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Acropolis
Occupation at the acropolis dates back to
prehistoric times. A Mycenaean palace sat here in the Late Bronze
Age and it served as a political and religious center in the Archaic
period. The acropolis was dedicated to religious functions
only in Classical times. Following the Classical period, this
area was always a key military position, the first part of the city
taken during invasions (e.g., by the Franks, Venetians, Turks,
Bavarians).
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Acropolis at Night
The acropolis is crowned by the Parthenon, completed in 432 B.C.
Other structures built on the acropolis in the Classical period include a monument to Agrippa, the propylaia, the
temple of Athena Nike, an older temple of Athena, and
the Erechtheion. |
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The Parthenon
The Parthenon (“House of the Maid”) is the grandest but
not most important structure on the acropolis, ritually speaking. The Parthenon was much larger than most other Doric temples
and had several sculptures, including Athena’s birth (east
pediment), a contest between Athena and Poseidon (west pediment),
the Trojan War (north side), and battles between Lapiths and
Centaurs (south side) and Amazons and Greeks (west end).
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The Parthenon
The Parthenon held silver, gold, and
ivory treasures when it was constructed. Later in the 6th century
A.D. it was used as a church. The Franks turned it into a
cathedral in the 13th century. Because it served as storage for
Turkish ammunition, the Venetians blew it up in 1687. The
Parthenon was restored in 1834-44 and again since 1983. |
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The Erechtheion
The Erechtheion was built to honor the
founder of the city and included the sanctuary of Erechtheus and the temple of Athena Polias. Both Erechtheus
and Poseidon were worshiped in this temple. The Porch of the Karyatids
is the most famous part of the structure, where statues of maidens
were used as columns. Their right hands (today missing) once
held libation bowls for drink offerings.
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Related Websites
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The Acropolis (The Stoa Consortium) Provides a historical summary of
the Acropolis, a bibliography, and links to numerous high-quality photos
and other related sites.
The Acropolis of Athens (Hellenic Ministry of Culture) Briefly
recounts the history of the Acropolis and describes its most significant
monuments.
Parthenon (Columbia University) Several interactive maps with links
to multiple 360 degree images taken on the Acropolis.
A Historical Account of the Acropolis (Athens Guide) A detailed
account of the site's history with a helpful map.
The Acropolis of Athens (The Museum of Reconstructions) Features
computer graphic reconstructions of Mnesicles' Propylaea and the Temple
of Athena Nike.
The Greeks: Crucible of Civilization (PBS) Contains computer graphic
reconstructions of the Parthenon and Acropolis, plus a video clip about
the Parthenon. Click on "The Acropolis Experience" button.
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