Athena Parthenos
Monument Colossal statue representation of Athena in Athens
The colossal gold-and-ivory statue sculpted by Phidias once stood inside the Parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis; modern visitors explore the Parthenon’s ruins and the Acropolis Museum’s casts and reconstructions.
Athena Parthenos was the monumental chryselephantine (gold-and-ivory) statue of the goddess Athena created by the sculptor Phidias and installed in the Parthenon on the Acropolis of Athens in the mid 5th century BCE. It was one of the principal cult images of classical Athens.
The statue was richly decorated, stood around 11.5 metres tall according to ancient descriptions and contemporary scholarly reconstruction, and combined painted, gilded and ivory surfaces. It played a central role in the religious life of the Acropolis until it was lost in antiquity.
Made under the direction of Phidias during the Periclean building programme, the statue and its setting in the Parthenon symbolised Athens’ civic and religious identity in the classical period. No verified physical remains of the original statue survive.
The original statue stood within the Parthenon on the Acropolis in Athens; the site is in the Attica region and is managed as part of the Acropolis archaeological area and its museums.
- Size and materials: The original chryselephantine statue by the sculptor Phidias from the mid 5th century BCE is commonly estimated at about 11.5 metres in height and was made of gold and ivory.
What to See #
- Parthenon location: The Parthenon on the Acropolis, where the original statue stood in the cella of the temple.
How to Get to Athena Parthenos #
Within Athens: the Acropolis hill is close to the Acropolis metro station (Line 2). The Acropolis Museum and the Parthenon are walkable from the Plaka neighbourhood.
Tips for Visiting Athena Parthenos #
- This is a replica statue (Pheidias' original lost); check museums such as the National Archaeological Museum in Athens for related artifacts.
- If visiting the Acropolis Museum, note the connections between modern reconstructions and ancient descriptions of Athena Parthenos.
Best Time to Visit Athena Parthenos #
Spring and autumn are generally best for Athens monuments.
Weather & Climate near Athena Parthenos #
Athena Parthenos's climate is classified as Hot-Summer Mediterranean - Hot-Summer Mediterranean climate with hot summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 6°C to 33°C. Semi-arid with limited rainfall.
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (48 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 13°C and lows of 6°C. Moderate rainfall (49 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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March
March is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (52 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (32 mm).
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May
May is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 16°C. Light rainfall.
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June
June is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 20°C. Almost no rain and clear sunny skies.
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July
July is the hottest month, feeling like 28°C. The driest month with just 7 mm and clear sunny skies.
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August
August is warm, feeling like 28°C. The driest month with just 7 mm and clear sunny skies.
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September
September is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Light rainfall and mostly sunny skies.
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October
October is mild with highs of 23°C and lows of 15°C. Moderate rainfall (46 mm).
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November
November is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (61 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is cool with highs of 14°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with 65 mm of rain and partly cloudy skies.
