Construction of the Parthenon, temple dedicated to the goddess Athena, started in 447 B.C. when the Athens’ Assembly publicly approved Pericle’s idea and marked the budget. Construction works, led by unsurpassable Phidias, were finished in 432 B.C. thanks to numerous citizens of Athens who directly participated in its construction. Later on, additional importance to the capital building was given by Alexander the Great (356-323), who brought this monument to the pedestal of, not only Athens, but all-Greek monument.
After its construction, the Parthenon resisted many destructive winds and it is quite incredible that it remained strong and stable until present times. First, serious damage to the Parthenon was caused by the fire that happened in the 11 century B.C. and caused significant damages to the interior of the temple. Second cloud that darkened the Parthenon’s light for the short time, came from the Roman czar Julian the Apostate (361-363), the only polytheist czar during Christian times who organized big works on the Parthenon in order to transfer it into polytheist shrine. However, Christianity changed the use of the Parthenon and, since that time, this monument was a Christian church for one thousand years. During Turkish occupation, when Acropolis became the Ottoman military base, Parthenon remained a place of worship but this time a Mosque. Such Parthenon adorned Acropolis until the end of the XVII century when it faced a tragic period in its history.
Namely, at the end of the XVII century, England became a big maritime power which obtained large colonial territories and rule at sea. This fact led to the establishment of diplomatic relations with Turkey and opening of the British embassy in Constantinople. In 1799, Thomas Bruce, or Lord Elgin, was appointed British ambassador to Turkey and his arrival to Constantinople marked the beginning of the most serious attack in the Parthenon’s history. This ambassador used his diplomatic status to obtain permission from Turkey which ruled Greek territory in that period, to start taking down marbles and sculptures from the Parthenon in order to use them to decorate his house in Scotland. This is the beginning of devastation of the antic monument under the eyes of many witnesses and travelers who watched with surprise what is happening and left their testimonies and notes on this tragic event. The Parthenon suffered damage that cannot be completely repaired mainly because of extremely forceful partition of the marbles and sculptures and inadequate transport to the port of Piraeus and then, by ship, to England. Later on, financial problems forced Lord Elgin to hand over these treasures to the British Government which placed them in the British Museum in London where they remained until this very day.