you for going through the history, there is so much about Greek history...that deserves to be remembered....
I have to admit I was almost brought to tears when visiting the Parthenon and learning how it was looted and destroyed , relatively not that long ago.
No wonder the Greeks have a beef with the Turks...
This isn't Reddit. Please don't do that here.
But 1687 wasn't exactly just the other day ... it's been awhile & I wouldn't call it the Modern Era. At all!
@@jonathandewberry289 ??
@@paulryan2128 maybe THG is older than we thought
Currently touring Athens. You helped me look like I knew something about Greek history
Went to Greece in 2006. No pictures do this amazing site justice. We visited many other sites with and without tour guides. Interestingly, tour guides there all have to have degrees in history - 2 we met held Masters degrees. Definitely not a summer pick up job. Many thanks from Canada.
Have been there several times in my life. The first as a 6 year old, and I distinctly remember running inside of the Parthenon (It is closed to foot traffic for decades now and rightly so) . Every time I visit, I see it with a different eye. Truly amazing. A great wonder of antiquity.
Many years ago I was learning some 3D software and decided to use the Parthenon as my project to learn with. I found cross-sections of what the fluted columns looked like, images of the friezes that remained, drawings of the original statue of Athena, and so on. It also led me to reading up on the history of it, including learning about how it was destroyed. That just left me angry in the end.
It sucks, but it is hard to be angry when you realize people were fighting for their life.
@@chrisfuller1268 In those days it wasn't so much life as it was money, passion, and fame. "Fighting for life" only really became a thing as warfare became so dangerous as to be able to exterminate life within an instant.
Something more appealing is that history is being destroyed daily. The middle ages had towers of stone bordering on the heights of our buildings - destroyed in WW2.
Alhambra can not be seen in the same way. Its gold and tin-foil roofs are covered with plaster. Occasionally you will also see purple as water corrodes the gold and tin which prompted them to be covered in white.
@@poetryflynn3712 I agree people were less concerned with the end of their lives as death was around them all the time, but cannons/mortars were weapons of mass destruction of their era to which siege defenders of Athens clearly tried to adapt for their own survival.
@@poetryflynn3712 um, when one or the other side was on the verge of losing they would have to be fighting for their lives, taking prisoners is a soft and modern concept, wars of religion were always about extermination. The gold is with the officers, not the fighting men. Hundreds of years ago being captured was only the beginning of the pain inflicted on you. People are as cruel as they are inventive, all they need is Permission.
@@sharongriffin2673 That is a vast oversimplification that largely isn't true. Prisoners have been a thing for centuries most often with the losers becoming slaves. Taking prisoners goes back to ancient Assyria and likely much, much earlier. In many cases, those captured would just be assimilated into the new army or immediately let go after a certain time. It was more important to route the enemy than it was to kill them, and in most cases an option of surrender was clearly understood.
While war has always been violent, it wasn't until the modern era that it became "unjustified". The likelihood of you dying directly in war back then was much lower, and much, much higher was the death from diseases you could get on these journeys.
What a sad and yet very common theme of human history. On the other hand, the fact we still have its ruins to view, admire, lament, and historically ponder is a wonder of its own.
These passionate presentations by The History Guy convinces us that history deserves to be remembered, for how do we know who we are if we have forgotten who we were?
Tell THAT to the young and the Woke!!!
Well this one bummed me out, human stupidity never ends. Great videos my man keep them coming!
Just watching now, thanks for the upload. I have only been to Greece once by cargo ship, we had about 6 hours shore time. Took the metro to the Parthenon walked all the way up to the entrance only to have the gate slammed in our faces as they had decided to close early that afternoon and wern't letting any more people in. Gutted
I know your feeling very well, every famous archeological site is open only in the morning, civil servants in this country work only in the morning (or never) they´re horribe.
My ship made a port call there in 1969, and I got to take a USO- sponsored tour of Athens, including the Acropolis, so I had a close-up look of the Parthenon. Truly impressive.
@@manapo8205 It's not their fault. They aren't being paid for the full day, so they clock out when the pay stops.
@@manapo8205 thanks to IMF the country can only hire 1 new government employee for every 10 retired or ending their contracts.
That means that some agencies don't have enough people to get more than one swift.
As a matter of fact when they do get to have some people work overtime in symbolic dates, national holidays ect they literally make public announcements
It's not a wise move to visit the Acropolis especially in the summer heat which can be as high as 40 degrees C in the shade and much higher under the sun's rays.
As I started this, I wondered if pirates would come into play; but you surprised us with the cat! Thank you for yet again for a great episode!
NEVER was any history taught to me about the damage at the Parthenon. Always has to presume that it was from a forgotten Era. . .
Thank you for yet another thoughtful, well researched and informative presentation. Your integrity is greatly appreciated!
I visited Akropolis and Parthenon today, and honestly didn't know the history behind it before today. It's a shame this building could have been intact today with just a little bit of luck.
How about this for a Greek mythology inspired synopsis of what had occurred to the Athenian Parthenon in 1687: For millennia the great temple dedicated to Athena had stood defiant to the history that passed around it. This infuriated the god of war, Ares, who held great resentment of the temple dedicated to his greatest rival, Athena. Ares was constantly plotting to take down the temple as he felt that since no great temple stood for him, why should one stand for her? In 1687ce, Ares stumbled upon the opportunity. Amongst the many wars that raged during that age, Ares used the ensuing chaos to take advantage of a brief moment when Athena was momentarily distracted elsewhere. Ares saw the volatile powder being stored in the great temple and so guided a single munition towards the temple roof and, just before impacting the top of the structure, Ares slammed his hand down with the projectile allowing it to penetrate through. This, of course, causing the destruction. How Athena responded to this treachery is anyone's guess.
Ungh.. Hurts my heart. Thank you for this important bit of History.
Love you History Guy. Love what you do. Never stop.
Human's ability to create is rivaled only by our ability to destroy.
They are identical forces. They only appear separate superficially.
Rivaled, but not surpassed.
@@JarthenGreenmeadow Exactly. Chaos Theory would argue your point, that the creation of life itself, is destruction. In order to create, you must also destroy.
Watch a small child build something with blocks, they will sit there for 15-20 minutes working on it. Then when done, they sit back, look at what theyve done, and then tear it apart in seconds. Its a circle.
You can replace “ability” with “want”,sadly.
Thankfully our competiton is a world filled with volcanoes, malaria, and entropy. Its good to be the only source of goodness in a world where the cuckoo evolved.
I had not heard the details of what had happen to the Parthenon before now.
Even in its diminished state, it is a beautiful structure in a beautiful place. I had the pleasure of touring it in 2006.
I've visited the Acropolis and the Parthenon, but had no inkling that a war between the Venetians and the Ottomans had severely damaged the Parthenon. I just assumed it was the passage of time. Always look forward to your videos as I always learn something.
All glory is indeed, fleeting.
Those who ignore the mistakes down through history are doomed to repeat them..thank you for your knowledge of that history.
There are a whole host of ancient ruins that I had assumed were destroyed incredibly long ago, but later learned only became ruins within the last few centuries.
It's quite sad to think there's all kinds of things that, if they had just not been fought in for a minor tactical advantage, could've been left for posterity. The Siege of Athens itself was so stupid. The turks gained nothing from holding it, the Venetians gained nothing from taking it, the bombardment made no difference in the outcome.
War really is nothing but a waste.
Sometimes we humans are not worthy of our blessings.
When I was there in the 70s, the Greek tour guide said that the columns were held in place by lead which was used because it neither expands nor contracts during extreme weather.
There is a PBS documentary that showed the connecting device.
It was a cubish block with rounded faces that had a dowel protruding from the top and bottom.
It fit loosely into a cut out between the blocks with a hole for the dowel.
Allowed for harmonic movement during earthquakes.
Very interesting design.
@@shawnr771 Do you happen to remember the name of the program? I'd love to see it. Maybe it was the dowels she was referring to? Thanks for the info.
@Carlton B Thank you. I'm actually watching it now (not realizing it was the one you were referring to) .. yes, Nova/PBS always has interesting content.
Always wondered how this happened. Thank you, sir.
Another great video. I had no idea about the history of the Parthenon, or even why it was called that in the first place.
Bravo, good sir. 😊 👏
I watch every episode just to hear if the history guy says "and don't all great stories include/involve pirates?" You rarely let me down! Be well from washington state ❤️
Along similar lines . . . History that deserves to be remembered is the Greek Revolution of 1821
Lance, that was a mighty fine history lesson. And sadly, one that I did not know. You're right, it does deserve to be remembered. Thank you
I've never been to Athens but have viewed Greek Architecture in Italy at Paestum near Salerno and Syracuse, Sicily. Its stunning to say the least.
The beauty you showed that was destroyed is absolutely mind blowing.
I went to Paestum while on an archaeological dig about 25 years ago. Back then there were no fences and it was possible to walk in and around the temple ruins; the feeling I had inside these structures, designed before the perfection that was the Parthenon, was one of the sublime. Even in ruins these structures were both functional and beautiful all the same.
Most of ancient Roman empire based on greek principles. So, almost everything was greek.
I was deployed to Sicily in 1973 when I was 20 years old and I was asked if I wanted to go somewhere for a 5 days and I said Athens. I was dropped off and walked all over this area with my tour book. I took a lot of pictures.
I just have to say that I always enjoy your videos. You have impeccable taste in history that deserves to be remembered.
One can still see the dents on some of the columns from the impact of the cannonballs, estimated to have been hundrends of them fired. We have been restoring the entire Acropolis site since the 70s and we are not even near finishing...
Let's put this in perspective. It stood (in good condition) for 2,000 years. I was born in 1987. So it's only been 300 years (at my birth) that it's been "ruins". Only 1/6 it's total existence. That's extremely sad. Although I am grateful that it is still standing. Maybe in ruins but it's still there nevertheless... unlike other places (The Colossus of Rhodes or Lighthouse of Alexandria).
THG put in a nice message of the futility of war, there. People, desperate in the moment, neglect to think about the future.
Reminds me of Lavoisier getting his head chopped off in the French Revolution.
"Only the dead, know the end of war."
Thank you for talking about the Parthenon and its replicas. I'd kind of presumed the Athens structure had been war torn but not that it had been done that recently.
What a surprise that the Greek's two greatest foes through the end of the Medieval era were responsible for the destruction of one of Greece's greatest monuments in the early modern era.
Simply Excellent. I’ve known the story for decades but it was great hearing it again from The History Guy. In spite of world-wide travels, I’ve never had the pleasure of visiting the original in Greece or the reproduction in Tennessee. With luck I’ll get to visit one or both in my remaining years.
I know I wanna know this story, even before knowing it. Thank you for your passion and spreading it.
What an excellent episode ... I loved the epilogue!
Wow i had no idea. I thought it fell into ruins in antiquity. We were not taught any of this in public school. It's thought provoking that some of the ancient temple still stands, and is in fact still glorious to see, whilst those who sought its destruction have faded into the past and are forgotten.
I remember visiting the Acropolis as a child in 1970. Back then, you could walk right up to the Parthenon. I remember it being very, very windy (it is on a hill, after all!) and the marble rubble underfoot being very, very slippery. I was always left with the impression that the damage was from time, or an earthquake. I had not heard of this war or of the tragic destruction. Perhaps if we'd been part of a tour group, the guide may have said something, but we were visiting from a cruise ship that had decided that the tour of Athens would be in the evening (without telling the parents of two small children that they'd be stuck at a beach without swimsuits all day!). My dad found a taxi driver with probably ten words of English (but who served in Korea at the same time as Daddy! Instant bonding!) who was willing to drive us around to see the sights, etc. So we headed back to the ship about the time the official tour got on a bus to head into Athens lol.
A story that is so true across so many years and conflicts. Even in some cases, across the lines. Peace to all.
The Parthenon is an amazing monument to the brilliant ancient Athenians. We owe them a great deal.
Thank you for sharing such a sad story....
Thank you sir!
Thanks for your explanation.
I can remember Greek actress Melina Mercouri campaigning for the return of the 'Parthenon Marbles' currently on display in London.
Ozymandias comes to mind: "... look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair! The lone and level sands stretch far away.” & Spock;" As a matter of cosmic history, it has always been easier to destroy than to create."
We think of these ruins and a few others a few Millennia old as ancient, but the first evidence of surgery was recently found and dated 31,000 years ago! How much history has passed, and how little evidence of it remains.
How much was lost because there is little proof of its existence
It is easier to destroy than to create - 2nd law of thermodynamics.
@@rabbi120348 In the end, entropy always wins.
I think you are referring to a burial site where the occupant had had a leg amputated and lived for several more years.
Amazing, because in the US Civil War the majority of amputees would later die of infection, how did this person avoid that fate?
Well said! The destruction of the Parthenon is heartbreaking, but all of our wars look small when viewed from the far reaches of space. In a few million years there will be little evidence left of any human civilization. Perhaps a better version of us will evolve in the future.
Another good one, sir!
Interesting as always!
So sad that so many ancient buildings and statues have been destroyed in the recent past. The Colisseum, statues all through the Middle East, other buildings, so sad.
I loved the intro! Nice work, THG.
This is an incredible story. Thank you History guy.
As always, an excellent video. Thank you very much.
I watched a documentary on the current restoration of the Parthenon.
The documentary stated that the most damage to the Parthenon was done during a previous restoration effort in the early 1900s.
They covered much of the aspects of its engineering.
Very interesting design.
Could you provide information on the documentary so others may watch?
@@rosaliemoon5905 Search YT for Secrets of the Parthenon.
It is a NOVA documentary.
53 minutes long.
Hope that helps.
Have a good day.
Great video.
I had no idea the Parthenon's destruction was so recent. Now tell the tragic story of the Monastery at Monte Casino.
Nothing lasts forever, but we humans are REALLY good at making it happen sooner rather than later...
They showed the Parthenon was on the Super Friends Challenge cartoon series it was frozen by Captain Cold and Toyman looking for a mineral and Green Lantern and Aquaman had to stop them but not until they turned themselves into Giants
Another, “Been there.” 1981 on a trip around the world with a bicycle making hast to get to Bethlehem for Christmas. The pictures show an adjacent mountain peak towering above the Acropolis. The overhead view of the Acropolis is well worth the climb.
Was just there, about a week ago and heard the same story. Even in its state of damage, it's still quite something.
Could you do a video on what famous ancient sculptures looked like painted and the history behind it?
the modern equivalent of this happened durning ww2 with the bombing of monte cassino because the allied commander thought the germans were using it to observe their movements (they were`nt) and the almost destruction of the leaning tower of pisa for the same reason(this time they allies learned there were no germans literally seconds before they were going to destroy it)
I was hoping you'd mention the one in TN. ;)
I've been to the one in Nashville at night. It was beautiful and very quiet and serene. And HERE I thought it was an earthquake. Thank you History Guy. Oh maybe I heard wrong BUT I THINK that no heavy equipment is allowed near the structure as it is believed to be on shaky ground.... or maybe they just don't want tourists around. I looked and could not find a reference to that ... so never mind. lol
ALWAYS GOOD - Thank you
Francisco Morosini brought his cat along on campaign…no doubt to check that his strategy was up to scratch 🐱 Unbelievable to have such a fine edifice last for millennia, only for a huge part of it to be blown to smithereens in a largely forgotten war, in a bombardment which accomplished nothing, except wrecking an architectural masterpiece. An important function of history is to learn from it, lest the mistakes in history be repeated, yet the fate of those statues in Bamiyan, and the damage done in recent times to the ruins at Palmyra indicate that respect for things of historical and cultural value has not been learnt.
The alternative was to send troops into a heavily defended building with a great loss of life. Difficult decisions.
Francesco
It stands as it should as a testament of humanity at it’s worst, amongst monuments of mankind at it’s best.
I was just there in April and then saw many of the artifacts from there in The British Museum two weeks ago.
History I'd never heard with a side of pirates and cats. A very good night.
Pirates AND cats. You spoil us History Guy!
That was awesome History Guy
There are similar Greek temples in Southern Italy that are intact.
The wooden roofs are long gone, but all the columns are standing.
The Greeks colonized Southern Italy, but were overwhelmed by the Romans.
We have a fantastic replica of the Parthenon in Nashville TN..
At 4:40 the full scale reproduction of the Parthenon in Nashville, Tenn.
Inside there is also a full scale statue of Athena, covered in gold leaf.
Damn good stuff sir.
Congrats Venice! That was the *second* worst thing you ever did!
What was the worst? Being the place where the black plague entered Europe?
@@snapdragon6601 That and the Sack of Constantinople.
At least the Pantheon has remained virtually intact. Long may it last.
Gotta suck when a coalition comes, and both sides destroys an ancient monument that stood more than a thousand years, then steals the ruins.
Your tagline kills me. At first l thought it to be a coincidence of the story. Now l just kinda wait and see how it works it's way into a "good story". Thanks for all these seemingly insignificant factoids of history. I enjoy them all. Have you ever seen the (to scale) replica of the Parthenon in Nashville TN.?
A tragedy so tragic indeed! 😿
For those unable to make the trip to Greece the replica in Nashville, TN is very neat to see.
Art is like gold, where you find it.
Greece, one of my favorites! Pirates and cats are a bonus!
The history of modern Greece is quite fascinating and her history almost matches the history of modern Israel. There was an early revolt in a lawless part of Greece that was put down by the Ottoman Empire in the late 1700's but the Greeks did not forget! Remember, at the time, most Greeks didn't want to leave the Ottoman Empire, their economy was wedded to Istambul. That started to change and in 30 years, different Greek factions were brought together by the British (yes they had a major hand in this) and these factions began a new revolt. The revolt was almost crushed thanks to their infighting but thanks to British help, they succeeded in establishing the Kingdom of Greece, which was just confined to the Peloponnese Penninsula at first but in a series of wars she regained most of European Greece. The Greeks in Turkey were flatly told "you are Turkish" by the new Attaturk Government and it was confirmed by Treaty between both nations to stop their war. Some Greeks still desire to regain what they see as their crown city of Constantinople but what on earth would they go with it even if they did gain it? It's 100% Turkish now! The Greeks were kicked out of the city eons ago. Hopefully the two nations will remain at peace.
It's as if Germans occupied Rome and claim it as theirs.
A story inside this story: The lion's statue that was plundered by the Venetians carries viking runes on his shoulders that were left by a raiding party in Athens centuries prior, detailing their deeds.
Edit: typos
It would have been nice to see a couple second video shot of the Nashville Parthenon.