THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS

The Caryatids, Akropolis of Athens, Greece

Acropolis means the upper fortified part of an ancient city, so every town had one.The most famous though was the Athenian Acropolis for its magnificent marble temples that were built in the 5th c.B.C. during the golden Age of Pericles.According to mythology the town got its name from the goddess Athena when she defeated Poseidon in a contest as to who would be the patron of the town. Poseidon offered to the Athenians a horse while Athena offered the first olive-tree (the symbol of peace). The best gift was considered by the Athenians to be the olive-tree and so Athena became the patroness of the town. In her honour they built on the Acropolis the Parthenon, the best temple ever built to honour a god.

On the way up to the Acropolis you enter from the Propylaea, the monumental gateway. This magnificent entrance was erected in pentelic marble. It consists of a central body and two wings and it is decorated with six doric columns outside and two rows of Ionic inside,three on either side.

In front of thePropylaea on a bation is standing a small graceful temple dedicated to Athena Nike (Athena Victory) also known as the Temple of wingless Victory. The lovely marble building was built around 437 - 415 B.C. by the great architect Kallikrates. It is in ionic style amphiprostyle with 4 columns on the narrow sides.

Passing through the Propylaea you are on the top of the Acropolis and you see on the northern part the Erectheion and on the south the Parthenon.The Erectheion is the most elegant and at the same time the most harmonious creation of Attic art. It was the most sacred temple of the rock Acropolis as here took place the contest between Athena and Poseidon, so the eastern part was dedicated to Athena and the western part to Poseidon. The temple was built from 421 - 407 B.C. by the architect Philocles in Ionic architecture. On the souther side is the famous "Portico of Kores" the six female statues called Caryatids. One can admire the original 5 in the new Acropolis Museum while the sixth is in the British Museum.

Opposite the Erecthteion stands the magnificent Parthenon, the temple of Athena. The architects in charge were Ictinos and Kallikrates while the artistic work and the general supervision were undertaken by the genius sculptur Pheidias. Works begun in 447 and finished in 438 B.C. The temple was made entirely of white Pentelic marble. It is doric, peripteral, amphiprostyle with 8 columns on the narrow and 17 on the long sides. The eastern pediment above the main entrance depicted the birth of Athena who had just sprung out from the head of Zeus. On the western pediment was shown the contest between Athena and Poseidon for the possession of the city. The famous frieze which surrounded the external walls depicted the Panathenaic Procession. 360 figures and lots of sacrificial animals , climbing the Acopolis rock in Athena's honour. Part of the procession is in the New Museum of the Acropolis and the rest in British Museum removed and taken by Lord Elgin.

To complet the visit of the Acropolis one has to visit the New Museum of the Acropolis, which is located at the foot of the Acropolis.

Info
Acropolis:
Telephone 0030210 3214172
Tickets:Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Special ticket package: Full: €12, Reduced: €6
Valid for: Acropolis of Athens, Ancient Agoraof Athens, Arcaeological museum of Kermaneikos, Hadrian's Library, Kerameikos, Museum of the Ancient Agora,Olympieio, Roman Agora of At, North Slope of Acropolis, South slope of Acropolis
Opening hours : 08.00-17.00 Last admission 16.30

New Acropolis Museum:
Telephone 0030 210 9000900
Opening hours
Tickets: 5 euros
Opening hours 1 November – 31 March:Tuesday to Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Last admission: 4:30 p.m.)
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
1 April – 31 October:Tuesday to Sunday: 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (Last admission: 7:30 p.m.)
Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. (Last admission: 9:30 p.m.)
Closed: Every Monday

written by Sophia Kokkinou, guide/archaeologist/ writer