The Acropolis was always a sacred place for ancient Athenians going back to Mycenaean times. They worshiped their gods in temples there, conducted their festivals, and they fortified themselves on it whenever the enemies managed to reach the city of Athens. The temples of the Acropolis of Athens were destroyed or burned several times in ancient times, and the monuments as we see them today were the result of a terrific public project the Athenians undertook during "The Golden Age of Perikles" circa 450 BC. The whole project was supervised by the famous sculptor and Perikles' personal friend, Phedias.