When the Greeks rebelled against the Ottoman Empire, during one of the battles they managed to surround the Athenian Acropolis, on whose territory the Turks were staying. When the besieged began to run out of shells, they began to destroy the columns of the Parthenon in order to make ammunition from the parts that held them together. The Greeks could not allow this to happen, and therefore, so that the enemies would leave the ancient architectural monument alone, they sent them a batch of lead.

The Acropolis is located in the capital of Greece, Athens, on a rocky hill with a flat top at an altitude of 156 meters above sea level. m. and the area it occupies is about three hectares (300 meters long, 170 meters wide). You can find the new Acropolis at: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athens 117 42, and at geographical map– found at the following coordinates: 37° 58′ 17.12″ N. latitude, 23° 43′ 34.2″ e. d.

The Athenian Acropolis is a complex of buildings, most of which were built in the 5th century. BC. the best architects of Hellas. Initially, it was intended not so much for the defense of the city, but for holding pagan services. A huge number of temples dedicated to Athena (the most famous Acropolis Parthenon), as well as Poseidon and Nike, were erected on its territory.

They began to actively build up the Acropolis in Athens in the 7th-6th centuries. BC. and one of the significant buildings of that time was the Hekatompedon, the temple of the most revered goddess of ancient Greece, Athena. True, a century later, during the Greco-Persian War, the Persians destroyed most of the sanctuaries, and having driven out the enemies from their territory, the Greeks began to build the New Acropolis.

The famous sculptor of that time, Phidias (the author of one of the wonders of the world, the statue of Zeus in Olympia), was entrusted to supervise the construction work, who, judging by the descriptions of his contemporaries, developed a plan for the architectural complex. And the most eminent architects of those times helped him create the new Acropolis - Callicrates, Mnesicles, Ictinus, Archilochus, etc. The new Acropolis in Greece, erected by ancient masters, speaks with its entire appearance about the high level of architecture of the ancient Hellenes.

What does the Acropolis look like?

It was possible to climb to the top of the rock of the Acropolis of Athens only from the western side along a zigzag road; from other sides it was inaccessible. Below, at the foot, there were two theaters - Dionysus, built by the Greeks, and the Odeon of Herod Atticus, built by the Romans in the 2nd century. AD If you look at the map, you will notice that the monuments of the Acropolis in Greece number about fifteen buildings (together with theaters), plus a museum is currently open on its territory in a separate building.

Promachos

It is interesting that the first monument that the New Acropolis saw was not a building, but a statue of Athena-Promachos, created by Phidias himself. The goddess was wearing a helmet, resting on a spear with her right hand, and in her left she had a shield (the helmet and the tip of the spear were made of gold). Promakhos was made of bronze, had a height of about 7 meters and was installed so that it could not only be seen from anywhere in the city, but also from the sea - the sailors saw the golden helmet and the tip of the spear shining in the sun from a great distance.

Propylaea (437 – 432 BC)

Athena Promachos was located opposite the main entrance to the Acropolis of Athens. It was made by the architect Mnesiklos from white Pentelic and gray Eleuskin marble. The Propylaea consists of three parts: the central one, which contained six Doric columns, and two wings adjacent to it. It is interesting that Ionic columns were installed on both sides of the main passage - apparently, this is the principle of combining the columns of two different types was used here for the first time.

Parthenon (447 – 438 BC)

The Greeks are convinced that the Acropolis and the Parthenon are two inseparable concepts, since it is impossible to imagine them without each other. The Parthenon was erected by Callicrates and Ictinus from Pentelic marble on top of a rock and was dedicated to the patron goddess of the city, Athena.

The Parthenon is a rectangular building 30.8 x 69.5 m with columns located around the perimeter, about ten meters high: seventeen were installed on the south and north sides of the sanctuary, eight on the west and east (the entrances to the temple were also located here).

The Parthenon was decorated with sculptural bas-reliefs from the life of the city: a procession to the Acropolis of selected maidens with a gift for the goddess (held once every four years), about a hundred bas-reliefs depicting various battles. The eastern side of the Parthenon told the legend of the birth of Athena, the western - about her dispute with the god of the seas, Poseidon, about who would be the patron of Athens.

The main hall of the Parthenon was divided into three parts using two rows of columns. In the depths of this architectural monument there was a twelve-meter sculpture of Athena. IN right hand the goddess had a Nike, on the left side there was a spear. The face and hands of the statue were carved from ivory, weapons and clothes were cast from gold, and precious stones shone in the eyes.

Unfortunately, in the V Art. The sculpture was taken to Constantinople, where it burned down in a fire.

At the western entrance there is a square parthenon hall, which housed the archives and treasury of the city maritime union. Presumably, the name of the Greek temple came from this hall, which translated means “house for girls,” since it was here that the priestesses made peplos (sleeveless women's outerwear, sewn from light material, which was presented to the goddess during the ceremonial procession.

Temple of Athena the Victorious (449 – 421 BC)

A small marble temple is located (the dimensions of its base are 5.4 x 8.14 m, the height of the columns is 4 m) in the southwest of the Propylaea, on a small ledge of rock, which was previously reinforced with a retaining wall. The author of this original architectural monument was the author of the Parthenon, Callicrates. The sanctuary was surrounded by columns, while the building was surrounded by walls on three sides, while on the eastern side, where the entrance to the temple was located, there was no wall, instead there were two pillars.

Interestingly, another name for this small marble temple is Nike Apteros, which means Wingless. According to legend, the wooden statue of the Goddess of Victory that was in this temple did not have wings: the Athenians categorically did not want her to leave the city.

Temple of Erechtheinon (421-407 BC)

Erechtion is considered the last architectural monument of the Acropolis; it was dedicated to two gods at once, Athena and Poseidon, and received its name because of the remains of the tomb of ruler Erechtheus found on its territory.

The shrine is located behind Promachos and was erected in the place where, according to legend, Athena argued with Poseidon. According to the description of eyewitnesses, an olive tree grew near the temple and there was a mark left in the floor from the blow of Poseidon’s staff. The story goes that the olive tree burned when ancient Acropolis The Persians set fire to it, but after its liberation it was revived.

Despite the fact that the temple is smaller in size than the Parthenon (11.63 x 23.5 m), its architecture has a more complex plan.

The eastern portico of the building is supported by six Ionic columns, the northern one by four. The frieze of the shrine was made of marble-like limestone, into which white marble sculptures were inserted. On the southern side of Erechtheinon there is a portico, which, instead of traditional columns, was supported by statues of girls. Currently, all the original sculptures have been replaced with copies and are located in the Louvre, the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum.

Acropolis today

Unfortunately, history has not been kind to the Athenian Acropolis: people first made the Church of Our Lady from the Parthenon, then a mosque, the Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish Pasha, the Temple of the Wingless Nike was dismantled and a fortress wall was erected from it, and during the war with Turkey in the 19th century. he was significantly damaged by a shell fired by the Turks. The strongest earthquake in Greece in 1894 contributed to the destruction of the unique complex.

As soon as the Greeks regained power over the city, they began restoring their landmark. After Greece proclaimed at the end of the 19th century. independence, they took up this issue more seriously, as a result of which they were able to achieve significant successes, thanks to which museum visitors now have the opportunity not only to see the new Acropolis, but also to more clearly imagine what it looked like in ancient times.

They eliminated all the later structures of the Acropolis, rebuilt the Temple of Nike, created copies of the sculptures and replaced the originals with them, taking them for storage to museums, one of which was placed at the foot of the rock. The new Athens Acropolis Museum was opened in 2009. It is interesting that it was the third in a row, since as a result of numerous archaeological excavations, the first two museums did not contain all the finds and were replaced by a larger building, ten times larger in area than its predecessor.

This is the elevated part or the so-called upper city. Fortifications were built here, where citizens could hide in case of attacks, and, of course, the most important temples were built here. All ancient Greek cities had acropolises, but the most famous is the Acropolis of Athens, rising 150 meters above the main city.

The Acropolis towers over all of Athens, its silhouette shaping the skyline of the city. Rising above the hill in ancient times could be seen from any part of Attica and even from the islands of Salamis and Aegina; The sailors approaching the shore could already see from afar the shine of the spear and helmet of Athena the Warrior.

The Acropolis is one of those places that are said to be magnificent and delightful. It is considered to be a miracle that has survived to this day, even despite the fact that all the buildings are extremely laconic in their form, and the entire Acropolis can be walked in an hour.

The walls of the Acropolis are steep and precipitous. Previously, there was a huge amount of valuables and various sculptures inside. Nowadays only four great structures can be found inside the Acropolis.

History of the Acropolis

Construction of the Acropolis began in the 2nd century BC. But during the Greco-Persian wars it was completely destroyed. It stood in a terrible state for almost a century.

By the middle of the 5th century BC, Athens became the most prosperous city in Hellas, an economic and cultural center. It reached a special peak during the reign of Pericles. On his initiative, the city began to be decorated with all kinds of buildings. In 449, the grandiose reconstruction of the Acropolis was completed.

The Athenian Acropolis was built, as they say, on a grand scale. It is impossible to capture it at one glance. Of course, today only a small part has survived from that ancient structure, but even now it is worthy of admiration. First, it’s worth getting acquainted with the Acropolis that existed under the ancient Greeks.

There was only one entrance to the Acropolis, along a narrow road located on the western side. This entrance is through the Propylaea Gate, built by the architect Mnesicles in 437 - 432 BC. The gate was decorated with a wide staircase and two porticoes, one of which faces the hill and the other faces the city. Once upon a time, the ceilings of the Propylaea were painted with golden stars against a blue sky.

The Propylaea is surrounded by the walls of the Temple of the Wingless Nike. A small building with 4 columns. This temple was designed back in 450 BC, but construction could only begin in 427. It was built over 6 years. In ancient times, inside the temple there was a wooden statue of the goddess of victory. Traditionally, Nike was depicted as a girl with a pair of wings, but the ancient Greeks depicted her without wings so that victory would not “fly away” from them.

Entering through the gate, one could immediately see the statue of Athena, erected in 456 - 445 by the sculptor Phidias. Athena was depicted with a shield in her left hand and a spear in her right, and she had a military helmet on her head. The height of the statue was 7 meters, and the spear was even more - 9 meters.

To the left of the statue of Athena was a temple. It was dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and King Erechtheus. It was in this temple that the most valuable things were kept, in particular, a wooden statue of a warrior goddess, which, according to legend, fell from the sky; the sacred peplos, which was woven by the priestesses, the altars of Ifestus and Erechtheus.. The most important rituals were performed in this temple.

The Erichtheion Temple was small in size (23 by 11 meters), but it united several sanctuaries at once. The height of the temple was uneven: the western part of the building was 3 meters lower than the eastern side. This is because the temple was built on an uneven surface.

The internal space was divided into two parts. On the western side was the sanctuary of the Erechtheion, and on the eastern side was the sanctuary of Pallas Athena. The sculptural decoration of the temple was very rich. Along the entire perimeter there were friezes, the theme of which was myths.

In front of the western facade of the temple there was a sacred olive tree, but it was cut down and the temple itself was destroyed.

In the center of the Acropolis was the Parthenon, also dedicated to the goddess Athena. It was built over a period of 9 years (447 - 438 BC). Its architects were Ictinus and Callicrates. The Parthenon was a rectangular building measuring 70 by 31 meters, surrounded on all sides by columns - 17 on the longitudinal sides and 8 columns on the end parts of the temple.

The Parthenon is richly decorated with various sculptural elements created by prominent artists ancient world(Phidias, Alkamenes, Agorakritos, Callimachus). The popular idea that Greek temples always had colors is actually wrong. In ancient times, the Parthenon was very colorful, and according to modern tastes, it was even almost clumsily painted. Of course, over time the paint fades, so the temples that have survived to this day are exclusively white.

The interior of the Parthenon was divided into two parts. The first part is the cella, where the 12-meter statue of Athena, created by Phidias, was located. Athena was wearing a luxurious helmet and festive elegant clothes. Phidias made the goddess's face and hands from ivory, and her clothes were covered with gold plates.

The second room was intended for girls-priestesses who worked on making the sacred vestments of the goddess.

Modern Acropolis

The modern Acropolis bears little resemblance to the one that existed many centuries ago. Modern tourists can get to the site where the Propylaea is located through the Bayle Gate, built in the Roman-Byzantine era. They received their name in honor of the archaeologist Beile, who in 1853 discovered them under the remains of a Turkish fortification. Directly in front of the entrance are the ruins of the Temple of the Wingless Nike, which was destroyed by the Turks when they captured the city. In the middle of the 19th century, when Turkish rule was removed, they tried to restore the temple, but it was no longer possible to make it the same as before.

A lot of things in the Acropolis were irretrievably destroyed. For example, the statue of Athena the warrior was taken to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in the 13th century.

The Erechtheion Temple suffered repeatedly from robbers, especially during the Greek struggle for independence in 1821-1827. Only in 1906 did they begin to reconstruct the temple, restoring it on the preserved foundation.

The Parthenon in the 13th century was converted into christian temple. During Turkish wars The Parthenon was shelled. The main room and colonnade were completely destroyed. Nowadays it has been partially restored, but its former grandeur has already been lost.

Of course, the modern Acropolis is not so majestic, but even today it is one of the most beautiful structures on our planet. Much has been destroyed, or even completely destroyed. But something has been preserved and still attracts tourists to Athens.

/ Acropolis of Athens

Athens Acropolis

(Greek: Ακρόπολη Αθηνών; English: Acropolis of Athens)

UNESCO site

Opening hours: from 8.30 to 19.00 every day except Monday.

How to get there: nearest metro station Akropolis. The Acropolis of Athens is impossible not to notice; it is located in the very heart of the city and is visible from almost anywhere in Athens. Most of Athens is very flat, and the city is dominated by only two rocks, on one of which the Acropolis is located. You can also get to the Acropolis from the city center on foot. To do this, you need to choose, as a landmark, a large pedestrian street - Dionysiou Areopagitou. You need to go straight along it and not turn anywhere, gradually climbing up the mountain, as a result you will come across the most important Greek landmark.

The Acropolis of Athens is not only the oldest cultural monument of Greece, but of the entire world civilization as a whole. The word “Acropolis” consists of two stems: “acro” - “upper” and “polis” - “city”. The "Upper City" is located on a natural limestone cliff 156 m high, with a flat top offering stunning views of Athens, and has steep slopes on all sides except the west. It was a fortified part of ancient Athens, where the main shrines of the city were located. The Acropolis, embodying the architectural and artistic spirit of ancient Athens, covers an area of approximately 3 hectares.

The entire Acropolis was divided into sacred areas, on which temples, sanctuaries and altars were located, dedicated to various gods. It was also the center of the political and military life of the city: first of all, it was the residence of the ruler.
In the middle of the 7th century BC, the first large structure appeared on the Acropolis - the Temple of Polyada, replacing a small sanctuary of the Geometric period in which the city treasury was kept. The dimensions of the building and the pediment frame that appeared for the first time (only on the eastern side) were new. After the victory at Marathon in 490 BC, it was decided to create a new temple dedicated to Pallas Athena on the Acropolis, next to the ancient temple of Polyada. This temple was narrower than the Parthenon and had only 6 columns. However, the buildings were never completed, since the Persians, who captured Athens, completely destroyed the city and all the sanctuaries of the Acropolis.

Map of the Acropolis of Athens

In 450 BC, under Pericles, who proclaimed the unification of the entire Greek world under the leadership of Athens, work began on creating an ensemble on the Athenian Acropolis, according to a single plan: Parthenon - temple of Athena Parthenos (447 - 438 BC), Propylaea - ceremonial gates, entrance to the Acropolis (437-432 BC), temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Victory, between 449 - 420 BC), temple of the Erechtheion (421 - 406 BC). The planning and construction of the Acropolis was carried out under the direction of Phidias.

Phidias is an Athenian sculptor (about 490 - about 430 BC), an outstanding representative of the era of classical art of Ancient Greece. He supervised all the work on the Acropolis, the construction of the Parthenon; according to his sketches, and often with his own hands, 92 metopes and a 159-meter frieze with the Panathenaic procession, sculptures of the Parthenon pediments, and a statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) were created. He was put on trial for allegedly misappropriating precious materials and atheism during the construction of the Acropolis, and was forced to leave Athens and move to the Peloponnese, where he created a number of other famous creations.

In the following centuries, the Acropolis suffered greatly from various wars and the turbulent history unfolding in this area. In 1205, the Franks (crusaders) captured Athens, and the Dukes of Delaroche established their residence in the Propylaea and Pinakothek. The Parthenon at this time becomes the Notre Dame d'Athenes Cathedral. In 1456, Athens was conquered by the Ottoman army of Omar Turakhan, commander of Muhammad the Conqueror. The Parthenon turns into a mosque, the Erechtheion into the harem of the Turkish commandant. In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, the explosion destroyed almost the entire central part of the Parthenon, and when the Venetians failed to remove the sculptures from the temple, several statues were broken.But despite the fact that the works of art of the Acropolis survived many natural disasters, they could not withstand the acts of vandalism of Lord Elgin, the British ambassador to Constantinople He plundered almost the entire collection of statues, vases, monuments and priceless artifacts and took them out of Greece.

Today, the cultural values of the Acropolis are carefully preserved and protected, and, perhaps, the main enemy of this world treasure is air pollution, which negatively affects the marble. As a result of emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere, there was an increase in the sulfur content in the air, which led to the transformation of marble into limestone. The iron structures that were used to connect and strengthen the marble pieces, and which were adjacent to it, destroyed the stone. To prevent destruction, some of the iron structures were removed and replaced with brass ones. But it is not possible to counteract chemical destruction, so some of the Acropolis sculptures were replaced with copies, and the originals are kept in the Acropolis Museum.

A wide zigzag road runs from the bottom of the hill to the only entrance. These are famous Propylaea– the main entrance to the Acropolis, which is a deep through portico with a colonnade; at the same time, the side passages were intended for pedestrian citizens, and along the middle passage horsemen and chariots passed, and sacrificial animals were escorted. They were built by the architect Mnesicles in 437 - 432 BC. Like other structures of the Acropolis, the Propylaea gate was destroyed by the Persians and restored during the era of Pericles, although the construction was never completed due to the threat of the Peloponnesian War.

Adjacent to the Propylaea on the left is the building of the Pinakothek, an art gallery where portraits of the heroes of Attica were displayed. In the Pinakothek there were carpets hung on which people who were tired after climbing the hill could rest.

Adjacent to the southwestern wing of the Propylaea is an unusually elegant marble temple - Temple of Nike Apteros , built by the architect Callicrates. Its construction was carried out in 427 - 421 BC. Standing on a three-stage pedestal, the temple was surrounded on all sides by a sculptural ribbon frieze, which depicted episodes of the struggle of the Greeks with the Persians, as well as the Olympian gods (Athena, Zeus, Poseidon).

The main attraction of the entire ensemble was and remains Parthenon- the largest and most famous building in this ensemble, which is called both the “hymn” of Ancient Greece and the “beauty of simplicity.”

Parthenon (from the Greek parthenos - maiden) - temple of the goddess Athena Parthenos (Virgin) - greatest monument ancient Greek art. It was erected by order of Pericles in 447 - 438 BC, on the site of an unfinished temple destroyed by the Persians. The Parthenon is a marble Doric peripterus with 17 columns on the long sides and 8 on the ends.

Not far from the northwestern wall of the Acropolis there was a royal palace, and after its destruction, almost in the same place, the Hekatompedon temple was erected, dedicated to the patroness of the city, Athena. The Greeks revered this goddess so highly that they set free all the slaves who participated in the construction of this temple. But during the Greco-Persian Wars (480 - 479 BC), Hekatompedon was plundered and burned by order of the Persian king Xerxes.

The northern side of the Athens Acropolis is decorated with a beautiful marble temple Erechtheion, which is a most beautiful creation of classical art. It was built on the site of the palace of the rulers of Mycenae in 421 - 406 BC, and became a place of worship for the Athenians. The Ionian temple, located near the Parthenon, is dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and the legendary king of Athens, Erechtheus, who gave the temple its name.

The greatest interest in the Erechtheion is the Portico of the Daughters, consisting of six sculptures of the most beautiful girls, which, acting as columns, support the roof of the temple. In Byzantine times they were called Caryatids - women from a small town called Caria who were famous for their exceptional beauty. The Turks, who at one time captured Athens and, according to their Muslim beliefs, did not allow images of humans, did not destroy these statues, however. They limited themselves to cutting off the girls’ faces.

At the top of the flagpole, located at the highest point of the hill, stands the Greek national flag. During the 2nd World War, when the Germans captured Greece and Athens, Konstantinos Koukidis, the Evzone guarding the flag, was ordered to take it down. Konstantinos obeyed, took off the flag, and, wrapping himself in it, threw himself down the cliff and fell to his death. And on the night of May 31, 1941, a couple of eighteen-year-old Athenians, Manolis Glezos and Apostolis Santas, made their way to the top of the Athenian Acropolis and tore down the flag with the German swastika hanging there. Nowadays, every day, at 6:30 in the morning, a special detachment of Greek soldiers raises the flag over the Acropolis of Athens, and at sunset another detachment of infantrymen climbs the hill and lowers the flag for the night.

At the foot of the Athens Acropolis stands an ancient multi-level theater, in which, every summer and autumn evening, the sounds of singing and musical instruments, since at this time there are performances of classical dramas, symphony orchestras, dance programs and operas. Odeon of Herod Atticus , better known as the Herodeion, was made in the shape of a semicircle, the radius of which is 80 meters, and its capacity is so high that up to 5 thousand people can fit there.

Colonnade of Eumenes was one of the largest structures located on the southern slope of the Athenian Acropolis. Its length was 162 meters. This structure was erected by the powerful king of Pergamum - Eumenes II (198 - 160 BC). The colonnade was built from stacked stones brought from the island of Poros, as well as from Pergamon and Hymettan marble. It extends from the beautiful Theater of Dionysus, and today reaches the Odeon of Herod Atticus.

On the southern slope of the Acropolis is located the oldest known theater today - Theater of Dionysus . Legend has it that the Athenians killed Dionysus when he first arrived in Attica and treated the locals to wine. Initially, the theater was wooden, but a century later, the steps for spectators to sit were replaced with stone ones, and a permanent stage was built.

For almost 60 years, excavations were carried out at the Odeon of Pericles, revealing to the world a beautiful large building with a huge number of columns of the Athenian Acropolis. Work in this place was carried out by Kastriotis (1914 - 1927) and Orlandos (1928 - 1931), and the result of these excavations was the appearance of the northern part of the building and five columns that were located on the southeast corner.

Restoring the unique values of the Athens Acropolis and interfering with the structure of their material requires the highest responsibility. This requires experience in field work, very deep knowledge of the field, knowledge of the basics of conservation and restoration, constant attention in carrying out technical work with architectural objects, and the ability to properly demonstrate one’s finds on museum grounds. Many more years will pass until all the work is completed, but it is then that the Acropolis of Athens, with all its ancient monuments, will appear before our descendants in all its Hellenic beauty.

The Acropolis has become accessible to people with physical disabilities! In accordance with the requirements of the International Olympic Acropolis Committee and the European Union, permits from the Greek Ministry of Culture, the Central Council of Archeology and the order of the Minister, the hill can be reached using an elevator built above the Kanellopoulos Museum, on the northern slope. To the north of the main entrance there is a special entrance through which a person wheelchair, and his companion can get to the elevator. A special moving platform lifts you from the sidewalk to the elevator level.

The Acropolis towers over all of Athens, rising above the hill, the Parthenon, in ancient times, could be seen from any part of Attica, and even from the islands of Salamis and Aegina. The Acropolis was known as a famous cult center, and as a monument of great art, confirming the glory of Athens as the most beautiful city on earth. The thoughtful composition of the entire ensemble, perfectly found general proportions, the finest modeling of architectural details and their unusually accurate drawing, the close relationship between architecture and sculptural decoration make the buildings of the Acropolis highest achievement ancient Greek architecture, and one of the most outstanding monuments of world art.

Architectural Ensemble of the Acropolis

The main component that forms the urban silhouette of Athens is the Acropolis. It was not for nothing that in ancient times this territory was called a sanctuary; the famous cult center became a unique monument art.

Combining into a single whole, buildings and temples form a common ensemble, the composition has a characteristic proportionality. The architecture and numerous sculptures on display are the best example of the achievements of ancient Greek culture; here you can observe the finest sculpting, complex architectural details and drawings.

Few people know that the construction of multi-storey buildings is prohibited in Athens. This decision is directly related to the Acropolis, which for hundreds of years has served as an indispensable landmark for moving around the city. The attraction is visible from every corner and alley. People carefully preserve this tradition, because high-rise buildings can change the enchanting and inspiring panoramic view in a matter of months.

Rising proudly above the hill, the Parthenon is visible even from such distant points as the islands of Salamis and Aegina. One of the first things the sailors saw when approaching the shores was the shine of the spear and helmet of the statue of Athena the Warrior.

An outstanding ensemble of monuments of world art clearly demonstrates the greatness of ancient Greek culture, and at the same time, the origin and formation of European civilization. Thousands of years later, the surviving remains of the buildings have not lost their historical value, and from the point of view of artistic significance, they have received the status of an “unattainable” example of art.

Site plan and characteristics of cultural sites of the Acropolis

The compositional ensemble of the Athens Acropolis was built on a grand scale, historical territory has unique features. The vast area is difficult to take in at a glance. Only the small part historical exhibits located in the open air.

Site plan of the Athens Acropolis

1. Parthenon
2. Hecatompedon
3. Erechtheion
4. Statue of Athena Promachos
5. Propylaea
6. Temple of Nike Apteros
7. Eleusinion
8. Bravronion
9. Chalcotheca
10. Pandroseion
11. Arreforion
12. Athens altar
13. Sanctuary of Zeus Polyaeus
14. Sanctuary of Pandion
15. Odeon of Herodes Atticus
16. Stoa of Eumenes
17. Asklepion
18. Theater of Dionysus
19. Odeon of Pericles
20. Temenos of Dionysus
21. Sanctuary of Aglavra

During the time of the ancient Greeks, it was possible to climb to the Acropolis of Athens along a single narrow road. Based on defensive purposes, the entrance was made from the western side. The ceremonial gate of the Propylaea was built on the passage; the design plan belonged to the architect Mnesicles. The gates were made of marble, ennobled by a wide staircase and two porticoes, which alternately directed towards the hill or the city. On the ceiling of the Propylaea were painted golden stars and a blue sky. Initially, the ascent to the top was an 80-meter path; the steps were made in the 1st century by the Romans during the reign of Emperor Claudius. Closer to the top of the slope there was a transverse wall, in which the builders prudently made five entrances. The central passage was intended for ceremonial processions; the rest of the time it was closed with a bronze door. The gates were the original boundaries of the sanctuary.

Following the Propylaea is the Temple of the Wingless Nike; the walls of a small marble structure have four columns. Construction of the building was planned to begin in 450, but construction actually began only in 427; construction work took about 6 years. The architect Callicrates decorated the temple with an elegant sculptural frieze ribbon; it depicted episodes of the battle between the Greeks and the Persians, images olympian gods. A wooden statue of the goddess of victory was placed inside the temple. The ancient Greeks depicted Nike in an unusual way; the girl was without traditional wings, so that victory could not “fly away” from them. In its hands the statue held a helmet and a pomegranate fruit, which symbolized the victorious world.

The greatest monument of art, the main element of the Acropolis ensemble, is the temple of the goddess Athena, which is better known as the Parthenon. The length of the structure is about 70 m, the width is slightly more than 30 m, and there are columns 10 m high along the perimeter.

Inside the temple was the famous sculpture of Athena the Virgin, its creator was main architector Acropolis - Phidias. The figure of Athena was 12 meters. The statue stood on a small pedestal, in its right hand was the image of the goddess of victory Nike, and in its left was a spear. The victorious spirit and majesty of the sculpture were given by additional elements, namely a shield, a helmet, an aegis, a luxurious robe, and the symbolic mask of Medusa the Gorgon. The goddess's face and hands were made of ivory, weapons and clothing items were cast from gold, and the natural shine of her eyes was achieved with the help of precious stones.

Another outstanding architectural monument era ancient Greece is the Erechtein Temple, its author remains unknown to this day. The building is located near the Parthenon. The origin of the temple is connected with interesting legend, which is deeply intertwined with the history of the city’s name. The ancient shrine is dedicated to Athena, Poseidon, and the famous king of Athens, Erechtheus. The first two fought for the right to patronize the city, then the Gods of Olympus invited everyone to make a gift for the residents and a large Greek polis.
According to the conditions, the one whose gift was recognized as the best became the patron. Poseidon washed the shores of the city sea water, and the goddess Athena gave him an olive tree. The latter gift was considered more valuable, and the policy was named Athens in honor of the new patroness.

The Erechtein Temple served as a kind of storage facility; the most valuable items were collected here: a wooden statue of a warrior goddess, a sacred peplos, and the altars of Ifestus and Erechtheus. The main religious rites were performed in this place. The building united several sanctuaries, but its size was small. The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that during construction the western part of the building was deliberately made 3 meters lower than the eastern side. This technique was taken to hide the unevenness of the earth's surface.

In addition to the main historical sites mentioned above, the Acropolis complex includes the following structures:

- Bule Gate. An emergency entrance to the Acropolis of Athens, which was built into the fortress walls after the battles with the Heruli in 267. The French architect Ernest Bullet excavated this area in 1825, and the secret gates were named in his honor.

— Sanctuary of Aphrodite Pandemos. The Temple of Aphrodite was located right side from the Bule gate. In modern times, all that remains of the building are ruins and an architrave, which is honorably decorated with garlands and doves.

— Sanctuary of Artemis Bravronia. The building is located on the eastern side, near the ruins of the Mycenaean walls. Pisistratus is considered the creator; the cult of Artemis was widespread in his homeland. The temple is made in the form of a Dorian colonnade, to which two “U” shaped wings adjoined. In the side colonnades there were two statues of Artemis, one of them was created by the great sculptor Praxiteles, and the second was made of wood, the author remained unknown.

— Chalkoteka. Directly behind the Temple of Artemis there was a building designed to store items necessary for cult rites and worship of the goddess Athena. Chalkoteka was supposedly built in the middle of the 5th century BC, the building was reconstructed in the Roman period.

— Temple of Augustus. In 27 BC. On the east side of the Parthenon, a small round temple with 9 Ionic columns was erected. At the foot of the building there was an inscription: “the temple is dedicated to Roma and Augustus from the grateful Athenians.”

— Sanctuary of Zeus Polyaeus. In a small temple named after Zeus, the ritual of Diipoli was held; today, rubble of stones remains from the building. The territory of the building consisted of a rectangular fence, which separated a small temple and the hall of gifts.

— Theater of Dionysus. Enough large area on the southern side is occupied by the most ancient theater, created in honor of the god of winemaking. One of the legends says that the inhabitants of Athens took the life of Dionysus because they mistakenly believed that he wanted to poison them with wine. On this day it was decided to celebrate the holiday of Dionysus, in honor of the murdered god. Mass celebrations led to the creation of the first theater. It was here that the theatrical performances of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and others were first shown.

Having passed through entire eras, the modern Acropolis of Athens has not lost its former greatness. The significant building captivates tourists with its scale; here, every stone keeps centuries-old secrets and is imbued with historical events.

A modern project for the restoration of the Athens Acropolis.

The restoration of the ancient appearance and large-scale restoration work on the territory of the Athens Acropolis began only at the end of the 19th century, but in general, the attempts at the first reconstructions could be called ineffective. In the 70s of the 20th century, the immediate intervention of architects and builders was required to preserve the centuries-old heritage. During this period, it was decided to transfer most of the sculptures and bas-reliefs to the territory of museums, one of the main reasons for this was the growing level of pollution environment.

During the “rescue” work, new, unforeseen problems arose; the foundation of many buildings was unstable. A large number of unique architectural details were located among the rubble that remained from past fires, explosions, earthquakes and other disasters. The surviving cultural samples needed careful treatment, creation of intimate conditions, and conservation.

The modern appearance of the Acropolis is only vaguely similar to the small city that existed in the “golden” times. Many cultural exhibits can no longer be restored; they were irretrievably destroyed. For example: In the 13th century, a delightful statue of Athena the warrior was taken to Constantinople, and a little later it was burned and destroyed. For other buildings, restoration work is so large-scale that after its completion the building loses its former exclusivity and uniqueness, in particular this concerns the Temple of the Wingless Nike.

Residents of Greece are outraged by the reluctance of the British Museum to return the marble statues of the Parthenon, which were taken to England at the beginning of the 19th century by Lord Elgin. The British Museum paid Lord £35,000 for the exhibits.

Major works were devoted to the problem of marble destruction. Over time, connecting iron structures began to have a negative impact on natural stone; the process was accelerated by active emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere. The marble gradually began to turn into limestone. To fix the problem, it was necessary to completely remove the iron structures and replace them with brass ones. In some cases, it was impossible to stop the chemical destruction; some of these exhibits were sent to the museum, and authentic copies were installed in their place.

Today, scientific and archaeological research is being carried out in the Athens Acropolis in parallel with technical work. The goal of the scientists’ work is to ensure maximum compliance of the work carried out with strict international requirements, which are presented for the reconstruction of the most significant historical monuments. The work being carried out is managed by the Committee for the Preservation of Monuments of the Acropolis, funding is provided by the European Union and the Greek state.

Reminder for tourists

The entrance ticket to the Acropolis of Athens is 12 euros, 6 euros for students and pensioners from the European Union, free for children and schoolchildren. This price additionally includes free visit Agora, Temple of Zeus, Theater of Dionysus, Library of Hadrian, Cemetery of Ancient Athens. The ticket is valid for 4 days from the date of purchase.

It is better to visit the Athens Acropolis from the very opening, at 8 am, because after 9 o’clock numerous excursions arrive, and crowds of tourists fill everything. A tour of the Acropolis of Athens takes on average 4-6 hours. It is recommended to explore the historical ensemble of attractions in a group with a guide. In summer, it is necessary to have a hat and sufficient water. Shoes for visiting the territory should be comfortable; even in dry weather, the well-trodden paths are very slippery. Take time to visit the new modern Acropolis Museum. It is located 300 meters from the attraction. The glass building stands out noticeably against the background of the general panorama, unique museum built on an archaeological site. A visit to the museum is paid additionally, the price is symbolic - 1 euro.

Free entry:
March 6 (memory day of Melina Mercouri, actress, singer, minister of culture)
June 5 (International Environment Day)
April 18 (International Monument Day)
May 18 (International Museum Day)
last weekend of September (European Heritage Days)

Weekend: January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, Holy Spirit Day, December 25, 26.

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