I C O N S
The story behind the most
famous landmarks around
the network
PHOTO
ALAMY
The Parthenon
THE FACTS
LOCATION
THE ACROPOLIS,
ATHENS
AGE
2,451
YEARS
HEIGHT ABOVE
SEA LEVEL
150
M
ADULT COST OF
VISIT
€12
ANNUAL VISITORS
3
MILLION
Acropolis
columns
year the roof blew off
year of restoration
metres high
1687
1975
14
46
IN NUMBERS
metres long
years to build
70
MYTH BUSTING
Contrary to popular belief, the
Acropolis and the Parthenon aren't the
same thing. The Parthenon is a temple
located
within
the ancient citadel of the
Acropolis. So now you know!
MULTITASKING GODDESS
The Parthenon was dedicated to
Athena, but which of these things was
she also goddess of?
WISDOM
COURAGE
INSPIRATION
CIVILIZATION
JUSTICE
WARFARE
MATHEMATICS
STRENGTH
STRATEGY
NEEDLEWORK
ARTS AND CRAFTS
SKILL
REASON
INTELLIGENCE
LITERATURE
AGRICULTURE
NAVIGATION
SPINNING
WEAVING
Parthenon
ANSWER: ALL OF THEM
15
A MANY-SIDED TEMPLE
How much do you know about its history?
ARSENAL
In the 17th century,
the invading Ottomans
used it to house
gunpowder.
Unsurprisingly,
this led to some
explosions
OPTICAL ILLUSION
To compensate for
perspective, the Greeks
curved its columns to make
them look straight from
a distance
ARCHITECTURAL
INSPIRATION
It's the most copied building
in the world, with full-size
replicas as far afield as
Nashville, USA, and Sodo
Shima, Japan
FILM SET
Illegal until 2006, film-making at the
Parthenon has taken off, thanks to the
Greek government's need to make a
few bob. The first filmwas
My Life in
Ruins,
directed by Tom Hanks
PLACE OF
WORSHIP
Not just a temple, the
structure has been a
church and a mosque
2 0 2
