Acropolis of Athens

Perched atop the crest of a rocky promontory, the Acropolis of Athens is a stunning spectacle of Greek Antiquity, and is counted among the most significant architectural complexes ever built. At the centerpiece of this ancient citadel is the abode of Goddess Athena – the remarkable Parthenon, which became the paragon of classical Greek architecture. Scattered across the rest of this legendary religious complex are several other monumental remnants of the world's first democracy, a sea of historic structures that were stupendously planned and constructed by statesman Pericles of Athens. The Propylaea forms an arresting gateway to the Acropolis of Athens, while the Temple of Erechtheion on the complex's north side pays ode to Poseidon and Athena. The Ionic Temple of Athena Nike rests on the southwest corner of the Acropolis and dates back to 420 BCE. A stoic symbol of victory, this temple stands as a treasured link to the ancient world.