Callicrates

This article is about the ancient Greek architect. For other uses, see Callicrates (disambiguation).

Callicrates or Kallikrates (/kəˈlɪkrəˌtiːz/; Greek: Καλλικράτης [Kaliˈkratis]) was an ancient Greek architect active in the middle of the fifth century BC. He and Ictinus were architects of the Parthenon (Plutarch, Pericles, 13).^[1] An inscription identifies him as the architect of "the Temple of Nike" on the Acropolis of Athens (IG I³ 35). The temple in question is either the amphiprostyle Temple of Athena Nike now visible on the site^[2] or a small-scale predecessor (naiskos) whose remains were found in the later temple's foundations.^[3]

An inscription identifies Callicrates as one of the architects of the Classical circuit wall of the Acropolis (IG I³ 45), and Plutarch further states (loc. cit.) that he was contracted to build the middle of three defensive walls linking Athens and Piraeus.

A crater on the planet Mercury was named in his honor.^[4]