Parthenon

The Parthenon is a temple on the Acropolis of Athens, dedicated to Athena, the city's patron goddess. Construction began in 447 BCE during Periclean Athens and was largely completed by 438 BCE, with some sculpture finished by 432 BCE. The architects were Iktinos and Kallicrates, and the sculptural program was directed by the statue-maker Phidias.

Architecturally, the Parthenon is a Doric temple on a raised platform with 8 columns at each end and 17 along the sides, totaling 34 columns. It features optical refinements such as a slight curvature of the stylobate and entasis in the columns. The exterior metopes and pediments frame a sculptural program, while the interior houses a monumental cult statue of Athena Parthenos.

The east pediment depicts the Birth of Athena from Zeus; the west pediment shows the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the patronage of Athens. The metopes portray battles such as the Lapiths and centaurs, Amazonomachies, and the Trojan War. The frieze around the cella records a Panathenaic procession, while the statue of Athena Parthenos was gilded and ivory.

In 1687, during a siege by the Ottoman and Venetian forces, an explosion damaged the temple, destroying large parts of the interior and some sculptures. In the 19th century, many sculptures were recovered and dispersed; some are in the British Museum as the Elgin Marbles. The Parthenon has undergone extensive restoration and is part of the Acropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with ongoing preservation work.

The Parthenon is regarded as a culminating monument of Classical Greek architecture and a symbol of ancient Greek civilization. Its architectural refinements and sculptural program influenced later Western architecture and the neoclassical movement, while the debates over the Elgin Marbles reflect broader issues surrounding cultural heritage.