At the Acropolis of Athens, you can discover ancient sculptures and watch magnificent vistas of the city of Athens from atop a Hill.
You can also witness the world’s most prominent architectural complexes of the Greek region at the Acropolis.
A must-visit attraction within the Acropolis is the Temple of Athena Nike, commonly called the Temple of Nike, whose ruins are open for exploration through guided tours of the Acropolis.
About the Temple of Athena Nike
Athena Acropolis is a small shrine at the southeast edge of the Acropolis of Athens.
The Temple of Nike is one of the smallest and the earliest structures built on the Acropolis.
It is devoted to Nike, a form of Athena, regarded as the Greek mythology’s Goddess of victory.
Find the Athena Nike Temple on the Acropolis: Temple of Athena Nike Location.
History of the Temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis
The Temple of Athena Nike, built in the 5th century BC to celebrate the Athenian victory over the Persians, has a rich and storied history.
It was converted into a Christian church and a mosque and suffered significant damage, but it was restored in the 19th century to its original form.
Today, it stands as a symbol of ancient Greek architecture.
It attracts thousands of visitors to the Acropolis of Athens each year, reminding us of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.
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Facts about the Temple of Athena Nike
The temple is world-renowned for its stunning architecture and rich history. Let’s check out its facts:
- Temple of Athena Nike Architecture– The Temple of Athena Nike Architecture is a beautiful example of ionic form and is one of the most iconic structures on the Acropolis of Athens.
The Temple’s marble roof has a central peak, typical of Ionic architecture.
The pediments of the Temple feature sculptures of Nike, the goddess of victory, in various poses.
- Temple of Athena Nike columns- Athena Nike’s temple is peripteral, meaning a single row of columns surrounds it.
It is also amphiprostyle, meaning it has columns on both the front and back of the Temple.
There are four Temple of Athena Nike columns on the front and back and three on the sides.
The columns are made of marble and are fluted, meaning they have vertical grooves running down the length of the column.
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Temple of Athena Nike opening hours
The Temple of Nike has separate opening and closing times from the Acropolis.
The season determines the timings of Acropolis Temples.
So, visitors must plan what sites to visit first at the Acropolis.
The timings for the Temple of Athena Nike on te Acropolis are:
| Season | Timings |
|---|---|
| Summer | 8 am to 6 pm |
| Winter | 8 am to 5 pm |
Note:
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What to expect at the Temple of Athena Nike?
Many sculptures at the Acropolis Temple depict various battles and stories.
The southern wall of the Temple of Nike depicts the battle between the Greeks and Persians.
You may also find reliefs of Goddess Nike adjusting her sandals and many more!
The Acropolis Museum has parts of the frieze which visitors can admire in depth.
The iconic wooden Temple of Athena Nike statue is in the inner chamber.
In the statue, Athena Nike holds a helmet in her left hand and a pomegranate, the symbol of fertility, in her right hand.
Journey through the wonders of the Acropolis, including Temple of Athena Nike, the world-famous Parthenon, and the fascinating Acropolis of Athens Museum.
Contents
FAQ
What was the purpose of the Temple of Athena Nike?
The Parthenon and the Temple of Athena Nike are popular structures at the Acropolis.
The Temple of Nike is a temple built to house the statue of Athena Nike, a symbol of Victory.
It is widely speculated that the Temple of Athena Nike connects to the Greeks’ victory against the Persians around half a century before its construction.
Is Athena and Athena Nike the same?
Nike was the goddess of victory in Greek mythology.
It is said that Nike was worshiped as a facet of Athena due to Athena being the patron goddess of Athens.
Athena was worshiped in this form as the temple might have a connection to the triumph of the Greeks against the Persians.
A guided walking tour can teach you more about the Temple’s history and other fascinating stories.
What happened to the Temple of Athena Nike?
1687 during the Morean War, the Ottomans set up a munitions dump in the Parthenon.
One of the rounds landed on the Parthenon, causing an explosion that led to the collapse of the Cella.
There was also significant damage to the central walls and Phidias Frieze of the Temple of Athena Nike.
To address the structural damage and replace the crumbling concrete floor and frieze, the Temple underwent a reconstruction project in 1998.
As a result, the Temple often remains closed to visitors as ongoing work is carried out.
Is there a separate ticket for the Temple of Athena and Acropolis?
No! You don’t need to buy separate tickets for the Temple of Athena Nike or other archeological sites at Acropolis Athens.
The entry ticket to the Acropolis will let you explore this elegant Temple along with Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the Parthenon, and the Erechtheion at the Acropolis.
Who was the Temple of Athena Nike Constructed for?
Built around 420 BC, the Temple of Athena Nike is one of the earliest temples of the Acropolis.
The temple was built and dedicated to the goddess of Athena and Nike.
Athena is the patron goddess of Athens and Nike is the goddess of victory.
Why was the Temple of Athena Nike built?
Athena is the patron of Athens; hence, the Temple of Athena Nike was built to celebrate the Goddess of victory, Athena Nike.
Ancient Greeks often used her sculpture as a symbol or memorial for victories in battles and sporting events.
Acropolis Athena was reconstructed in 2010 on the ruins of earlier Temples of Athena Nike that the Persians had demolished.
The previous Temple of Nike remains preserved inside the bastion under the floor of the new structure of the Acropolis Temple.
Where is the Temple of Athena Nike located?
The Temple of Athena Nike is located on the Acropolis Hill.
The location of this temple is the same as the Acropolis of Athens, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Athina 105 58, Greece.
The Temple of Athena Nike is the smallest structure in the Acropolis and is located on the Southwest Corner, at the edge of a high cliff.
Who built the Temple of Athena Nike?
The Temple of Nike was completed in 420 B.C.
An inscription identifies Callicrates or Kallikrates as the architect of the Temple of Athena Nike.
Two of the most prominent architects of the ancient Greeks during the fifth century B.C. were Callicrates and Ictinus.
They were the architects of the Parthenon, too.
Visitors can learn more fascinating facts about Acropolis by opting for the Acropolis guided tour.
What is the Temple of Athena Nike made of?
The Temple of Athena Nike is constructed in Ionic order of beautiful white Pentelic marble.
The Pentelic marble is famous for its golden white color and is used in other structures of the Acropolis of Athens.
The Akroteria, an ornamental decoration mounted at the apex of a building in the classical style, is believed to be bronze, not marble.
However, there is no trace of the original sculpture for a conclusive verdict.
There is only evidence of gold foiling and wiring through the central bronze core.
Did the Nike of Athena Temple have a roof?
Yes, in its original form, the Temple of the Nike Athena used to have a roof.
It used to have an elaborate Pediment, a form of gable in a triangular shape above the horizontal roof.
There used to be an Akroteria too. An ornamental decoration mounted at the apex of a building in the classical style.
It was believed to be bronze, not marble. It also had gold foiling and gold wiring through the main bronze core.
How big is the Temple of Athena Nike?
In stark contrast to the Parthenon, the Temple of Nike is the smallest in the Acropolis of Athens.
The Temple of Athena Nike is 23 feet tall from the stylobate to the apex of its pediment.
The temple runs 8 meters (26 feet) long and 5.5 meters (18 feet) wide.
The temple’s ratio of column height to its length is 7:1 rather than the usual 9:1 found in typical Ionic temples.
Due to its small, elegant, and pristine outer facade, the temple is also called the Pearl of the Acropolis.
How many visitors does the Temple of Athena Nike have?
The Acropolis of Athens is visited by nearly 3 million people each year.
Thus, 3 million visitors explore the Temple of Athena Nike each year, along with other structures at the Acropolis, such as the Erechtheum and more.
However, due to its age and gradual damage, the Temple of Nike is often under work for reconstruction.
Thus, visitors can only witness this beautiful temple from the outside and not from the inside.
Visitors are highly recommended to get the Acropolis guided tour to understand the rich background behind all the structures and their significance.
What was the Temple of Athena Nike used for?
The Temple is believed to be home to the deity Athena and Nike.
It is said that ordinary people were not allowed to enter the temple.
Pick a guided Acropolis tour and learn more of such exciting trivia from your guide to get the most out of your visit.
How old is the Temple of Athena Nike?
The Temple of Athena Nike was built around the 5th Century B.C. by Callicrates.
Researchers agree that the Athena Nike’s temple was built in 420 B.C.
This makes the Temple of Nike more than 2400 years old.
It is the earliest fully ionic temple of the Acropolis.
During its 2400 years of history, it was completely dismantled in the 17th century by the Ottoman Turks.
The temple was again reconstructed in 1832 when Greece gained independence and subsequently after.
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