The temple was dedicated to Athena Parthenos and was built to replace an earlier structure that the Persians had destroyed in 480 BCE. The ingenuity of the architects, Iktinos and Callicrates, produced the finest classical temple. The Parthenon catches the eye with its large size (17x8 columns) and its incredible sculptural decorations designed by the sculptor Phidias. The metopes of the east side depict the Gigantomachy. The metopes of the south side show the Centauromachy. The metopes of the west end show the Amazonomachy, while those of the north side depict the sack of Troy. The east pediment portrays the birth of the goddess Athena, while the west pediment was dedicated to the contest of Athena and Poseidon for Athens. The Parthenon is a Doric temple with various Ionic features. The inner chamber of the Parthenon housed the massive chryselephantine statue of Athena Parthenos. It reached a height of eleven meters (37 ft) and stood on a tall pedestal. The goddess held the winged Victory (Nike) as a symbol of military success. Athena leaned on a spear, while her left hand supported a shield (both signs of the city’s aggressive and defensive nature). Near the goddess lay Erichthonius, a serpent that recalled Athens’ mythical origins. A shallow pool in front of the sculpture provided the humidity required by the ivory used on the statue.