The gods of the Greeks are no more. They have no single worshiper left on all the face of the earth today to pay them homage, yet their deeds are told in song and story, and their memory is green in the hearts of those who love the beautiful. Conclusion And now, we come to the close of the story of the Parthenon. The period of Pericles marked one of the high points in the history of the world. A comparison of its characteristics serves to emphasize its superiority over other epochs in many ways. The Parthenon at Athens was not merely a wonderful building, but was an expression of Greek mind and heart. It did not spring up in a day as did Athena from the head of Zeus but found its roots in the prehistoric altars of their goddess. It was not built to please individuals but to honor their gods. It is no wonder, then, that when the Parthenon came into full flower in the “Age of Pericles” it should have reached that state which the judgment of succeeding generations has pronounced perfection. The Parthenon at Nashville stands alone as a portrayal of the Parthenon of Pericles. It would be too much of a challenge to the antiquity of the Parthenon to say that every statement made about it in these pages bears the stamp of absolute authenticity. It can be said, however, that because of the many facts obtained from the research and the records of earlier days and because of the eleven years of research and study in our own times, the Parthenon at Nashville will stand as the last word. It is difficult to estimate the influence of the Parthenon at Nashville on the world of today. To those who love the beautiful, either by instinct or cultivation, the Parthenon is a thing to be revered; to others it is just another building. To understand and appreciate the Parthenon it must be studied. We may glance at some buildings and pass on, but not so with the Parthenon. It is compelling. A revelation of its balanced lines and its harmony of proportions, its simplicity both delicate and strong, its subtleties, some bordering on the mystical, marks the Parthenon as a thing by itself. [Illustration: The Naos or East Room as Seen Through the Eastern Doors] The Parthenon is used only for educational and cultural purposes. Over four hundred college, high school, and primary school groups visit the Parthenon each year. This, then, may be said of the Parthenon: As in the earlier days, even so now, young and old, rich and poor, alike are made happy by its sheer beauty and inspired by its history to reach for a higher and better life. Transcriber’s Notes —Retained publication information from the printed edition: this eBook is public-domain in the country of publication. —Corrected a few palpable typos. —In the text versions only, text in italics is delimited by _underscores_.