The Athens of the North

THE ATHENS OF THE NORTH

THE NATIONAL MONUMENT
Edinburgh, Scotland
Built: 1822-29
Architect: C.R. Cockerel and William H. Playfair

The National Monument commemorates the Scottish soldiers who died during the Napoleonic Wars of 1803-1815.

By the late 18th century Edinburgh was enjoying a remarkable reputation as a city of intellectual brilliance and beautiful architecture.  Many new public buildings were built at great expense in the Greek neo-classical style. The National Monument, based on the Parthenon in Athens, Greece, kept up the tradition, but when fund ran out in 1829 work ground to a halt and the monument was never completed.

The buildings in Calton Hill were instrumental in gaining the city the title of “The Athens of the North”.

(just for comparison:  Parthenon, the Acropolis, Athens, Greece)

 

(all photos from Calton Hill)