
As Greece celebrated their Independence Day yesterday, it is only fitting we talk about one of their most iconic temples “the Parthenon”. Located at the Acropolis (ákros = high point and pólis = city) which is situated 150m above the city of Athens. This flat-topped rock is home to many architectural wonders of ancient Greek architecture, with the most famous being the Parthenon. Dedicated to Athena the unmarried daughter of Zeus the Goddess of war, patron of Athens and one of two goddesses that were known for their purity (Parthenos = Virgin)
The temple was constructed, during the Golden age of Athens(460-430BC) , under the leadership of Pericles. The outer marble columns are 1.9 meters in diameter and are 10.4 meters high. The Parthenon had 46 outer columns and 23 inner columns in total, each column containing 20 flutes, and was erected primarily to house a 12-meter-high chryselephantine (gold and ivory) statue of Athena Parthenos sculpted by Pheidias.
Its ingenious design has made it resistant to earthquakes, but not bombs and even though the temple has stood for 2459 years, it suffered major damage in 1687, when the Venetians fought the Turks for the possession of Athens and a powder magazine exploded destroying the centre of the temple.
