The Parthenon
One of the Most Famous Buildings in History
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About The Parthenon
Constructed between 447 and 432 BC during the golden age of the Athenian Empire, the Parthenon, atop the Acropolis in Athens, Greece,was built under the leadership of Pericles.
Designed by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates and adorned with sculptures under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias, the Parthenon was built to house a colossal statue of Athena made of gold and ivory. Categorized as a "Doric peripteral temple" it is considered the pinnacle of classical Greek architecture emphazising harmony and proportion.
The Parthenon has an unusual history, used as a religious center from the beginning, becaming a Christian church in the 5th century AD, and then an Islamic mosque after the Ottoman conquest of Greece.
During a siege by the Venetians, the Parthenon suffered massive damage when munitions stored inside exploded in 1867. Later, Lord Elgin of Britain removed pieces that are now displayed in the British Museum (these pieces are often called the "Elgin Marbles" or more recently, "the Parthenon Marbles").
The Acropolis
The Acropolis and the Parthenon pediments
The Acropolis Museum
Related: The Parthenon misnamed for centuries? www.hekatompedon.com
MEDIA REPORTS
"Collapse" of Parthenon Marbles talk between UK and Greece
September 24, 2026: Story at UK LBC [English]
Mitsotakis to UK about Parthenon Marbles "let's seize this moment"
September 24, 2026: Story at Eleftherostypos [Greek]
The Parthenon's amazing new facelift
June 20, 2026: Part of an effort ongoing since 1975. Story at Washington Post [English]
Parthenon's "new look - unseen for 200 years"
June 20,Story at MSN New York Post [English]
"A Partial Glow-Up" for the Parthenon
June 20, 2026: Story at New York Times [English]
The western facade of the Parthenon, built in the 5th century B.C., is now in "its most complete form possible for the first time in about 220 years," the Greek Ministry of Culture announced on Thursday, after restorers added marble slabs to fill gaps in the temple’s western pediment..."
Parthenon facade revealed again after 220 years
June 19, 2026: Story at MSN Euronews [English]
More about The ParthenonThe pediment, which generations of Greek citizens and visitors from all over the world had grown used to seeing incomplete, is regaining its architectural unity."
Parthenon Marbles: proposed cultural partnership so the sculptures are displayed in Athens
March 1, 2026: Story at GreekCity Times [English]
The "Nashville Parthenon" in Tennessee, United States
A massive reproduction of the Parthenon is in Nashville, Tennessee.
Greece's Golden Visa program
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