Athens is the European capital home to the Acropolis, whose Parthenon was built in the 5th century BCE.
The Acropolis of Athens is a fortified rocky hill containing monuments from several historical periods. Its most famous building, the Parthenon, was constructed between 447 and 432 BCE during the height of Athens's power under the statesman Pericles. Architects Ictinus and Callicrates worked on the temple, while the sculptor Phidias supervised its decoration.
The Parthenon was dedicated to Athena Parthenos, the city's patron goddess. It was originally a temple, later served as a Christian church and then a mosque, and suffered severe damage in 1687 when Venetian forces bombarded an Ottoman powder magazine stored inside it.
The Acropolis should not be confused with the modern Acropolis Museum, located nearby at the foot of the hill. The archaeological site became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.