In roughly the center of ancient Athens stood a 500 foot Dolomite outcropping known as the Athenian Acropolis (Greek meaning high city). During the 5th century B.C. an extensive building program, initiated by the statesman Pericles, created several public building on the rocks crowning the plateau. These structures, in the order they were constructed were: the temple of Athena Parthenos (the Parthenon), 447-432 BC; the Propylaea (gateway), 437-432 BC; the temple of Athena Nike, 427-424 BC; and the temple of Erechtheus (the Erechtheum), 421-405 BC.
Although commissioned by Pericles the structure is the work of primarily three men; Ictinus and Callicrates, the designers and architects and Phidias who was responsible for the sculptures. …
