The Acropolisof AThens

Reconstructed site plan of the monumentson the Acropolis hill (I. Travlos).

1. Temple of Athena nike
2. propylaea
3. Monument of Agrippa
4. sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia
5. chalkotheke
6. pedestal of the statue of Athena promachos
7. Arrhephorion
8. pandroseion
9. erechtheion
10. “old Temple” of Athena (Archaios Neos)

11. Altar of Athena
12. parthenon
13. Temple of rome and Augustus
14. sanctuary of Zeus polieus
15. sanctuary of pandion
16. old Acropolis Museum
17. odeion of herodes Atticus18. stoa of eumenes
19. Asklepieion
20. Theatre of Dionysos

The Parthenon
The parthenon, a temple dedicated to Athena parthenos, isconsidered the most perfect Doric temple of classical antiquity
due to its proportions, architectural refinements and masterfulconstruction. it was built between 447 and 438 Bc, while its
sculptural decoration was completed in 432 Bc and it is madeof white pentelic marble. The temple is defined by an outercolonnade that consists of 8 columns on either narrow side and17 columns that run along each of its long sides. The architects who designed the monument were iktinus and Kallikrates,
whereas the person in charge of its sculptural decoration wasthe great sculptor pheidias, who also created the chryselephantine statue of Athena parthenos that was housed in the interiorof the temple.

The rich sculptural decoration of the parthenon consists of threegroups: the compositions on the pediments, the relief metopes
above the outer colonnade of the temple and the frieze, a continuous band carved in relief that occupies the top part of the wallsof the temple and the inner colonnade. The east pediment depicts
the birth of Athena, while the west illustrates the contest between
Athena and poseidon over the patronage of the Attic land. The
metopes feature the Gigantomachy on the east side, the sackof Troy on the north side, whereas the Amazonomachy and thecentauromachy are represented on the west and the south side
respectively. Along the frieze unfolds the procession of the Great
panathenaea, the greatest festival of the city that was celebrated
every four years in honour of the goddess Athena.
from 1802 to 1803 lord elgin detached a large part of the parthenon sculptures which are on display today at the British Museum.

TheThe Propylaea
Propylaea

The temple
temple ofof Athena
Athena Nike
NikeTheThe
The propylaea,
propylaea, thethe monumental
monumental entrance
entrance toto thethe sanctuary
sanctuary ofofthethe Acropolis,
Acropolis, werewere built
built onon thethe site
site ofof anan earlier
earlier propylon
propylon atat
thethe west
west extremity
extremity ofof thethe hillʼshillʼs plateau,
plateau, between
between 437
437 andand 432
432
Bc,
Bc, andand they
they werewere designed
designed byby thethe architectarchitect Mnesikles.
Mnesikles. They
They
comprisecomprise aa central
central rectangular
rectangular buildingbuilding with
with e./W.
e./W. orientation,orientation,
flankedflanked byby twotwo wings
wings onon thethe north
north andand south
south side.
side. TheThe room
room ininthe
the north
north wing
wing isis known
known asas thethe “pinakotheke”“pinakotheke” since,
since, according
according
toto thethe traveller
traveller pausanias
pausanias (2nd(2nd c.
c. AD),AD), its
its walls
walls werewere decorated
decoratedwithwith paintings.
paintings.

The smallsmall elegant
elegant ionic
ionic temple,temple, which
which stands
stands at
at thethe top
top ofof thethe bastion
bastionThe
at thethe southwest
southwest edge
edge ofof thethe Acropolis
Acropolis hill,hill, waswas dedicateddedicated toto Athena
Athenaat
nike (Victory).
(Victory). itit was
was built
built fromfrom 427
427 toto 424
424 BcBc replacing
replacing anan earlier
earliernikesmaller temple
temple mademade ofof poros
poros stone.
stone. its
its architectarchitect waswas Kallikrates.
Kallikrates. TheThesmallerfrieze ofof thethe temple
temple depicts
depicts battle
battle scenes
scenes between
between Greeks,
Greeks, combats
combatsfriezebetween thethe Greeks
Greeks andand thethe persians,persians, as
as wellwell asas thethe assembly
assembly ofof thethebetween
olympian gods.
gods. AA marble
marble parapet
parapet with
with representations
representations ofof winged
wingedolympiannikai (Victories)(Victories) andand thethe seatedseated figure
figure ofof thethe goddess
goddess Athena
Athena propronikai
tected thethe top
top part
part along
along thethe three
three sides
sides ofof thethe bastion.
bastion.
tectedThe Erechtheion
The ionic building on the north side of the Acropolis plateau
was named Erechtheion after the mythical king of Athens erechtheus. construction began either before 431 Bc or after 421
Bc and was completed in 406 Bc following an interruption
caused by the peloponnesian War.
its peculiar shape is the result of the uneven terrain and theneed to house the age-old Sacred Tokens. it was dedicatedto the cults of Athena polias as well as poseidon erechtheus,
hephaestus and the hero Boutes. on the north side of the edificea magnificent propylon is formed, whereas the south side isdominated by the famous Prostasis (porch) of the Maidens(Korai) or caryatids which constitutes the overground part of thetomb of the mythical king of Athens cecrops.
on the west side the erechtheion was connected to the pandroseion,a sanctuary dedicated to the daughter of cecrops, pandrosos. Therelay the sacred olive Tree of the goddess Athena.
in the early 19th century lord elgin removed one of the caryatids,
which is exhibited today at the British Museum.

11. Altar of Athena
12. parthenon
13. Temple of rome and Augustus
14. sanctuary of Zeus polieus
15. sanctuary of pandion
16. old Acropolis Museum
17. odeion of herodes Atticus
18. stoa of eumenes
19. Asklepieion
20. Theatre of Dionysos

OPERATING RULES
Please be informed that the following is strictly prohibited:(Law 3028/2002 and Official
Government Gazette 88/B/23.1.2004)• to collect, remove or damage any kind of object, including ancientand contemporary works of art as well as any natural item,• to consume food or beverages,• to smoke,• to produce litter of any kind,• to behave, dress or act in a way not compatible with the natureof the archaeological site/museum,• entrance to people under the influence of substances (intoxicants,narcotics etc.),• entrance to pets, except for dogs accompanying people withdisabilities,• entrance to all vehicles, except for emergency vehicles and thoseused for conducting archaeological works.
Furthermore, visitors and guides are kindly requested:• to comply with the instructions and indications of the securityguards,• to follow the signs, walk along marked routes and avoid entering
restricted areas,• not to touch any work of art,
• to be very careful whilst being near areas of high risk or areas
where works are in progress.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND FILMING(Official Government Gazette 1138/Β/10.04.2012,3046/Β/30.12.2011 and 648/Β/07.03.2012)• photography and filming with professional cameras as well as
aerial photography and filming, with or without human presence,
are allowed only after a special permit has been issued and fees
have been paid.
Reconstructedsite plan of the monuments• onphotography
filmingwith amateur cameras are permitted for
the Acropolisandhill (I.
Travlos).
free unless they are to be used for commercial purposes.
• photography with the use of supplementary lighting systems inside
a museum
is not allowed,
unless permission is granted.
1. Templeof Athenanike
2. propylaea
Non-compliancethe above rules can lead to the eviction
3. Monument ofwith
Agrippaof recalcitrant
4. sanctuary of Artemis
Brauronia visitors.
5. chalkothekeelevator
available for wheelchairs, people with diminished abilities
pedestal
the statuetwoof Athena
and6.any
parentofattendingor morepromachos
infants on her/his own. The
7. Arrhephorion
elevator
is located about 350 m. far from the main entrance of the
8. pandroseionarchaeologicalsite. Users of the elevator should contact in advanceerechtheion
for9.
details
and terms (+30 210 3214172). The facility is not avail10. during“old Temple”
Athenaconditions(ArchaiosandNeos)
able
extremeofweather
strong winds.

The Acropolis of Athens
The earliest evidence of habitation on the naturally fortified hillof the Acropolis of Athens dates back to the Middle neolithic
period (5000-4000 Bc). During the Mycenaean period (16001100 Bc) it served as the seat of the local ruler and in the 13thcentury Bc it was reinforced with strong fortification. in the 6thcentury Bc, being the most significant sanctuary of the city consecrated primarily to its patron goddess Athena, the Acropolis
acquired its first monumental temples, whereas the faithful dedicated large numbers of votive offerings. of the early shrines thefoundations of the “old Temple” of Athena (Archaios Neos) arestill visible to the south of the erechtheion that was built later.
The buildings that dominate today the sacred rock, the propylaea, the parthenon, the erechtheion and the Temple of Athena
nike, were erected in the aftermath of the persian destructionthat occurred in 480 Bc, during the classical period, and more
specifically in the second half of the 5th century Bc, on theinitiative of perikles, the inspired political leader that turned Athens into a hegemonic power. The monuments of the Acropolis
represent the political, economic, artistic and intellectual apogee of the Athenian democracy.
During the long history of the Acropolis, its monuments haveundergone many alterations when christianity prevailed, as
well as during the frankish rule (1205–1456) and the ottoman occupation (1456-1830).

The Acropolis of AThens
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