Temple of Athena Nike

The Parthenon

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The contrasting themes and traditions in Classical and Baroque Sculpture

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A R C H I T E C T U R E

The classical Parthenon was constructed between 447-432 BCE to be the focus of the Acropolis building complex. The architects were Iktinos and Kallikrates, it was dedicated to the goddess Athena Pallas or Parthenos (virgin). The temple’s main function was to shelter the monumental statue of Athena that was made by Pheidias out of gold and ivory.

Temple of Athena Nike & The Parthenon

The temple was begun around 427 BC and completed during the unrest of the Peloponnesian war.The decision to build Athena Nike was an expression of Athens' ambitions to defeat Sparta and become a world power. Constructed from white marble, it was built in stages as wartime funding allowed.