The Baha'i International Archives Building and Its Classical Style of Greek Architecture

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The Baha'i International Archives Building and Its Classical Style of Greek Architecture

The Baha'i International Archives Building, erected in 1957 on Mount Carmel in Haifa Israel, echoes the immortal classical style of Greek architecture. An admirer of Greek architecture, Shogi Effendi who was the Guardian of the Baha'i faith, chose this style to carry out the construction of the Archives building. This building replicates the general proportions of the famous Parthenon in Athens, Greece.

The Archives building is a museum which holds the original writings of the Bab, Baha 'u' llah and Abdu' l Baha , as well as some of their clothes and belongings. Baha 'u' llah is the prophet founder of the Baha'i faith and the Manifestation of God for this day. The Baha'i faith originated in Iran in 1863 and is now the second most widespread religion after Christianity. The Bab is the Forerunner of the Baha'i faith. Abdu' l Baha is Baha 'u' llah's eldest son and his designated successor.

The Archives building is surrounded by several of the Baha'i holy places. The most important of which are the Shrine of The Bab, and the Monument Gardens. The tombs of central figures in the Baha'i faith are found at the Monument Gardens. Mount Carmel is also th e location of the Baha'i world administrative institutions; The Seat of the Universal House of Justice, The International Library, Seat of The International Teaching Center, Center For The Study of The Sacred Texts, and many other present and future institutions of the Baha'i Administrative Order. In essence, the Baha'i Archives Building is a place of pilgrimage.

The Parthenon, Shogi Effendi's main influence for building the Archives Buildings, was built in Athens, Greece, in 490 B.C.E. by Perikles. The Parthenon stood distinct among it's surroundings. In fact, it's the largest building on the Acropolis. Its grandeur has symbolic reference to its purpose as the temple to the goddess Athena. The Parthenon was surrounded by several buildings which a lso had religious significance for instance, the temple dedicated to Athena Nike (goddess of victory and war) and the Erechtheion which was another temple dedicated to several deities.

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