One of the most pressing aims of the Athenians was to replace the temples destroyed on the Acropolis. They also wanted a visible sign of the power and importance of Athens. Under Pericles' leadership they decided in 448 BC to build the Parthenon.
Once the decision was taken, the architects chosen were Iktinos and Kallikrates. A sculptor friend of Pericles called Phidias was chosen to make the huge chryselephantine of Athena which would be situated inside the temple. Phidias was also given overall charge of the whole project.