The temple of Athena Nike at the Acropolis of Athens

The Temple of Athena Nike was built between 426-421 BC on the tower of the southwestern edge of the Acropolis by the architect Kallikratis. It replaces older temples whose remains are preserved inside the tower. The temple is in Ionic style and has a relief frieze with different representations on each side. The eastern side depicts an assembly of gods around the enthroned Zeus, while the others depict scenes of battle between Greeks and Persians and Greeks and other Greeks. The south side depicts the victorious battle of the Greeks against the Persians at Marathon in 490 BC, in which the Athenians take the lead. Few parts of the pediments survive. It is assumed that the western one depicts the victory of the Olympian gods against the Giants (Gigantomachy) and the eastern one the victory of the Athenians against the Amazons (Amazonomachy). For the protection of visitors, a marble vault with reliefs is constructed around 410 BC, at the dangerous end of the tower where the temple is built: the goddess Athena is seated, resting after the victorious battles and watching the winged Victories leading bulls to sacrifice or holding weapons and adorning victorious trophies with Greek or Persian weaponry. Pictured: The Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis of Athens in 1878. ©Municipal Photography Museum of Kalamaria ‘Christos Kalemkeris’.