What is the name of the rear room in the Parthenon's cella?
Answer
Opisthodomos
51 The Parthenon Trivia Questions with Answers
51 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
This collection of 52 Parthenon trivia questions examines one of classical Greece's most influential monuments. It covers the temple's architecture, sculptural program, construction materials, religious purpose, and later history, from the design of its cella to the fate of its pedimental figures.
Expect questions about Pentelic marble, the Athena Parthenos statue, the west pediment's contest between Athena and Poseidon, and the mythological battle shown on the south metopes. The set works well for art-history classes, ancient-world lessons, museum-focused quizzes, pub quizzes, and game nights for players who enjoy detailed questions about architecture and mythology.
What mythological battle is depicted on the south metopes of the Parthenon?
Answer
Centauromachy
To whom was the Parthenon dedicated after its conversion to a Christian church?
Answer
the Virgin Mary
Which war is depicted on the north metopes of the Parthenon?
Answer
Trojan War
What is the length of the Parthenon's frieze in meters?
Answer
160 meters
During which war did the Venetian bombardment of the Parthenon occur?
Answer
Morean War
Who removed the Parthenon marbles to Britain in the early 19th century?
Answer
Lord Elgin
Which ancient festival's procession is shown on the Parthenon's frieze?
Answer
Panathenaea
What event is depicted on the east pediment of the Parthenon?
Answer
Birth of Athena
Who were the architects of the Parthenon?
Answer
Ictinus and Callicrates
In which ancient city is the Parthenon located?
Answer
Athens
What was the Parthenon used as after the Ottoman conquest?
Answer
A mosque
How many steps lead up to the Parthenon's stylobate?
Answer
Three
What precious materials composed the Athena Parthenos statue?
Answer
Gold and ivory
What was the name of the colossal statue inside the Parthenon?
Answer
Athena Parthenos
In what year was the Parthenon completed?
Answer
438 BC
What is the height of the Parthenon's columns in meters?
Answer
10.4 meters
What is the diameter of the Parthenon's columns at their base in meters?
Answer
1.9 meters
What is the width of the Parthenon's stylobate in meters?
Answer
30.9 meters
Which Venetian general ordered the bombardment of the Parthenon?
Answer
Francesco Morosini
What is the name of the sculpted band that runs around the Parthenon's cella?
Answer
Parthenon frieze
What structure did the Parthenon serve as in the 5th century AD?
Answer
Christian church
How many metopes decorate the Parthenon?
Answer
92
In which country is the Parthenon located?
Answer
Greece
What is the name of the collection of Parthenon sculptures in the British Museum?
Answer
Elgin Marbles
What type of marble was used for the Parthenon?
Answer
Pentelic marble
In what year did construction of the Parthenon begin?
Answer
447 BC
On which hill in Athens is the Parthenon located?
Answer
Acropolis
The Parthenon trivia — quick answers
What are good Parthenon trivia questions?
Strong Parthenon trivia questions ask about its architecturally unusual features, sculptures, materials, mythology, and history. Useful examples include identifying the rear room of the cella, naming the deity who challenged Athena for Athens, and recognizing the battle depicted on the south metopes.
How hard is Parthenon trivia?
Parthenon trivia ranges from moderate to advanced. General questions may focus on Athena, Athens, or the temple's location, while harder prompts test knowledge of the naos, stylobate curvature, Pentelic marble, pedimental sculpture, and the building's precise architectural layout.
Which god competed with Athena for the patronage of Athens?
Poseidon competed with Athena for the patronage of Athens. In the myth represented on the Parthenon's west pediment, the two deities offered gifts to the city. Athena's olive tree was judged more beneficial than Poseidon's saltwater spring, so Athens took Athena's name.
What mythological battle appears on the Parthenon's south metopes?
The south metopes depict the Centauromachy, the mythical battle between the Lapiths and the centaurs. The conflict began when centaurs attacked guests during a Lapith wedding. Greek artists used the struggle to symbolize the triumph of civilized order over uncontrolled violence.
What was the Athena Parthenos?
The Athena Parthenos was a monumental chryselephantine statue of Athena created by the sculptor Phidias for the Parthenon's interior. Made with gold and ivory over a supporting structure, it portrayed the goddess armed and richly adorned. The original statue no longer survives.