The Parthenon

The Parthenon is a beautiful temple in Athens, Greece. It was built almost 2,500 years ago by the ancient Greeks. The temple was made to honor the goddess Athena. It sits high on a hill called the Acropolis. The Parthenon is one of the most famous buildings in all of history.

A Temple for Athena

Athens was named after the goddess Athena. She was the goddess of wisdom and the city's protector. The Greeks built the Parthenon as her special home. Inside, there was a huge statue of Athena made of gold and ivory. It was meant to show how much the people loved her.

Made of Marble

The Parthenon was built with shiny white marble. It has 46 tall columns around the outside. The building took about 15 years to finish. Workers carved beautiful statues and pictures into the stone. Even today, people are amazed at how perfect the Parthenon looks.

Fun Facts

• The Parthenon is about 2,500 years old.
• It has been used as a temple, a church, and even a mosque over the years.
• The Parthenon is on a hill called the Acropolis, which means 'high city'.

Did You Know?

Many famous buildings around the world, like courthouses and museums, were designed to look like the Parthenon.