The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a former temple in the Athenian Acropolis, Greece. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their patron (one who supports you).

The Athenians began building it in 447 BC when they were at the peak of their power. They built it to celebrate their victory over the Persian invaders and to give thanks to the gods for that victory.

Today the building is a symbol of Ancient Greece and of western democracy. Its decorative sculptures are some of the best examples we have today of art in Ancient Greece.

At the end of the 6th century AD, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

The Parthenon is a prime example of ‘classical architecture’, which had to primarily be ‘strong, useful and beautiful’. Classical buildings were symmetrical, and they were designed in accordance with certain rules. The columns had to be made to set mathematical proportions. The Ancient Greeks used three different types of column design and the after them the Romans came up with two more. Classical buildings were often colossal in size.