What role did Phidias play in the Parthenon’s construction and decoration?

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The Parthenon temple in Athens, Greece, is illuminated at night, showing its iconic Doric columns and partially ruined structure atop the Acropolis. — Parthenon Night view of the Parthenon, Athens.

Phidias served as the artistic director for the construction of the Parthenon. Appointed by the statesman Pericles to oversee all artistic undertakings in Athens, Phidias played a central role in the temple's aesthetic program.1

His contributions included:

Overall Supervision: He supervised and likely designed the building's comprehensive sculptural decoration.1
Religious Imagery: He created the temple's most significant religious image, the colossal gold-and-ivory statue of Athena Parthenos, which was completed in 438 BCE.1
Marble Sculptures: Phidias and his assistants were responsible for the marble sculptures that adorned the structure. While many of these works—often referred to as the Elgin Marbles—are now housed in the British Museum, specific pieces cannot be attributed to him with absolute certainty.1

Through these efforts, Phidias helped establish the idealistic, Classical style that defined Greek art during this period.1