The Acropolis
of AThens
Reconstructed site plan of the monuments
on the Acropolis hill (I. Travlos).
1. Temple of Athena nike 11. Altar of Athena
2. propylaea 12. parthenon
3. Monument of Agrippa 13. Temple of rome and Augustus
4. sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia 14. sanctuary of Zeus polieus
5. chalkotheke 15. sanctuary of pandion
6. pedestal of the statue of Athena promachos 16. old Acropolis Museum
7. Arrhephorion 17. odeion of herodes Atticus
8. pandroseion 18. stoa of eumenes
9. erechtheion 19. Asklepieion
10. “old Temple” of Athena (Archaios Neos) 20. Theatre of Dionysos
The Parthenon The rich sculptural decoration of the parthenon consists of three
groups: the compositions on the pediments, the relief metopes
The parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena parthenos, is above the outer colonnade of the temple and the frieze, a contin-
considered the most perfect Doric temple of classical antiquity uous band carved in relief that occupies the top part of the walls
due to its proportions, architectural refinements and masterful of the temple and the inner colonnade. The east pediment depicts
construction. it was built between 447 and 438 Bc, while its the birth of Athena, while the west illustrates the contest between
sculptural decoration was completed in 432 Bc and it is made Athena and poseidon over the patronage of the Attic land. The
of white pentelic marble. The temple is defined by an outer metopes feature the Gigantomachy on the east side, the sack
colonnade that consists of 8 columns on either narrow side and of Troy on the north side, whereas the Amazonomachy and the
17 columns that run along each of its long sides. The archi- centauromachy are represented on the west and the south side
tects who designed the monument were iktinus and Kallikrates, respectively. Along the frieze unfolds the procession of the Great
whereas the person in charge of its sculptural decoration was panathenaea, the greatest festival of the city that was celebrated
the great sculptor pheidias, who also created the chryselephan- every four years in honour of the goddess Athena.
tine statue of Athena parthenos that was housed in the interior from 1802 to 1803 lord elgin detached a large part of the parthe-
of the temple. non sculptures which are on display today at the British Museum.
The
The Propylaea
Propylaea The temple
The temple of
of Athena
Athena Nike
Nike
The
The propylaea,
propylaea, thethe monumental
monumental entrance
entrance to to the
the sanctuary
sanctuary ofof The small
The small elegant
elegant ionic
ionic temple,
temple, which
which stands
stands at at the
the top
top of
of the
the bastion
bastion
the
the Acropolis,
Acropolis, were
were built
built on
on the
the site
site of
of anan earlier
earlier propylon
propylon atat at the
at the southwest
southwest edge edge ofof the
the Acropolis
Acropolis hill,
hill, was
was dedicated
dedicated toto Athena
Athena
the
the west
west extremity
extremity ofof the
the hillʼs
hillʼs plateau,
plateau, between
between 437437 and
and 432
432 nike (Victory).
nike (Victory). itit was
was built
built from
from 427
427 to to 424
424 Bc Bc replacing
replacing anan earlier
earlier
Bc,
Bc, and
and they
they were
were designed
designed by by the
the architect
architect Mnesikles.
Mnesikles. They
They smaller temple
smaller temple made
made of of poros
poros stone.
stone. its
its architect
architect was
was Kallikrates.
Kallikrates. The
The
comprise
comprise aa central
central rectangular
rectangular building
building with
with e./W.
e./W. orientation,
orientation, frieze of
frieze of the
the temple
temple depicts
depicts battle
battle scenes
scenes between
between Greeks,
Greeks, combats
combats
flanked
flanked byby two
two wings
wings onon the
the north
north and
and south
south side.
side. The
The room
room in
in between the
between the Greeks
Greeks and
and the
the persians,
persians, asas well
well asas the
the assembly
assembly of of the
the
the
the north
north wing
wing isis known
known as as the
the “pinakotheke”
“pinakotheke” since,
since, according
according olympian gods.
olympian gods. A A marble
marble parapet
parapet with
with representations
representations of of winged
winged
to
to the
the traveller
traveller pausanias
pausanias (2nd(2nd c. c. AD),
AD), its
its walls
walls were
were decorated
decorated nikai (Victories)
nikai (Victories) andand the
the seated
seated figure
figure ofof the
the goddess
goddess Athena
Athena pro-
pro-
with
with paintings.
paintings. tected the
tected the top
top part
part along
along the
the three
three sides
sides of of the
the bastion.
bastion.
The Erechtheion OPERATING RULES
Please be informed that the following is strictly prohibited:
The ionic building on the north side of the Acropolis plateau (Law 3028/2002 and Official
was named Erechtheion after the mythical king of Athens erech- Government Gazette 88/B/23.1.2004)
theus. construction began either before 431 Bc or after 421 • to collect, remove or damage any kind of object, including ancient
Bc and was completed in 406 Bc following an interruption and contemporary works of art as well as any natural item,
caused by the peloponnesian War. • to consume food or beverages,
its peculiar shape is the result of the uneven terrain and the • to smoke,
need to house the age-old Sacred Tokens. it was dedicated • to produce litter of any kind,
to the cults of Athena polias as well as poseidon erechtheus, • to behave, dress or act in a way not compatible with the nature
hephaestus and the hero Boutes. on the north side of the edifice of the archaeological site/museum,
a magnificent propylon is formed, whereas the south side is • entrance to people under the influence of substances (intoxicants,
dominated by the famous Prostasis (porch) of the Maidens narcotics etc.),
(Korai) or caryatids which constitutes the overground part of the • entrance to pets, except for dogs accompanying people with
tomb of the mythical king of Athens cecrops. disabilities,
on the west side the erechtheion was connected to the pandroseion, • entrance to all vehicles, except for emergency vehicles and those
a sanctuary dedicated to the daughter of cecrops, pandrosos. There used for conducting archaeological works.
lay the sacred olive Tree of the goddess Athena.
in the early 19th century lord elgin removed one of the caryatids, Furthermore, visitors and guides are kindly requested:
which is exhibited today at the British Museum. • to comply with the instructions and indications of the security
guards,
• to follow the signs, walk along marked routes and avoid entering
restricted areas,
• not to touch any work of art,
• to be very careful whilst being near areas of high risk or areas
where works are in progress.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING
(Official Government Gazette 1138/Β/10.04.2012,
3046/Β/30.12.2011 and 648/Β/07.03.2012)
• photography and filming with professional cameras as well as
aerial photography and filming, with or without human presence,
are allowed only after a special permit has been issued and fees
have been paid.
Reconstructed site plan of the monuments
photography
• on the Acropolisand filming
hill (I. with amateur cameras are permitted for
Travlos).
free unless they are to be used for commercial purposes.
• photography with the use of supplementary lighting systems in-
side a museum
1. Temple is not allowed,
of Athena nike unless permission is granted.
11. Altar of Athena
12. parthenon 2. propylaea
Non-compliance
3. Monument ofwith Agrippathe above rules can lead to the eviction
13. Temple of rome and Augustus
4. sanctuary of Artemis of recalcitrant
Brauronia visitors.
14. sanctuary of Zeus polieus
15. sanctuary of pandion 5. chalkotheke
elevator available for wheelchairs, people with diminished abilities
16. old Acropolis Museum and6.anypedestal
parentofattending
the statuetwo of Athena
or morepromachos
infants on her/his own. The
17. odeion of herodes Atticus 7. Arrhephorion
elevator is located about 350 m. far from the main entrance of the
18. stoa of eumenes 8. pandroseion
archaeological site. Users of the elevator should contact in advance
19. Asklepieion for9. erechtheion
details and terms (+30 210 3214172). The facility is not avail-
20. Theatre of Dionysos 10. during
able “old Temple”
extremeofweatherAthenaconditions
(Archaiosand
Neos)
strong winds.
The Acropolis of Athens
The earliest evidence of habitation on the naturally fortified hill
of the Acropolis of Athens dates back to the Middle neolithic
period (5000-4000 Bc). During the Mycenaean period (1600-
1100 Bc) it served as the seat of the local ruler and in the 13th
century Bc it was reinforced with strong fortification. in the 6th
century Bc, being the most significant sanctuary of the city con-
secrated primarily to its patron goddess Athena, the Acropolis
acquired its first monumental temples, whereas the faithful dedi-
cated large numbers of votive offerings. of the early shrines the
foundations of the “old Temple” of Athena (Archaios Neos) are
still visible to the south of the erechtheion that was built later.
The buildings that dominate today the sacred rock, the pro-
pylaea, the parthenon, the erechtheion and the Temple of Athena
nike, were erected in the aftermath of the persian destruction
that occurred in 480 Bc, during the classical period, and more
specifically in the second half of the 5th century Bc, on the
initiative of perikles, the inspired political leader that turned Ath-
ens into a hegemonic power. The monuments of the Acropolis
represent the political, economic, artistic and intellectual apo-
gee of the Athenian democracy.
During the long history of the Acropolis, its monuments have
undergone many alterations when christianity prevailed, as
well as during the frankish rule (1205–1456) and the otto-
man occupation (1456-1830).
The Acropolis of AThens
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