The overlooked corners inside

• Acropolis of Athens Archaeological Site

  The Acropolis of Athens is not only a UNESCO World Heritage Site but also a natural fortress. The rocky hill rises 157 m above sea level, about 70 m above the city below. Its flat top is trapezoidal, 300 m long and up to 150 m wide, and is hard to reach from every side except the west, where a defensive entrance is crowned by the monumental Propylaea gateway. People have lived on the hill since the third millennium BC, and its commanding position made it the heart of early Athenian civilization.

  Sources: el.wikipedia.org

• East Pediment

  The east pediment of the Parthenon originally depicted the birth of Athena, with some 10 to 12 sculptures. Most were removed and lost during renovations in the 8th or 12th century. Today only the two corners survive, portraying the passage of a single day and bearing witness to the building's long history.

  Sources: en.wikipedia.org

• West Pediment

  The west pediment of the Parthenon shows the myth of the contest between Athena and Poseidon for patronage of Athens. The sculptures on either side capture the rival movements of Athena's supporters and Poseidon's followers, with the figure of Poseidon once the largest on the pediment. Notably, the back of every figure was fully carved even though it could never be seen on the temple — a mark of the sculptors' relentless pursuit of accurate anatomy.

  Sources: en.wikipedia.org

• Athena Parthenos

  The sanctuary (naos) of the Parthenon once housed the Athena Parthenos, a statue made by the hand of the ancient Greek sculptor Phidias. This colossal gold-and-ivory work no longer survives; we know it only through ancient copies, vase paintings, gems, literary descriptions, and coins. The statue was the heart of the temple and the very symbol of the goddess Athena in the city, a witness to centuries of its rise and fall.

  Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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