Temple of Athena Nike
By : Emma Brown and Sam Dossey
Who was worshipped there?
The goddess Athena was worshipped at the Temple of Athena Nike. She was the goddess of victory in war and wisdom and sat at the side of Zeus. But there is a smaller goddess in the hands of Athena called Nike who alone was winged but Athena Nike was always wingless.
Who worshipped the Temple of Athena Nike and why?
The city of Athens are the ones who worshipped the Temple of Athena Nike. The city of Athens was the center of Greek civilization for about 4,000 years. The citizens worshipped the temple in hope for a successful outcome in the Peloponnesian War. Which was fought on land and sea against the Spartans and their allies.
The Architect
Callicrates was an ancient Greek architect in the middle of the fifth century BC. He started to build the architect in 427 BC and finished it in 424 BC. Callicrates died in 420 BC. Then sadly in 480 BCE the temple and Acropolis was destroyed by the Persians, but then soon got rebuilt.
The Location
The temple of Athena Nike stands on remains of the Mycenaean fortification between the Cyclopean masonry. The Temple was meant to be built in Ionic order. It also is on a steep bastion southwest corner of Acropolis. In addition, the temple is also near the Mediterranean sea.