The temple is an Ionic structure with four columns and porticos at the front and back facades. It is 7 meters tall and has a width of 5.5 meters and a length of 8 meters. It is built of Pentelic marble. There are classical friezes around the building. The east frieze shows the gods Athena, Zeus, and Poseidon gathering. The west frieze depicts a battle with killed hoplites which likely is the battle between Corinthians and Athenians. The north frieze has a battle of the Greeks including cavalry. The south frieze depicts victory over the Persians. A parapet was built around the temple in 410 BC which had many carved relief sculptures of Nike.
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Destruction |
The destruction of the Temple of Athena Nike happened during the Ottoman Occupation in 1686. The Turks plundered the stones to build defenses. It was rebuilt in 1834 after Greece regained its independence, and so it stands today (barring a reconstruction in 2009 to replace the crumbling floors).
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