Athens had reached the height of empire. While the Delian League
continued to exist (a defense league against the Persians) it no
longer had real reason. It was now evident that Athens was no
longer just a member but was actually master over the other
Greek states. Because the Parthenon was built with League money,
the building was as an expression of the confidence of the
Athenians in their now open imperialism. The temple was the
ultimate development of the Doric Order. Pericles began an
ambitious building project which lasted half a century. The most
important buildings visible on the Acropolis today were erected
during this time. The Parthenon was built between 447-432 BC as
the focus of this new Acropolis complex. It was dedicated to the
goddess Athena Pallas. The cella was larger than normal to
accommodate the oversized statue of Athena, and a colonnade of
23 small Doric columns surrounded the statue in a two storied
arrangement. All temples in Greece were seen only from the
outside. The viewers never e