As a Greek historian and biographer, Plutarch wrote an impressive depiction of the Periclean public works. Having attained an Athenian education, he was well conversant with the area about which he was writing. According to him, the Periclean Public Works program not only granted massive pleasure to the Athenians, but also amazed the entire humanity all the while evoking several misinterpretations. Plutarch was amazed at the fresh and elegant looks of the buildings which were constructed quickly against the prevailing opposition.
The beauty and elegance of Pericles’ great works were still vividly visible when Plutarch was writing his work. Much of what is missing today was still present. Plutarch saw the ivory statues as well as Phidias’ gold that was placed inside the Parthenon and Athina’s bronze statue that faced the people as they entered the Acropolis. These are not present today. Plutarch’s depiction of the Acropolis portrays a change in Greek religion and culture to a more colorful and luxuriant one during the error of empero, Hadrian.

J. J. Pollitt’s analysis of artworks and cultures of classical Greece depicts the Classical Period as bounded by the defeat of the Persians in 480 BC. Based on his illustrations, it is the defeat of the Persians that catalyzed the transformation of the Archaic humanism to the Classical style. The two distinct authorities that ruled Sparta in 500 BC, the Corinthian’s mercantile oligarchy and the democracy of the Athenians, created the need for the development of a partner of life that would merge the Greek cities with the diverse interests of the people living there. Although the construction of the Acropolis’ sacred temple was a major undertaking to replace the temples previously destroyed by the Persians, the colorful and the luxuriant nature of its architect depicts the classical transformation of the Greek society.