would house the statue of Athena Parthenos, was started in 447 BC. The statue was
dedicated in 438 BC, and the last of the architectural sculpture on the outside of the
building was probably finished by 432 BC.
The Parthenon surely stands as the epitome of Greek temple architecture, but there
is a certain irony to that. There was never a cult associated with the temple. As far as
Figure 26.3 Bronze statuette of Athena Promachos dedicated by Meleso from the Acropolis
in Athens. ca. 480 BC. National Museum, Athens inv. 6447. DAI Neg. NM 4742
404 T.H. Carpenter