In myth, Athena, goddess of wisdom, and Poseidon, god of the sea, competed to be the city's protector. According to the ancient geographer Pausanias, the sculptures of the Parthenon's west pediment depicted this contest; the area of the neighbouring Erechtheion is said to have held Athena's sacred olive tree, and the temple honoured both Athena and Poseidon.
A cultural travel guide to the worldMenu