Perched at the top of the Acropolis, the Parthenon dominates the view of all the Greek temples in the immediate area. Nowadays the Parthenon appears whitewashed. The marble has been bleached and stripped of all color by centuries of weathering and neglect. Despite crumbling columns, the temple devoted to Athena remains impressive in scale and artistic refinements. The Parthenon is rectangular with eight large columns on the short sides and seventeen on the long edges. The columns, constructed in the Doric order, taper towards the top creating an illusion of added height. The Doric columns are fluted and end in simple echinos without the more luxurious elaborations of the Ionic and Corinthian orders. Now in a state of disrepair, the east and west pediments used to depict dramatic scenes related to the glory of Athena and therefore the glory of Athens itself. The West pediment depicted a battle between the great sea god Poseidon and Athena fighting for the fate of Athens, fighting to determine who might gain its patronage. The East pediment depicts the birth of Athena. The triangular pediment features multiple diagonal lines and planes that create visual tension and direct the eye to the apex where Athena might have been. Mastery in Greek sculpture is exhibited in the curvature and naturalism of the female figures. Their gowns feature detailed pleats and folds that gently drape over their hips and breasts. The naturalism of the figures juxtaposed with the tense diagonal angles exemplifies Classical Greek art. Finally, the east pediment depicts the natural cycle of the sun and moon through ascending and descending horses. Apollo rises off to the left side of the pediments and the horse of Selene representing the moon descends off to the right.
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