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Why was the Parthenon dedicated to Athena?

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Pericles Pericles, detail of a marble herm; in the Vatican Museum.

The Parthenon was dedicated to Athena because she was the patron goddess of Athens, a role she secured after winning a contest against Poseidon by gifting the city its first olive tree. As the city’s guardian, known as Athena Polias, she was central to the religious and civic life of the Athenian acropolis.123

The temple specifically honored Athena Parthenos ("Athena the Virgin") and served as a monument to the Athenian victory in the Greco-Persian Wars. Under the leadership of Pericles, the construction of the Parthenon in 447 BCE was part of a grand program to restore the city's preeminence and provide a magnificent home for the goddess, housing a monumental gold and ivory statue of her created by the sculptor Phidias.234