Included with Acropolis tickets
Timings
RECOMMENDED DURATION
3 hours
The Temple of Athena Nike, situated at the Acropolis of Athens, is a small yet significant structure dedicated to Athena Nike, the Greek goddess of victory. Built entirely of Pentelic marble, its elegant Ionic design showcases classical Greek architecture. Despite its modest size, it served as a symbol of Athens’ prowess and commemorated successful military campaigns. It remains an enduring emblem of ancient Greek civilization and a testament to the cultural and architectural achievements of the era. Read on to learn more about the Temple of Athena Nike including its significance, when it was built, why it is famous, and more.
The Temple of Athena Nike is the smallest structure among the monuments at the Acropolis of Athens. It was built to honor Athena Nike, the goddess of victory.
The temple stands on the remains of an earlier sixth-century temple that was also dedicated to Athena, the foundations and altars of which are preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the structure. The earlier temple had been demolished by the Persians in 480 BC.
The Temple of Athena Nike is a small Ionic amphiprostyle structure with four monolithic columns on either short side. Designed by the architect Kallikrates, its construction was finished around 420 BC.
The temple was an expression of Athens’ ambitions to defeat Sparta and become a world power. The frieze of the temple refers to the Athenian victory over the Persians.
In the 6th century BCE, after a cult of Athena Nike was established in Athens, a small temple was built using Mycenaean fortification and Cyclopean masonry. It was demolished by the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars.
The new temple was built in its place. The construction of the temple was completed around 420 BCE. In the 5th century CE, the temple was converted into a Christian church. It stood for almost 2,000 years and was demolished by the Turks in 1686. The Turks used the stones from the temple to build defenses against the Venetians. the temple was reconstructed in 1834, following the independence of Greece in 1821.
In the 1930s, the temple was dismantled as part of renovations. Archeologists believed that there were flaws in the earlier reconstruction and the temple was restored in 2010. The present temple construction is considered to be the closest to the original although some stones, reliefs, and sections of the parapet, and its frieze have been lost or are now in the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum.
You can visit the Temple of Athena Nike as part of the Acropolis of Athens. Acropolis tickets start from €13 and can be purchased online.
No, you don't need to purchase separate tickets to visit the Temple of Athena Nike. Access to the monument is included in your Acropolis tickets.
You can purchase your Acropolis tickets online to visit the Temple of Athena Nike. Booking tickets online is convenient since you can plan your trip and make reservations for a day and time that best suits you. Your entry to the attraction is guaranteed and you can also avail of great discounts.
The Temple of Athena Nike was built between 426 BC and 420 BC.
The architect of the Temple of Athena Nike was Kallikrates. The temple was constructed during the building program conducted by the Greek politician Pericles.
The Temple of Athena Nike is more than 2,400 years old, as it was built between 426 BC and 420 BCE.
Despite being a small structure, the Temple of Athena Nike was built to honour the goddess Athena, the patron goddess of Athens city, and to commemorate the Athenian victory during the Greco-Persian wars.
The Temple of Athena Nike is built in the Ionic style of Classical architecture
