Hecatompedon

temple, Athens, Greece

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June 29, 2026

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The Hecatompedon was an ancient temple dedicated to Athena, located on the Acropolis of Athens, Greece. Erected around 580 BCE, it occupied the site later taken by the Parthenon. This temple was characterized by its large-scale sculptures decorating its pediments, which depicted scenes such as lions attacking bulls and mythical monsters.12

The Hecatompedon was disassembled by the Athenians to celebrate their victory at the Battle of Marathon and to construct a new monument for Athena Parthenos. However, during the Persian invasion in 480 BCE, the Persians destroyed the unfinished temple. Sculptures from the Hecatompedon are now displayed in the New Acropolis Museum.21

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…to Athena known as the Hecatompedon (Hundred-Footer) was erected on the site later to be occupied by the Parthenon. The pediments (triangular spaces forming the gable) of this temple were decorated with large-scale sculpture in gaily coloured porous limestone, representing groups of lions bringing down bulls and depicting snaky-tailed monsters…
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…to Athena known as the Hecatompedon (Hundred-Footer) was erected on the site later to be occupied by the Parthenon. The pediments (triangular spaces forming the gable) of this temple were decorated with large-scale sculpture in gaily coloured porous limestone, representing groups of lions bringing down bulls and depicting snaky-tailed monsters…
Read More