The story of an inspired building and an inspirational civilization.

The Parthenon is more than a magnificent building. Every marble statue, every graceful column, is an expression of a civilization whose three great values still speak to us today:

• Democracy. At a time of godlike rulers, ordinary citizens voted to build the Parthenon.
• Humanism. The Parthenon's art honored Athens' water carriers as well as its gods.
• Balance. The Parthenon's aesthetic brought lightness and grace to height and mass.

The...