Who Built the Acropolis

Many people often wonder who were the people who built the incredible monuments of the Acropolis. The answer is simple… Iktinos and Kallicrates who were architects along with Phidias, the famous Greek sculptor.

Iktinos

Iktinos was an architect active in the mid 5th century BC and proof has been found that Callicrates and him built the Parthenon together.

Kallikrates

Callicrates was an ancient Greek architect active in the middle of the fifth century BC. Apart from the Parthenon created with Iktinos he is also identified by an inscription as the architect of the Temple of Nike in the Sanctuary of Athena Nike on the Acropolis. Another inscription identifies Kallikrates as one of the architects of the Classical circuit wall of the Acropolis and Plutarch further states that he contracted to build the Middle of three amazing walls linking Athens and Piraeus.

Phidias

He is known as the greatest sculptor of antiquity. He was from Athens and he participated in the project of rebuilding Athens after its destruction by Xerxes. His major works apart from the sculptures of the Parthenon, were the bronze Athena Promachos of the Acropolis, the outline of which is preserved to us on coins and the two chryselephantine statues of Athena inside the Parthenon and that of Zeus at Olympia.

Phidias was placed in charge of artistic activities as the superintendent of public works. He was commissioned to build the major statues for the city, and was paid by Pericles with money from the Delian League. It is generally believed that Phidias directed and supervised the construction of the Parthenon, as well as designing the sculptural decoration, of which the surviving pieces can be found in the British museum (the Elgin Marbles). Some of his work has been carried out by his assistants or pupils after his death, such as Agoracritus.

It is not certain how he died since he became the target of Pericles' political enemies, due to his close connection with him and he was also accused of stealing gold but he proved he was innocent and then he was charged with impiety based on the fact that he had included portraits of Pericles and himself in the decorations of Athena's shield. It was formerly believed that Phidias died in prison shortly after this, however it is now more likely that he was exiled to Elis were he lived out the rest of his days.