Parthenon

Definition: The Parthenon was built at the command of Pericles by the architects Ictinus and Callicrates on the highest point in the city of Athens (acropolis) to house a large gold and ivory (chryselephantine) statue of Athens' patron goddess Athena. This statue is said to have been covered with 44 talents of gold (perhaps $12 million) making it "an Athenian Fort Knox in the shape of a goddess" according to Pheidias, Sculptor to the Gods.