Included with Acropolis tickets
Timings
RECOMMENDED DURATION
3 hours
The Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens is a Doric-style ancient temple dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena Parthenos. Constructed between 447 BC and 432 BC, the Parthenon temple is more than 2,400 years old and an important landmark in Athens. Built using gorgeous white marble, it was the most lavish and biggest temple that the Greek mainland had ever seen. Over the years, it has withstood wars, invasions, fires, earthquakes, explosions, and a lot more. However, it continues to be a symbol of Athens’ power and culture. Read on to learn more about the Parthenon including its significance, when it was built, why it is famous, and more.
The architects Ictinus and Callicrates worked on the Parthenon temple with the supervision of Phidias. Phidias also worked on a few sculptures inside this Greek temple including the 12m sculpture of Athena Parthenos made from gold and ivory. The architects used both the Doric and Iconic architectural styles to build the Parthenon in Athens.
Before the Parthenon, an older structure named Older Parthenon stood at the top of Acropolis and acted as a place of worship and a treasury. However, it was destroyed after the invasion of Persians into Athens. In 447 BC, the Athenian statesman named Pericles commenced the construction of the Parthenon temple. The temple was completed and dedicated in 438 BC but the decorative work and sculpture installation continued till 432 BC.
Between 1208 and 1258, the Parthenon was converted into a Christian church after Christian Byzantines took over Greece and outlawed the worship of Greek gods.
In 1458 A.D., the Muslim Ottoman Empire seized the territory from the Christian Byzantine. They converted the church into a mosque and kept many paintings and artifacts from the church. When the Ottomans faced an attack in 1687 led by Francesco Morosini, they converted the mosque into an ammunitions depot and shelter. However, the Parthenon temple suffered heavy damage after being bombarded with cannonballs. After the attack, the Parthenon temple was in ruins.
Finally, in the 1820s, the Greeks fought for independence against Turkish rule. This resulted in the Turks removing hundreds of marble blocks from the temple and making bullets from the temple’s architectural elements. From 1801 to 1812, Thomas Bruce, Lord Elgin of Britain, removed several sculptures and marble friezes from the Parthenon and took them to England. Known as the Elgin Marbles or the Parthenon Marbles, he eventually gave them to the British Museum, where they have been displayed ever since.
In 1975, the Greek government decided to start the restoration project for the Acropolis and Parthenon. A committee named the Acropolis Restoration Project was formed. With the help of architect Manolis Korres, the committee documented and reviewed each relic and artifact from the ruins, and used computer technology to identify its original location and position. Some of the important and fragile sculptures were shifted to the Acropolis Museum.
In 2008, the construction of the new Acropolis Museum was completed to house all the archaeological findings from the Acropolis site. A large area of the museum is dedicated to the Parthenon, and the pieces taken by Lord Elgin are shown as plaster cast models.
Today, the Parthenon is one of the finest architectural buildings in Greece. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the temple has many carvings and sculptures that showcase the classical artistry of its architects and craftsmen.
Once Greece achieved its freedom, the government started the restoration work on the Acropolis and the Parthenon which continues to this date. Sculptures from the Parthenon are displayed at the Acropolis Museum in Athens. Outside of Greece, some can also be found in Italy and Great Britain. Plaster cast versions are also displayed at museums in Paris, Copenhagen, and other cities.
Even today, the Parthenon is a symbol of the ancient Greek empire’s advanced culture. It is currently one of the most recognizable sites in Greece and attracts visitors from all over the world.
The Parthenon is a 5th century BC marble temple located in the Acropolis of Athens. Dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena and built during the height of the Greek empire’s power, it is the most renowned among the monuments of the Acropolis.
You can visit the Parthenon as part of the Acropolis of Athens. Acropolis tickets start from €13 and can be purchased online.
No, your Acropolis tickets include access to Parthenon.
You can visit the Parthenon by purchasing Acropolis tickets online. Online booking is the most convenient way to buy tickets since you can plan your trip and make your reservation in advance for a day and time that best suits you. You can also avail of discounts and your entry to the attraction is guaranteed.
The Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens was built between 447 BC and 432 BC.
The architects Callicrates and Ictinus worked on the design for the Parthenon temple under the supervision of Phidias, a sculptor. It was constructed as part of a building program ordered by the Greek politician Pericles.
Built between 447 BC and 432 BC, the Parthenon is more than 2,450 years old.
The Acropolis is the name of the hill and the citadel in Athens where the Parthenon temple is situated.
The Parthenon at the Acropolis of Athens was the largest and most lavish temple the Greeks had ever seen or built. It was constructed during the 5th century BCE to mark the Greek victory over the Persians and as a dedication to the Greek goddess Athena, who was also the patron goddess of the city. It was a symbol of the power, culture, and wealth of the ancient Greek empire.
The Parthenon was built in the Classical architectural style.
The Parthenon once held statues and carvings depicting the story of Athens and its patron goddess Athena. While its marble columns still stand, archaeological findings from the temple can now be viewed at the Acropolis Museum.
The Parthenon, along with the other structures at the Acropolis of Athens, is one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world today. Sculptures and friezes from the Parthenon can be viewed at the Acropolis Museum.
