Blog Post 3: Xianyang and the Acropolis

     I believe that, while there are similarities between the Xianyang Palace and the Acropolis, they are more different than they are alike.  This conclusion is evident when looking at three different aspects:  the building's purpose, how the building was seen by the common people, and the building itself.

     The Xianyang palace was built as that--a palace.  It was meant to be a representation of the emperor's power and influence; this is reflected in the fact that the palace's rooms was filled with wealth.  It is also apparent in the so-called "Terracotta Army" that stands below the palace.  This army faces south, where the emperor's enemies would have been located when the palace was built.  These two facts--the wealth-filled rooms and the "army"--indicate that the palace was meant to intimidate.  The Acropolis, however, was not intimidating but inviting.  It was a place of worship, built not for any emperor but for the Greek gods themselves.  The Acropolis was a welcoming place, meant more for the Athenians themselves than for any outsider.

     In the same way, the Acropolis was revered by its own people, but in its approachability.  Every four years a massive procession involving all Athenians made its way to the Acropolis, where there was a great festival to the gods.  Despite its size, the Athenians did not fear the Acropolis.  On the other hand, the Xianyang palace was only used by the emperor and his staff--common people had no reason to ever enter it.  Its reverence stemmed from its "untouchability," its distance from the everyday man.

     Finally, the buildings themselves are two completely different structures.  The Acropolis is very open dotted with buildings, each of which was constructed by a different person at a different time for a different purpose.  The Xianyang palace is not like this at all--it is one large building, built at one time and overseen by one person, for the purpose of serving the emperor's needs.  Thus, it is obvious to even the most casual observer that, while both structures are impressive, they are polar opposites of one another.