The truth is that although for us it is a symbol of democratic government, for most of its history it had a lot more to do with tyrants, dictators, and monarchs than with anything to do with democracy.
The internationally renowned British classicist Mary Beard covers over two millennia of history surrounding the Parthenon, a former temple of the Greek goddess Athena and an enduring symbol of democracy. Built by the city of Athens in the fifth century BCE, the Parthenon remains a remarkable accomplishment of Western architecture.
Beard holds forth entrancingly view on the famed ancient monument. Greeks consider the Parthenon a national symbol, but Beard investigates the building’s earlier roles, from temple to brothel, church to mosque. She discusses the Parthenon’s transformation and blending of cultures, as well as its lasting relevance.