History of the Parthenon and Acropolis

This excellent history of the Parthenon and Acropolis from the ancient world to the present is a useful starting place for students beginning their study of the ancient Hellenic world.

It could be used as an introduction to and body of teaching about that focuses on Pericles Athens

After showing students this work by Costas Gavras tewachers might like to ask some of these questions as a means of establishing students entry knowledge.

• How do you think Kostas Gavras came to know about the ancient past?
• What sources of information might he have had access to?
• If you asked Kostas Gavras why and where did the ancient Greek societies develop, what do you think he might say?
• What were the main features of ancient Greek society up to the time of the Parthenon’s construction?
• What has this ancient society given us, in other words, what have we learned from them?

This could be done as a class discussion, as group work activity involving Internet or library research, or as a homework exercise supported by Internet based research.

Students could also build a time line for the Parthenon while watching the video.

Students could use screen captures of the different periods in the history of the Parthenon to illustrate their time line.