The Parthenon was built around 440 B.C. a. To which goddess was the temple dedicated? B. On which hill is it located?

This magnificent temple was a dedication to the city's patron deity, Athena Parthenos. The name "Parthenon" itself translates to "house of the virgin," a direct reference to one of Athena's epithets, "Parthenos" or virgin. As the protector of Athens, it was fitting that the city's most impressive temple be built in her honor. Inside, it housed a colossal statue of the goddess, crafted from gold and ivory by the famed sculptor Pheidias, further cementing its purpose as the dwelling place for the city's divine guardian. The temple also served a practical purpose as the city treasury.

The temple's prominent position is on a high, rocky outcrop known as the Acropolis. The word "acropolis" literally means "highest point of the city" in Greek, and this elevated, naturally fortified location served as the defensive, religious, and cultural heart of ancient Athens. Placing the Parthenon here not only made it a visible symbol of Athenian power and devotion from anywhere in the city, but it also situated it within the most sacred and important precinct.

Construction of the iconic structure seen today began in 447 BC under the leadership of the statesman Pericles. It was part of a grand rebuilding project after an earlier temple on the same site had been destroyed by invading Persian forces in 480 BC. The completion of the new Parthenon, with its innovative architectural refinements and lavish sculptural decorations, was meant to be a lasting testament to the glory of Athens, celebrating the victory over the Persians and the city's cultural and democratic achievements.