What is Parthenon?
[[Image:Parthenon from west.jpg|thumb|The Parthenon east façade]] The '''Parthenon''' is a [[temple]] in the middle of the [[Acropolis]] in [[Athens]], [[Greece]] (Europe). It was a temple to honor the goddess [[Athena]] for nearly 900 years from the 5th century BC to the 5th century AD, and originally had a huge idol to her. It was a Christian church from the 5th century to the 15th when it became a [[mosque]]. The name ''Parthenon'' means ''the [[virgin]]'s place'' in Greek.<ref name=crt>{{cite web |url= http://www.credoreference.com/topic/parthenon |title=Parthenon - Credo Reference Topic |first= |last=|work=credoreference.com |year=2011 |accessdate=17 May 2011}}</ref> It was built between 447 BC and 432 BC during the reign of [[Pericles]].<ref name=crt/> It is considered one of [[ancient Greece]]'s greatest [[architecture]] accomplishments.<ref name=crt/> The building was constructed using [[limestone]] foundations and 22,000 tons of [[marble]]. The building was designed by the [[architect]]s [[Ictinus]] and [[Callicrates]].<ref name=crt/> It has 46 [[doric order|Doric]] [[column]]s which support the roof, with 8 across the front and back, and 17 on each side.<ref name=crt/> In 1687 a [[gunpowder]] explosion damaged the building. [[Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin]] took some of the sculptures, now called the [[Elgin Marbles]], from the Parthenon in 1759. They have been on display in the [[British Museum]] since 1816. ==References== {{reflist}} {{Ancient Greece: Arts and Culture}} {{Europe-stub}} {{authority control}} [[Category:Acropolis of Athens]] [[Category:Ancient Greek and Roman temples and shrines]]