#ArtnetNews: The Parthenon was once illuminated by dazzling tricks of light, new study finds. In its bid to claim the mantle as the Athens of the South, the city of Nashville constructed a life-size replica of the Parthenon for Tennessee’s centennial celebrations in 1897. Its architects followed the designs of the 5th century B.C.E. temple as best they could, but upon completion, faced a problem: the interior was really rather dark. The gloominess confounded period historians who, following centuries of scholarship as well as the accounts of ancient travelers to Greek temples, believed the Parthenon had been a highly illuminated, bright marble space that glorified the 40-foot statue of Athena at its center. Read more: https://bit.ly/4jXM1ro Article by Richard Whiddington ______ Pictured: 3D model of the Athena statue in the Parthenon. Photo: courtesy Juan de Lara. Aerial view showing the pool of water in the Parthenon. Photo: courtesy Juan de Lara. Solar alignment of the statue in the interior of the Parthenon. Photo: courtesy Juan de Lara. (fb)

#ArtnetNews: 10 practical reasons why we need to fund and defend the National Endowment for the arts. The most common arguments against the NEA, and answers to them. Read more: https://bit.ly/4dgvXyt Article by Ben Davis ________ Pictured: Protestors hold signs in protest of proposed cuts to culture funding by the Trump administration. Photo Henri Neuendorf. (fb)