Nike Apteros

The Temple of Athena Nike (“Victorious Athena”), also called Nike Apteros (“Wingless Victory”), is situated on the southwest corner of the Acropolis in Athens. It was built to honor Athena Nike, the goddess of victory, also known as “Wingless Victory”.

Constructions began in 427 BC, and the temple was completed in 424BC. It was built over the remains of an earlier small temple, which was destroyed by the Persians in 480 BC.

The Nike Apteros was designed by Callicrates who, with Ictinus, was the architect of the Parthenon. It is a small temple, made of pentelic marble, with Ionic columns. It was decorated with a frieze running around the temple, which was in high relief, and displayed gods, battle scenes and a number of Nike reliefs in various states of activity. A statue of Athena Nike stood inside.

The Nike Apteros was demolished in 1687 during Ottoman occupation, but was reconstructed in 1834. It was dismantled in 1998 so that the concrete floor and the iron beams, a result of previous reconstructions, could be replaced. Also, the frieze was removed and placed in the Acropolis Museum, in order to be protected from the environmental elements.

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