Parthenon

The Parthenon is an ancient Greek temple built to honor Athena, Athens’ patron goddess. The structure stands atop the acropolis, which is a hill overlooking Athens. The Parthenon is believed to have been erected in the 5^th century. It was designed by the Greek architects Ictinus and Callicrates.

Originally designed as a temple of worship, it was captured by Turkish forces in the mid 1400’s. They used it to store gunpowder, and when the Venetians attacked, the gunpowder exploded , destroying part of the building’s structure. After this, most of the building’s pieces were moved to the Acropolis Museum. Now, there are only ruins of the Parthenon still standing.

The Parthenon itself is 237 feet long, 110 feet wide, and 60 feet high. It is constructed of Pentelic marble. Inside, there was once a gold statue of Athena. Along the top of the building are scenes depicting legendary battles. Although just a ruin now, it is a relic of the beautiful Greek architecture.

Andrew