Which of these facts are true?
The Parthenon was first a Greek temple, then a church, and then a mosque
It honored the goddess Athena, who popped full grown from her father’s head
A famous writer described this beautiful building as a poem in stone
Athens, Greece, is best known for the Parthenon, the ruins of an ancient temple completed in 438 BC to honor the goddess Athena. But what many people don’t know is that it only served as a temple for a couple hundred years. It then became a church, then a mosque, and by the end of the 1600s served as a storehouse for munitions. When an enemy army fired hundreds of cannon balls at the Acropolis, one directly hit the Parthenon. Much of the sculpture was destroyed, three hundred people died, and the site fell into ruin. Today, visitors continue to flock to this world famous landmark, which has become a symbol for Ancient Greece, democracy, and modern civilization. Includes black-and-white illustrations and a foldout color map!
Author
Roberta Edwards
Roberta Edwards has written several books for young readers, including a number in the “Who Was?” series. She lives in New York, New York.
Learn More about Roberta EdwardsAuthor
Who HQ
Who HQ is your headquarters for history. The Who HQ team is always working to provide simple and clear answers to some of our biggest questions. From Who Was George Washington? to Who Is Michelle Obama?, and What Was the Battle of Gettysburg? to Where Is the Great Barrier Reef?, we strive to give you all the facts. Visit us at WhoHQ.com
Learn More about Who HQ