The Acropolis of Athens and its temples. Athens Acropolis - getting to know the main symbol of Greece

Athens Acropolis(Greece) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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Each polis of Ancient Greece had its own Acropolis, but none of them can surpass Athens in scale, layout and concentration of so many monuments of past eras.

The capital of Greece is simply unthinkable without it; it is rightfully considered its calling card, a real mecca for tourists from all over the world. Here time stands still, frozen in the impeccable elegance of architectural forms. Everything here looks majestic and amazes with its scope and monumentality, testifying to high level development of the culture of the ancient Greeks and for centuries remaining a model of world architecture.

Initially, there was an imperial palace on the Acropolis hill, and in the 7th century BC large-scale reconstruction began and the foundation of the first and most significant temple, the Parthenon, was laid. It amazes not only with its size, but also with its special layout - it can be seen in volume. If you look at the building from the central gate, three walls appear simultaneously. The secret is that the columns of the Parthenon are located at a certain angle to each other, which also determines a number of other interesting architectural features. And the main decoration of the temple was the statue of Athena, made of ivory and gold. Around the 5th century BC, it was taken to Constantinople, where it was burned in a fire.

Acropolis

No less grandiose is the Erechtheinon, built on the site where the legendary dispute between Poseidon and Athena took place. Here, in the sanctuary of Pandora, an olive branch was kept, and a spring flowed with sea ​​water. In addition, the temple has famous sculptures of the Caryatids - six beauties that replace the columns of the temple, many friezes and mosaics that have been preserved in some places.

The temple of the goddess Nike also stands out among others, which, according to legend, the Athenians left without wings so that she would not fly away from them, and victory was always theirs. This is a truly legendary place - it was here that Aegeus waited for his son Theseus, and in a fit of uncontrollable despair he jumped into the sea. And very close by is the ancient Theater of Dionysus, where Aristophanes and Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides presented their dramas and comedies.

Previously, one could enter the Acropolis through a huge gate - the Propylaea, which is a masterpiece of architectural art and was called the “brilliant face of the Acropolis.”

One of the parts of these gates housed the world's first art gallery.

Of course, even the monumental structures of the Acropolis are subject to the influence of time, so everything that can now be seen there is quite badly destroyed. The appearance of the “upper city” was further changed by the numerous destructions and devastation that took place in different times. But, nevertheless, the Athenian Acropolis amazes us with its grace, luxury and perfection, even while in ruins.

Everyone has heard about such a world landmark as the Acropolis of Athens, many can give it short description, and where this monument of history and culture is located - everyone knows from history lessons at school.

However, the Acropolis of Athens is much more than a few paragraphs from a school textbook.

A little bit of history

As myths and legends tell, this ancient monument of human civilization was founded by Kekrops, a sage and warrior, who was half a snake and half a man, and the first king in Athens. What exactly attracted him to the towering hill, which even today has a height of over 150 meters - its flat top, close to the heavens and convenient for construction, or its convenience from a strategic point of view - the myths do not tell.

Costas Tavernarakis/flickr.com

Whether this is true or not, whether Kekrops ever lived or whether this is a collective image is not known, it is only known that the earliest finds made by archaeologists do not date back to the classical time in Greek history, but to the archaic era. Moreover, these are not just the remains of settlements or ceramics, but the foundations of religious buildings and the remains of sculptures.

Each time brought something different to the hill of the Athens Acropolis. In the Mycenaean era, that is, from the 15th to the 13th centuries BC, it served not only the gods, but also the kings of Athens, since it was on the hill that the residence of the kings was located, however, according to archaeologists, it was quite modest.

The most intensive construction in the acropolis and, of course, the reconstruction of old buildings, during which the architecture of the entire complex changed, took place from the 7th to the 6th centuries BC.

And the most famous building, which became a kind of symbol of Greece and actually illustrates the acropolis in Athens - the huge temple of the goddess of wisdom and war, Pallas Athena at that time, Hekatompedon, the predecessor of the Parthenon, was erected during the reign of Peisistratus, that is, between 560 and 527 BC era.

Peisistratus was not only a tyrant whose cruelty was reflected throughout the centuries, but also the son and student of Hippocrates himself. By his direct command, the ancient royal residence was demolished and the Hekatompedon, which was exactly one hundred steps long, grew in place of the palace.

A lot is known about this monument of the Athens Acropolis; excavations have discovered a perfectly preserved foundation, remains of pediments, bases and fragments of statues, and much more. The possibilities of reconstruction made it possible to fully imagine the plan of the building, and computers helped scientists create a three-dimensional model that ideally fits the ancient description of this temple.

Jean-Pierre Dalbera/flickr.com

The Old Acropolis Museum has a permanent exhibition, which presents both models of the development of the hill in various cultural eras in general, and recreated “in miniature” copies of various buildings of the Acropolis, which are the “stars” ancient culture, including models of the royal palace, the Parthenon and, of course, the Hekatompedon.

For the first time, serious destruction, after which it was never fully restored, the Acropolis of Athens suffered in a sad and tragic ancient history The year of Athens is 480 BC.

This was the time of the war with the Persians, as a result of which, during the siege and assault of the city, all the buildings on the hill remained for a long time lying in dust and ruins, since the inhabitants of the city vowed to begin restoring the temples only when the last Persian left the lands of the Greeks.

In 447 BC, the time of destruction and oblivion for today's main attraction of Greece ended. Pericles “got his hands on” the Acropolis, who not only decided to restore individual buildings, but, on the contrary, to build a new, unified in its architectural design, huge complex of the Athenian Acropolis, so that all of Greece would see in it a symbol of the eternity and greatness of Athens.

What the Athenian Acropolis looks like today, of course, if we imagine what remains of the sights of antiquity intact, was first presented in diagrams before Pericles by Phidias himself, the most famous sculptor, engineer and architect of antiquity, whose name has survived to this day.

Carole Raddato/flickr.com

Not only Phidias worked on creating the plan for the new complex on the hill; the best and most worthy Athenian architects of that time worked under his leadership. History has preserved their names - Mnesicles, Callicrates, Ictinus and Archilochus, who, in addition to architecture, also made money from satirical poetry.

His poetic activity is known to our contemporaries much better than his architectural works, and yet it was Archilochus who produced most engineering calculations for the Parthenon - the future main building of the entire complex under construction on the hill, designed so that a walk along the Athenian Acropolis would always lead exactly to it, to the Parthenon.

Since the time of this global development initiated by Pericles, significant changes have bypassed the Acropolis of Athens, but every historical time has sought to find its own use for the buildings on the hill above Athens.

For example, in the 5th century AD, Christians turned the Parthenon into a sanctuary of the Mother of God, and the statue of Athena herself was taken to Constantinople, and after the seizure of Greek land in the 15th century by the Turks, the Parthenon was turned from a church into a mosque and even minarets were added to the structure. However, the Turks over time appreciated the military strategic benefits of the location of the hill where the Acropolis is located, and from a mosque the Parthenon became an arsenal.

However, some of the sights of the Acropolis that survived Christianity could only envy such a fate. For example, the small temple of Nika Apteros, which played the role of a chapel for Christians, was dismantled by the Turks - a number of additional fortifications were erected from the blocks, and a harem was located in the Erechtheion, which stood just north of the Parthenon.

In the 17th century, namely in 1687, during the siege of Athens from the sea, a direct hit from a cannonball practically demolished the central part of the Temple of Pallas Athena; moreover, the Venetians, trying to remove the sculptures from the Parthenon, in a hurry, smashed most of them.

In the 19th century, the British distinguished themselves, namely, Her Majesty's diplomat Thomas Bruce Elgin, who was the 11th Earl of Kincardine and 7th Earl of Elgin, an art connoisseur and one of the creators of the antique collection of the British Museum, its patron and trustee. This “exceptional culture” lord ordered everything that could be physically broken out and loaded onto ships.

Thus, the following people left for Britain:

1. Tens of meters of frieze with metopes - that is, sculptural compositions.
2. All the statues from the Parthenon remaining after the Venetian robbery.
3. Caryatid of the portico of the Erechtheion.

During the liberation Greek rebel war against the Turks, at the same time, in the 19th century, the entire Acropolis of Athens was almost destroyed; even the hill itself might not have remained on the map. The Turks attempted an explosion, which was prevented by Kostas Hormovitis, who became a national hero, whose name many Greek streets bear to this day.

However, shelling from the sea still greatly damaged the sights, with the Erechtheion suffering the most, as if the Turks were trying to destroy the building that they had most altered and most often used, turning it into a harem.

Almost from the moment Greece declared independence from the Turks, restoration and restoration of the appearance of the Athens Hill began, and the first excursion to the Athens Acropolis took place at the end of the 19th century.

The first thing every tourist who wants to see the sights of the Athens Hill with their own eyes should know is that all the statues and columns standing on it are not originals, but the subject of the works of modern sculptors engaged in reconstruction. To see real sculptures and everything that was in the temples at least since the time of Pericles, you need to go not to Greece, but to London, Paris and Rome.

The finds of archaeologists, which are the result of work since the beginning of the last century, are also not in the open air. They are presented in the exhibitions of the Museum of the Acropolis of Athens. Interesting Facts The local guide will tell you about the history of the finds and their study, as well as about the curiosities at the excavations.

Today, the Athens Acropolis is not only a visiting card of the country for tourists, and not just a hill on which you can see architectural dilapidated sights, it is an entire historical, cultural and entertainment complex, which includes both the Acropolis itself and the historical monuments adjacent to its hill .

The territory of the complex is open around the clock; moreover, at night life here is simply in full swing. Although museums are closed until the morning in the evenings, as dusk sets in, amazingly beautiful lighting turns on, and students and young people from all over the world gather on Ares Hill with guitars and cheap wine - to the attention of Russian youth, beer is not in honor at these parties.

Guillen Perez/flickr.com

The reconstructed ruins of the Theater of Dionysus often host performances of completely different types:

• world-famous tenors sang here;
• various laser and light shows came here;
• simple street mimes performed here as part of various festivals;
• performances of Greek theaters were and are still going on here.

This area has retained incredible acoustics and is certainly worth taking a seat on the semicircular stone bench, which, by the way, is genuine, since the theater “pit”, which remembers Socrates, was excavated only in the last century, so no one had time to remove the stones. The Theater of Dionysus today can accommodate about 17 thousand people, all 67 rows for spectators are fully ready to receive them.

Carole Raddato/flickr.com

In addition to the Theater of Dionysus, there is another historical site, partly preserved from the time of Pericles, and partly representing a reconstruction. This is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus, the place where all city meetings took place, where politicians spoke, and where Pericles himself gave a brief address, essentially telling the citizens that the last Persian had left Greek soil, and the time had come to restore the temples on the hill.

Robert Anders/flickr.com

Now the Odeon, just like under Pericles, is designed for 5,000 people, but you can go inside during performances only with tickets. As a rule, dancers perform here; for example, the Russian Bolshoi Theater ballet often comes on tour.

When visiting the complex, the Erechtheion, which has not been fully restored, deserves special attention. This large temple, dedicated to Poseidon and named after King Erechtheus, said to be the son of the god of the seas, boasts a number of reconstructed statues and uniform lighting in evening time, which opens up great opportunities for artistic photography.

Today the entire hill is a huge construction site, with reconstruction, restoration and archaeological research being carried out simultaneously and everywhere. However, it looks very neat and does not interfere at all with either tourist buses with curious lovers of antiquities on them, or tourists walking on their own, or photographers, or performing artists, or anyone else.

How to get there?

Before you get from Athens airport to the entrance to the historical complex, you should think about the fact that it will take all day to explore everything on the hill and near it, not counting the fact that the most beautiful and interesting things happen here after sunset.

Brian Jeffery Beggerly/flickr.com

Therefore, if you come directly to Athens, you should first decide on a hotel, but if you need to spend several hours between flights during transit, then you should use one of the three possible ways leave the airport and visit the Acropolis of Athens:

1. Bus - its stop is located between entrances 4 and 5 of the airport, number X95, you need to get to the final one, to the square with the loud name SYNTAGMA. The ticket costs 5 euros, buses leave every 20 minutes, and the driver collects the fare. From the square you need to literally climb up, on foot, along the pretty cobblestones of Makrigianni Street. It is impossible to get lost - the hill with the Acropolis is clearly visible and it is quite difficult to confuse it with something else.
2. Metro - the station is located at the airport itself, it is easy to find by following the signs, the final destination is the same - SYNTAGMA Square. There is only one line at the airport - blue. It's impossible to get confused. The fare is 8 euros, tickets are available at the metro ticket office at the entrance to the station. The Greek metro has a "collective" ticket system and a "round trip" ticket system. For example, a round-trip ticket costs 14 euros, that is, a savings of 2 euros. The more people travel together “back and forth”, the cheaper the trip. Having reached the square, you can either get out and walk along the Athens streets, or transfer to the neighboring red line and drive to the ACROPOLI station. That is, before entering the museum and the historical complex itself.
3. Taxi is not the best a budget option, the only plus is that the car will take you directly to the entrance steps to the historical complex. The taxi stand is located between the 2nd and 3rd entrances to the airport. The cost will be 35 euros during the day, that is, from 5 am to midnight, and 50 euros for those who want to ride at night.

Video: empires made of stone - Acropolis, Athens, Greece.

What is the price?

The excursion train stops near the New Acropolis Museum. This is a sightseeing tour, very interesting and, most importantly, allows you to decide where to go first. The price of the “train” is 6 euros, the duration of the mini-tour is 60-70 minutes.

The cost of visiting individual monuments sometimes changes, it depends on the load on them from archaeologists and restorers, for example, if a building is closed to visitors, then after opening the ticket will be more expensive than it was before the closure.

However, everything is very democratic in general, for example, visiting the Panathinaikos stadium, where the ancient Olympic Games and other athletic competitions took place, costs 3 euros.

A general entrance ticket to the complex costs 12 euros, is valid for 4 days from the date of purchase, and includes the right to visit:

• Theater of Dionysus;
• Temple of Zeus;
• ruins of the Hadrian Library;
• ancient ancient cemetery - Keramik;
• Parthenon;
• Agora, both classical and later, so-called Roman.

At any moment, you can interrupt the inspection and go down from the entrance to the complex onto Mnisikleous Street, surrounded by greenery and restaurants for every budget and taste. It is impossible to make a mistake with the direction; you need to focus on the visible Mount Lycabettos, with which the street connects the historical complex of the Acropolis.

After having a snack, you can return to the inspection, or just go for a walk, because the ticket to the Acropolis is valid for four days, an unlimited number of times, this “limitation” makes visiting the complex extremely convenient and allows you not to get tired during the inspection.

In distant, legendary times, when the Achaean kings erected “fortified” palaces made of huge stone blocks, and their squads attacked Crete and the coast of the Aegean Sea, in Attica, on the Acropolis - a rocky hill 156 m high, located in the center of the plain, irrigated by the Ilissus River and its tributary Eridanus, the city of Cecropia arose, the future world famous Athens...
The best time to view the ruins of the Acropolis is in the early summer morning or evening. At dawn, the first rays of the sun, sliding along the slopes of the Parneta and Aigaleia mountains, paint the rocks of Salamis pinkish-violet, run along the peaks of the Pnyx and Areopagus and linger for a long time on the Acropolis. The evening sun gilds and ignites the Parthenon; the clear air gives lively movement to the shadows, and it seems that the ruins are as beautiful as the newly built temples were once beautiful. In the middle of the day, the Acropolis is flooded with bright light, lengthening the black shadows of the capitals and ceilings of the columns. At this hour the sun burns like molten metal, blinding the eyes. And on those rare days in Athens, when the sky darkens, as before a storm, the temples on the mountain become dull and gray, like the ashes of bygone centuries...

According to legend, Athens was founded by the legendary king Kekrop. The Greeks attributed to him the establishment of monogamous marriage, the founding of 12 cities, the prohibition of human sacrifices and the establishment of the cult of Zeus the Thunderer, Olympian Zeus. The name of another legendary king, Erichthonius (or Erechtheus, although there is great confusion in the identification of these two names), the son of the blacksmith god Hephaestus and the Earth goddess Gaia, is associated with the establishment of the cult of the goddess Athena in Attica and the renaming of Cecropia in her honor, the beginning of coinage, introduction of chariot racing. A descendant of Erichthonius was King Aegeus, whose son. Theseus killed the Minotaur and freed Athens from heavy tribute to Crete. Theseus, who became the king of Athens after his return from Crete, is considered the founder of Athenian democracy.
Legends about how it arose take us to distant legendary times.
...the magnificent city of Athens,
The region of King Erechtheus, whom Mother Earth gave birth to in ancient centuries, was raised by Pallas Athena.
And she brought her to Athens, and installed her in her brilliant temple. Homer. Iliad

Back in the 2nd millennium BC. the territory of the Acropolis coincided with the original territory of Athens and was surrounded by defensive walls. Particularly powerful fortifications were built on the western, flat side of the hill. Enneapylon, the “Nine Gates”, a bastion with nine gates, was erected here. Behind the walls was the ancient palace of the Athenian kings - the “Palace of Erechtheus”. Later, the sanctuary of the goddess Athena appeared in this palace, and even later, all buildings of a secular nature found other places, and the Acropolis turned into the center religious life ancient Athens. The name of the Sacred Rock was assigned to it - there were numerous sanctuaries dedicated to the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city.
Athens, named after the daughter of Zeus Athena, served as the main center of the cult of this goddess. According to Greek mythology, Athena emerged fully armed from the head of Zeus. This was the beloved daughter of the thunder god, whom he could not refuse anything. The eternally virgin goddess of the sky, she, along with Zeus, sent thunder and lightning, but also warmth and light. Athena is a warrior goddess who repels the blows of enemies; patroness of agriculture, national civic assemblies; the embodiment of pure reason, highest wisdom; goddess of science and art. Climbing the hill of the Acropolis, the ancient Hellene seemed to enter the kingdom of this many-faced goddess.

The creation of the majestic ensemble of the Acropolis is associated with the victory of the Greeks in the Greco-Persian wars. Representatives from all Greek cities, meeting in 449 BC, accepted the plan for the development of the Sacred Rock proposed by Pericles. The grandiose architectural and artistic ensemble was supposed to become a worthy monument to the great victory. The wealth of Athens and its dominant position provided Pericles with ample opportunities in the construction he planned. To decorate the famous city, he drew funds at his own discretion from the temple treasuries, and even from the general treasury of the states of the Athenian Maritime League.
Whole mountains of snow-white marble, mined nearby, were delivered to the foot of the Acropolis. The best Greek architects, sculptors and painters considered it an honor to work for the glory of the generally recognized capital of Hellenic art. Several architects participated in the construction of the Acropolis. But, according to Plutarch, Phidias was in charge of everything. In the entire ensemble one can feel the unity of its concept and a single principle, which left its stamp on the details of all the main monuments.
The hill on which the monuments of the Acropolis were erected is uneven in its outline. The builders did not come into conflict with nature, but, accepting it as it is, they ennobled it with their art, creating an ensemble that was more perfect in its harmony than nature. The harmonious buildings of the Acropolis reign over the shapeless block of rock, as if symbolizing the victory of reason over chaos. On an uneven hill, the ensemble is perceived gradually. Each monument lives its own life in it, each is deeply individual, and its beauty is revealed to the eye in parts, without violating the unity of the impression.

Above the steep slope of the sacred hill, the architect Mnesicles erected the famous white marble buildings of the Propylaea - the ceremonial entrance to the Acropolis, with Doric porticos located at different levels, connected by an Ionic colonnade. Amazing the imagination, the majestic harmony of the Propylaea immediately introduced the visitor to the world of beauty affirmed by human genius. On the other side of the Propylaea stood a giant bronze statue of Athena Promachos, the warrior Athena, sculpted by Phidias, standing on the Acropolis square. The fearless daughter of Zeus personified the military power and glory of her city. From the foot of the statue, vast distances opened up to the eye, and sailors rounding the southern tip of Attica clearly saw the high helmet and spear of the warrior goddess sparkling in the sun.
Beyond the square rose the columns of the Parthenon, the great temple, under the shadow of which once stood another statue of Athena, also sculpted by Phidias: the statue of the Virgin Athena, Athena Parthenos. Like Olympian Zeus, it was a chrysoelephantine statue, that is, made of gold and ivory. It took about 1200 kg to make precious metal. Today, only the evidence of ancient authors, a reduced copy that has survived to this day, and coins and medallions with the image of Athena give us an idea of ​​this masterpiece of Phidias.

Over the past centuries, the columns of the Parthenon, which once shone with the whiteness of Pentelicon marble, seem to have been covered with a noble patina. Painted in brownish-golden tones, they stand out in relief against the blue sky. The Parthenon was the temple of Athena Polias (City Guardian) and was usually called simply the "Temple" or "Great Temple".
The Parthenon was built in 447-438. BC. architects Ictinus and Callicrates under the general direction of Phidias. In agreement with Pericles, he wished to embody the idea of ​​triumphant democracy in this most important monument of the Acropolis. The design of the temple was carefully thought out. The book about the work of Ictinus and his assistant Catlicrates is unfortunately lost, but the very fact of its existence indicates a lot of preliminary theoretical work. This largely explains the speed of construction, which, according to Plutarch, bordered on a miracle: the temple was built in just 9 years. Finishing work continued until 432 BC.
The pinnacle of ancient architecture, the Parthenon was already recognized in ancient times as the most remarkable monument of the Doric style. It is almost impossible to notice with the naked eye that in its appearance... there are practically no straight lines. The Parthenon columns (eight on the facades and seventeen on the sides) are slightly inclined inward with a slight convex curvature of the horizontals of the base and ceiling. These subtle deviations from the canon are of decisive importance. Without changing its basic laws, the heavy Doric order here acquires a relaxed grace, which creates a powerful architectural image of impeccable clarity and purity.

The Erechtheion is the second most important monument of the Acropolis. In ancient times it was the main temple dedicated to the goddess Athena. And if the Parthenon was assigned the role of a public temple, then the Erechtheion is more of a priestly temple. The main sacraments associated with the worship of Athena were performed here, and an ancient statue of this goddess was kept here.
All the main shrines of Athens were concentrated within the walls of the Erechtheion. The temple itself was built on the site of the legendary dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Athens. According to legend, the gods gave the right to resolve this dispute to the elders of Athens. The judges decided to give victory to the god whose gift would be more valuable to the city. Poseidon struck with his trident and a salt spring gushed out of the slopes of the Acropolis. Athena struck with a spear - and arose on the Acropolis olive Tree. This gift seemed more useful to the Athenians. Thus, Athena emerged victorious in the dispute, and the olive tree became the symbol of the city.
In one of the halls of the Erechtheion one could see the mark left by Poseidon's trident on the rock during his dispute with Athena. Since this shrine was always supposed to be in the open air, holes were made in the ceiling of the portico, which have survived to this day. Nearby was the entrance to the cave located under the temple, where the sacred snake of the goddess Athena lived, which was considered the personification of the legendary king and hero, patron of Athens Erechtheus (or Erichthonius - these two mythological heroes are sometimes separated, sometimes identified), after whom the temple received its name.
Under the northern portico of the temple, the tomb of Erechtheus was preserved, and in the western part there was a well with salt water. It was considered the very source that Poseidon created, and... According to legend, it communicated with the sea. In front of the Erechtheion, since ancient times, there has been a sacred olive tree, which grew from the blow of the spear of the goddess Athena, and in the corner of the western facade of the temple was the Kekropion - the grave and sanctuary of the legendary Kekrops, the first king of Attica. Above it today rises the world-famous portico of the caryatids - the architectural symbol of the Erechtheion. There is an assumption that the prototypes of the caryatids of the Erechtheion were the arrephors - ministers of the cult of Athena, chosen from the best families of Athens. Their functions included the production of the sacred peplos, with which the ancient statue of Athena, kept in the Erechtheion, was annually decorated.
The goddess Athena appears on the Acropolis and in another of her incarnations - Athena Nike, the goddess of victory. The first sanctuary of Nike on the Acropolis was destroyed by the Persians during the Greco-Persian Wars. In 448 BC, on the occasion of peace ending the war with the Persians. It was decided to build a new temple of Athena Nike on the Acropolis, or, as it was also called, the temple of “Wingless Victory”: although the goddess of victory Nike was always depicted as winged, Athena the Victorious could not, and should not have had wings.
The nearby Propylaea and the Temple of Athena Nike complemented each other. Their architectural connection created a unique ensemble of the entrance to the sacred rock of the Acropolis. The temple was built by the architect Callicrates in 427-424. BC. This elegant small structure, built of marble, measures 5.6 x 8.3 m. In front of the Temple of Athena Nike there was an open-air altar intended for sacrifices.
During Turkish rule, the Nika Temple was dismantled and used to build fortifications. In the 1830s, after Greece gained independence, the Turkish fortification was carefully dismantled and the Nika Temple was rebuilt. In 1935-1940 it was reconstructed again, and now it appears in all its glory - of course, adjusted for the destructive effects of time. And, as we know, it is inexorable, and today the monuments of the Acropolis, which have survived wars, perestroikas and human vandalism, are exposed to man-made dangers: for several decades, acid rain and toxic smog have been corroding the white marble of ancient temples. There are many plans to save the Acropolis, but none of them have yet been implemented, so restorers are probably still for a long time will not be left without work.

Greece has many architectural sites of high historical value. One of them is Athenian - what is it? Translated from Greek, acropolis means " high city" This is a limestone flat hill above the city (about 80 m high) with steep slopes on all sides except the western one. In ancient times, the main function of this structure was protection from invaders.

Ancient settlements

The ancient Acropolis in Athens is mentioned long before the classical period of history. As a result of the excavations, elements of cultural heritage were discovered that corresponded to the Bronze Age (mainly early and middle). In the VII-VI centuries. BC e. Temples were built, but later destroyed by the Persians.

According to legend, the Greek Acropolis was founded by the Athenian king Kekrops. The elevation in the center bears a name derived from its name - “cecropia”.

Meaning of words

“Parthenon, propylaea, acropolis” - what do these concepts mean, and what is the origin of these words?

• Parthenon - main temple in the Greek Acropolis, dedicated to the goddess Athena. From Greek “parthenos” is translated as “virgin”. Athena had this nickname.
• The word "propylaea" comes from the Greek propylaion. This is the front arch at the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens. It has two multi-level Doric porticos.
• The meaning of the word “acropolis” in Greek literally translates as “acro” - hill, “polis” - city. That is, this is a fortified part located on a hill.
• The Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to Poseidon and Athena. It has an asymmetrical composition located on several levels.
• The Hekatompedon is the very Acropolis, which is dedicated to Athena.

Acropolis and its purpose

Acropolis - what is hidden in this ancient name and what is its meaning? This was the main place for the king to be found. There were also many temples inside where prayers were offered to the Greek gods and sacrifices were made. During the conquest by the Turks, the Acropolis served as a mosque. Today this is ancient monument architectural art.

The Acropolis of Athens as an architectural ensemble

The Acropolis shapes the appearance of the city of Athens. In ancient times, this place had the significance of a sanctuary and cultural center. All internal structures and temples form a single ensemble. The architecture of the Acropolis is unusually skillful, all its parts are integral, there is no place for chance - buildings and monuments, their location are carefully thought out and extremely logical. This ensemble was built asymmetrically and corresponds to two main principles during its heyday: harmony in the balance of masses and the perception of architectural art in the dynamics of its construction. The temples of the Parthenon and Hekatompedon are the center. The Acropolis consists of 21 building elements (theater of Dionysus, the statue of Athena Promachos, the Propylaea, the Athenian altar, the sanctuary of Zeus and others).

Material of manufacture

What does the Acropolis look like today? What materials are all its buildings made of?

Currently, many of architectural monuments The acropolis is undergoing restoration. Therefore, when viewing the sights, you can see that some of them are surrounded by scaffolding. Many buildings, after centuries, have retained their grandeur; from them one can judge the uniqueness and complexity of all architectural details. Examining ancient columns, you might think that the material they were made of was limestone. In fact, all elements of the Acropolis were built from marble, which was quite dilapidated under the influence atmospheric phenomena, and some parts of it were destroyed by wars.

Propylaea

On the western side of the hill is the entrance to the Acropolis. What is Propylaea? This question worries many people who visit the main attraction of Athens for the first time. The Propylaea is the main entrance to the Acropolis, a majestic gate made of marble. They have five openings for passage. The widest of them (equipped with a ramp instead of steps) is located in the middle and was previously intended for horsemen and driving animals for sacrifices. Its width is 4.3 m. The facades of the gate consist of six-column Doric porticoes. In ancient times, the Propylaea, of all the structures of the Acropolis, was most famous and was mentioned much more often than the Parthenon.

Parthenon

The Parthenon is the main temple for which the Acropolis is famous, where bas-reliefs depict scenes from ancient Greek myths, including the birth of Athena from the head of Zeus. The size of the temple is quite impressive: its width is 30 m, its length is about 70 m. The columns along the perimeter are 10 m high. The structure of the columns is amazing: they widen towards the center, and the corner ones are installed with a slight slope in relation to the floor. Thanks to the cunning of ancient architects, the temple looks equally proportional no matter from which side it is viewed. The famous sculpture of the goddess - Athena the Virgin - was installed inside. It was created by the main creator of the Acropolis, the architect Phidias. The goddess's hands and face were made of ivory, parts of her clothing and weapons were made of gold, the shine of her eyes was achieved through the use of natural precious stones. The statue has not survived to this day. Its appearance was restored thanks to ancient copies found.

Erechtheion

A temple where several gods were glorified at once: Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheus (the ancient king of Athens). Inside was Poseidon's well, filled with salt water. According to legend, this well was created as a result of a blow from a trident, which was held in its strong hand great Poseidon. Based on the fact that the temple building was intended for various purposes, it had two entrances, on the northern and eastern sides. Each of them contained its own portico, mounted on Ionic columns. The opening was decorated with an ornate pattern with many carved details and was considered the most beautiful casing of the era of Pericles. Not far from the temple there was a cave in which the sacred snake of the goddess Athena lived. The snake personified the great ruler of the city, Erechtheus. To this day, the interior decoration of this temple has not been preserved; only in the writings of contemporaries can one find a description of the premises.

Theater of Dionysus

Greek theaters were always built on a hillside, with seats for spectators in front of which was a wooden stage. The spectator seats had the shape of a semicircle (they were called “theatron”) and surrounded the area where the choir was located (the area was called an orchestra). In the 4th century. BC e. seats for spectators were made in the form of a depression in the rocky ground and then lined with marble. The Theater of Dionysus is the first monumental Greek theater, located on the southern slope of the Acropolis. Marble chairs that were intended for significant guests and honored residents of Athens have survived to this day. The theater's capacity is 17 thousand people.

Temple of the Goddess Nike

This is another temple that has survived to this day and is part of the ensemble (Acropolis). What is "apteros" - the word for the name of the goddess? Usually Nike was depicted with wings behind her back. But this temple is an exception to the rule, since the inhabitants of Athens decided to keep the victory for themselves. Therefore, the wings were deliberately not made in order to prevent Nika from flying away and leaving her in the city forever. Accordingly, "apteros" means "wingless".

The temple has four Ionic columns, the upper parts of which are decorated with spiral scrolls. The Temple of Nike Apteros was built during the Peloponnesian War, so the bas-reliefs depicted the victory over the Spartans and Persians. During the capture by the Turks, the sanctuary was dismantled for the construction of military fortifications. At the moment, the Nika Temple is often closed to visitors due to restoration.

What is destroyed by time

Some architectural objects have not survived to this day. In their place, only foundations or shapeless ruins of buildings that once adorned the Acropolis were discovered. What did they keep, what did they look like during their heyday? For example, Hekatompedon or Pandroseion? This can be judged from the results of excavations or from literary evidence left to the world by Ancient Greece. At the site of the Hekatompedon, remains of columns and parts of sculptural compositions were discovered. The Sanctuary of Artemis was almost completely destroyed: only minor remains and a warehouse where weapons were stored were found.

New Museum

Located on the territory of the Acropolis, it began its work in 1874. It mainly displays elements that were previously located in the Upper City. The collection grew larger and, after a while, the available premises became insufficient. Not far from the Acropolis, construction began on a new, more spacious building. But the work did not always go smoothly, as some obstacles and problems arose related to the choice of architects or land plot. At the beginning of construction, at the stage of preparing the ground for laying the foundation, historically significant architectural objects were discovered. As a result, the construction of the museum was suspended.

In 2009, a three-level museum complex with a glass floor was opened, giving visitors the opportunity to observe the excavations.

Greek Ακρόπολη Αθηνών
eng. The Acropolis of Athens

general information

Among all the attractions of Greece, the Acropolis occupies a special place. The Acropolis of Athens stands out from all the architectural monuments of the ancient Greeks.

Each Greek polis had its own Acropolis, but none of them can be compared with the splendor and monumentality of the Athenian one. The architectural ensemble was erected on a gentle hilltop in honor of the patroness ancient city goddess of war, wisdom and justice - Athena. The Acropolis in Athens was a significant site for the ancient Greeks for a long time. The history of the ancient sanctuary is closely intertwined with the well-known Greek mythology.

The Acropolis was built during the heyday of Athens under Pericles in the fifth century BC. This monument of ancient Greek architecture reflected the power, wealth and majesty of Athens at that time.

The Acropolis of Athens blends harmoniously into the surrounding area. It combines the features of ancient Greek classical architecture with architectural elements that were innovative for that time.

Erechtheion Temple

In the VII-VI centuries. BC. Large-scale work began on the construction of the first temples. During the reign of Pisistratus, the Hekatompedon temple was erected, dedicated to the goddess Athena. At this time, two large temples were built - the “Old Temple” and “Hekatompedos”, as well as the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, for which many donations were made in the form of bronze and terracotta figurines with inscriptions praising the ancient goddess.

Parthenon Temple

In 490 BC. The ancient Greeks began building the monumental and majestic temple of the Pre-Parthenon. However, the construction was never completed. During the war with the Persians in 480 BC. the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed. Residents of the ancient city buried the surviving objects that decorated the temples in cavities of the rock. And the Acropolis itself acquired two new defensive walls. The ruins of the temples on the northern part of the Acropolis hill can still be seen in one of the walls in which they were included.

Temple of Roma and Augustus

During the heyday of the cultural life of ancient Athens in the middle of the 5th century. BC. under the leadership of the outstanding Greek statesman Pericles began the grandiose construction of the Parthenon. Not only Greeks, but also foreigners were involved in the work. At this time, the most famous buildings of the Acropolis were created - the Parthenon itself, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Nike Apteros. Outstanding architects and builders worked on the construction of these truly amazing buildings. ancient Greece– Callicrates, Ictinus, Mnesicles, Archilochus and many others. The decoration of the temples was created by the hands of famous artists and sculptors of that era.

The temples of the Acropolis, located on the northern side of the hill, were erected in honor of various olympian gods. And on the southern part of the Acropolis, temples were built that praised the numerous qualities of the patron goddess of the city: like Polyas (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promash (goddess of war), Ergan (goddess of manual labor) and Nike (Victory).

In 27 BC. The architectural ensemble of the Acropolis complemented the small Temple of Augustus and Roma. In the 3rd century. BC. A defensive wall with two gates was erected around the Acropolis, which remain intact today.

View of the Acropolis

After the establishment of Christianity, particularly in the sixth century AD, the Acropolis temples were converted into Christian churches.

Despite the barbaric attitude of people and the mercilessness of time, the temples of the Acropolis have not lost their grandeur and proudly tower over Athens today.

Ticket prices and excursion services

The Acropolis of Athens is open from Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. Due to extreme heat (over 39°), museum opening hours may change.

The last visitors can enter the museum 30 minutes before closing.

The museum is closed on holidays:
January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26.

Entrance to the museum is paid.

The ticket price is - 20€
For parents and teachers accompanying children primary school, the museum provides benefits - 10€

The ticket price includes a visit to the excavations of the Acropolis, as well as its two slopes: the Southern slope of the Acropolis and the Northern slope of the Acropolis

The museum does not offer guided tours in Russian, but when purchasing a ticket you can ask for a brochure in Russian. To get acquainted with the objects of the Acropolis, we recommend setting aside 1.5 hours of time, and it is best to come before the opening, so you will have the opportunity to take pictures against the backdrop of attractions, and not a large crowd of people. Be sure to stock up drinking water, but if you didn’t bring water with you, there are drinking fountains on the museum grounds. There are many cafes near the entrance to the Acropolis, but the prices there are significantly high - lemonade from 4.5 €

There is also a single ticket ( special ticket package), valid for 5 days for visiting 11 museums: Acropolis of Athens, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Aristotle's Lyceum, Hadrian's Library, Archaeological Museum of Ceramics, Athens Agora, Ceramics, Archaeological Museum of Athens Agora, North Slope of the Acropolis, Roman Agora, South Slope of the Acropolis.

The cost of a single ticket is 30€ , or 15€ (if you are a parent or teacher accompanying a student)