Historical Survey (Greece, Athens)

On the Acropolis of Athens, a contemporary surveyor recorded the dimensions of the Temple of Athena Nike , an Ionic masterpiece from the 5th century BC. Built of Pentelic marble on a strategic bastion overlooking the city, this sanctuary was dedicated to Athena Victory , the protective figure of Athens during the wars against the Persians. Unlike Nike, the winged goddess of Greek mythology, the statue housed in this temple represented Nike without wings ( Apteros ), so that victory would never leave the city.

The temple, small in size but exceptional in its elegance, is distinguished by its slender Ionic columns , its sculpted friezes depicting battle scenes and its location on the edge of the void. Its restoration, begun in the 19th century, continues today using 3D modeling techniques, laser surveys and photogrammetry , like the device visible in this image. This contrast between high technology and ancient ruins illustrates the ongoing effort to preserve the architectural memory of classical Greece.