The Parthenon, or ‘The Temple to the Virgin’, was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the maiden Goddess considered to be the city patron. Built between 447 BC and 438 BC, this temple replaced the very first Parthenon (Parthenon I) of 570 BC. It was designed by architects Iktinos and Kallikrates, while the sculptor Pheidias supervised the entire building program and conceived the temple’s sculptural decoration and statue of Athena.
The Parthenon remained unchanged until the fifth century AD, when it was converted into a church. In 1460, under Turkish rule, it became a mosque, and in 1687, during the siege of the Acropolis by Morozini, it was bombarded and largely destroyed. Conservation and restoration of the Parthenon took place in 1896-1900 and again in 1922-1933. A vast conservation and restoration programme of the monuments of the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, is also currently under way since 1975 by the Service of Restoration of the Monuments of the Acropolis.
Opening Hours
Summer Period (April – October): 8am – 8pm
Winter Period (November – March): 8:30am – 3pm
Admission Fee
Full: €12, Reduced: €6