The Temple of Athena Nike sits on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. It was built in the 5th century BC as an expression of Athens' ambition to defeat Sparta in war. The small, Ionic-style temple has a prominent location on the steep southwest corner of the Acropolis for the citizens to worship Athena Nike and hope for victory. Its friezes depicted Greek battles and the gods to reinforce Athens' religious and political beliefs. Though damaged over time, its main structure remains intact today.

3. this temple was the earliest Ionic temple on the Acropolis, compensated by its prominent position on a steep bastion at the south west corner of the Acropolis to the right of the entrance.

4. the Temple of Athena Nike was an expression of Athens' ambition to be the leading Greek city state in the Peloponnese.

5. the citizens worshipped the goddess in hope of a prosperous outcome in the long war fought on land and sea against the Spartans and their allies.

7. its elongated shape and small scale befit its position on a high narrow substructure.

8. although jewel-like in detail—including complex, double-faced angle capitals and the first known division of the Ionic architrave into three fasciae—the ratio of the height of the column to its base diameter is low.

9. the temple was constructed from white pentelic marble, it was built in stages as war-starved funding allowed.

11. the north frieze depicted a battle between Greeks entailing cavalry.

12. the south frieze showed the decisive victory over the Persians at the battle of Plataea.

13. the east frieze showed an assembly of the gods Athena, Zeus and Poseidon, rendering Athenian religious beliefs and reverence for the gods bound up in the social and political climate of 5th Century Athens.

14. some time after the temple was completed, around 410 B.C a parapet was added around it to prevent people from falling from the steep bastion.

15. after three separate restorations the small Temple of Athena Nike still stands on the Acropolis, together with the Erechtheum and the Parthenon, a survivor of antiquity.

17. temple of Athena Nike: front view temple of Athena Nike: rear view Nike – goddess of victory

19. the decision to build Athena Nike was an expression of Athens' ambitions to defeat Sparta and become a world power.

20. constructed from white marble, it was built in stages as wartime funding allowed.

21. the temple's small size was compensated for in its position, resting on a rocky outcrop, positioned so the Athenian people could worship the goddess of victory in hope of prosperous outcomes in the war's endeavors.

22. once the temple was completed the Athenians added a protective parapet to express their determination and hope for final victory.

23. the Temple of Athena Nike stood untouched until it was demolished in 1686 by the Turks, who used the stones to build defenses against the Venetians. It was later completely reassembled.

25. plan drawings Front elevation Side elevation

26. section detail