Which Ionic features were included in the mostly Doric Parthenon?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

The Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece, is illuminated at night, showing its iconic Doric columns and partially ruined structure atop the Acropolis. — Parthenon Night view of the Parthenon, Athens.

Although the Parthenon is primarily recognized as the culmination of the Doric order, it incorporates Ionic features that distinguish it from traditional Doric temples.12

The most notable Ionic element included in the Parthenon is its interior frieze. While a standard Doric frieze is typically composed of alternating triglyphs and metopes, the Parthenon features a continuous, sculpted frieze—a characteristic more commonly associated with the Ionic order—that depicts the Panathenaic Festival procession.123