Temples and Sanctuaries
The Parthenon
The Parthenon is one of Athena's many great temples. The temple is built on the Acropolis. The Parthenon is 227 feet long, 101 wide and is 65 feet in height. It took ten years to complete the temple (438 BC).
The Parthenon today.
Reconstructed model of the Acropolis, Athens, with the Parthenon.
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto.
Reproduction of Ancient Athens, about 120 AD with the Parthenon.
The Parthenon was mostly built of white marble from Mount Pentelicon. What was first built were the columns that formed the outer colonnade. Each of the columns were made of eleven different pieces. The inside of the Parthenon is called the inner chamber or the cella, which is held together with stone blocks and metal clamps. A huge statue of Athena is inside the cella.
Today, the Parthenon is mostly destroyed and the inner building and the most sculptures have been destroyed. The Parthenon was built by the great sculptor Phidias. The design of this temple was similar to the others, but the size was superb.
The Parthenon was one of the most famous and beautiful temples in the world. The Parthenon survived over 2000 years, and at one point became a church and then a Turkish mosque. But when the Venetians besieged Athens in 1687, their city was bombarded. The gunpowder store in the Parthenon was hit by the gunfire and caused an explosion. The center of the temple was blown out.
Other Temples and Sanctuaries
| Temples | Sanctuaries |
| Temple of Athena Alea | Sanctuary of Athena Pronaia |
| Athena Alea | Megara |
| Acropolis of Athens | |
| Athena Polias | |
| Temple of Athena Nike | |
| The Temple of Aphaea |