The Parthenon is the symbol of the city of Athens, all of Greece, and even western civilization! This monumental building is located in the heart of the Acropolis, an elevated ancient citadel of temples and government buildings. The Parthenon was built in the 5th century BC to commemorate victory over the Persian invaders. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos (Athena the Virgin), where it gets its name from, and used to house a monumental statue of the goddess made of gold and ivory, along with other treasures and sculptures