The Parthenon

GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Parthenon is a temple for the Greek goddess Athena, the patron of Athens and goddess of war and wisdom, and is located on the Acropolis that overlooks the city of Athens, Greece. Today it is seen as a symbol for ancient Greece and is currently being restored and partially rebuilt.
The Parthenon has survived many historic events and undergone vast changes in the way it has been utilized. It originally replaced an older temple at the same location known as the Pre-Parthenon or Older Parthenon which was destroyed in 480 BC by a Persian invasion. The Parthenon was used as a treasury for the Athenian Empire, a Christian church in the 6th century AD, and a mosque in 1460. A large explosion caused by ammunition inside the Parthenon being ignited during a Venetian bombardment caused widespread damage to the building in 1687.

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
The architects for the Parthenon were Iktinos and Kallikrates and the entire project was under the supervision of the sculptor Phidias. The Parthenon was built architecturally as a temple and some consider it to be the most perfect Doric temple ever built.

SOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenon