HOUSES OF PRAYER:

GREEK AESTHETICS AND THE ACROPOLIS

by Dr. Deborah Vess

The Temple of Athena Nike

To the right is the Temple of Athena Nike, which was built from 425-421 B.C.E. Click here for a closeup view of the temple, and here for another view. Callicrates designed the temple, whose frieze depicts the conference of the gods on the east side and several battles on other sides.

The Acropolis was considered a sacred place, which is indicated by a relief on the temple which shows Athena removing her sandals to enter the space. The temple is in the Ionic style. According to legend, it marks the spot where Theseus's father threw himself from the rock of the Acropolis when he saw his son's ship returning with a black sail. He had mistakenly assumed that his son was dead.

copyright © Dr. Deborah Vess 1998-2001, Georgia College & State University and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. All rights reserved. Rights to chapters authored by contributing faculty members reserved to Georgia College & State University, to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at GC&SU, and to the individual faculty authors.