Populated by several ethnic groups, ancient Greece consisted of numerous independent city-states. Neighboring states occasionally formed alliances, such as a unified defense force under Spartan leadership, formed during a Persian invasion of Greece in 480 BC. The states also fought with one another, most notably in the Peloponnesian War, waged from 431 BC to 404 BC between Sparta and Athens. This map shows the major ethnic divisions within Greece and highlights the main cities in each region. © Microsoft Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

The Acropolis & the Parthenon Parthenon, c B.C. built under the general supervision of Pheidias during the reign of Perikles

–Model of the Acropolis –Illustration by C. Bruce Morser –National Geographic, December 1999

Parthenon – departures from strict proportionality, probably for the sake of perceptual compensation

Crane, Gregory R. (ed.) The Perseus Project, March, 1997.

 The bombard- ment of the Acropolis in 1687 by the Venetian fleet

The Elgin marbles Lord Elgin (Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin) became ambassador to Constantinople in Greece was then part of the Ottoman Empire (since 1453). Elgin received permission -- some say through bribes & deceit -- to remove “pieces of stone with inscriptions or figures.”

The Elgin marbles The sculptures were removed and taken to England between 1801 and The onging debate about the return of the sculptures to Greece.

The Elgin marbles Dull is the eye that will not weep to see Thy walls defaced, thy mouldering shrines removed By British hands, which it had best behoved To guard those relics ne'er to be restored. Curst be the hour when from their isle they roved, And once again thy hapless bosom gored, And snatch'd thy shrinking gods to northern climes abhorred! –Lord Byron, "Childe Harold"

The Elgin marbles The British Museum, London

Panthenaic procession from the Pantheon completed 432 B.C. British Museum, London