The golden age of Athens began after the Persian Wars ended in 477 BC. To protect against future Persian invasions, several city-states formed the Delian League led by Athens. Over time, Athens began to use the League's funds for its own building projects and treated other members more like subjects in an empire. During this period Athens also saw a flourishing of art and literature under the patronage of Pericles, including the works of playwrights such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. However, Athens' oppression of its allies and increasing conflict with Sparta led to the Peloponnesian War, weakening Athens and ending its golden age.

1. The Golden Age of Athens

12. Aeschylus Sophocles Euripides

14. The great acropolis is built up during the golden age Here’s what it looks like today.

15. What it would have looked like then.

17. Placement of stuff on the acropolis.

18. We could spend a semester talking about everything on the acropolis, but let’s focus in on its most famous structure, the Parthenon.

23. 2 views of the floor plan The front Statue of Athena Treasury

25. It was Doric in style, which refers especially to the style of columns used.

26. Also had beautiful sculptures on the pediments and around the outside.

27. The frieze was one long continuous scene that ran around the entire temple.

33. Its main function was to house the grand statue of Athena Parthenos

39. Places on Parthenon columns and walls that were stuck by Venetian cannonballs.

44. 1920’s era recreation of Parthenon in Nashville, TN

45. For the philosophers, just look at your book. I’m loathe to give such general characterizations of Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle, especially without doing philosophy.