Athens Acropolis: a brief description of the complex. Order excursions Online

Athens Acropolis, crowned with the ruins of the Parthenon, is one of the archetypal images of world culture. Even the first glance at these ancient ruins over roads filled with cars gives an unusual experience: something unusual and at the same time extremely familiar, almost familiar. The Parthenon is a symbol of the power of the Athenian polis, and as such it was known throughout the Ancient World. But it is unlikely that the creators of the temple foresaw that its ruins would symbolize the emergence and formation of world civilization - not to mention the fact that two and a half thousand years later the Parthenon would attract great amount tourists (approximately two million annually).

The Acropolis of Athens is a rock. Almost none of them are antique greek city could not do without its acropolis (the word itself means upper city), but the Athenian “upper city” is the Acropolis with a capital A, and when mentioning it, there is no need to go into additional explanations. The Acropolis is a block of limestone with steeply plunging slopes and a flat top rising a hundred meters high. The Acropolis was easy to defend, there was never a shortage of drinking water, so the allure of owning the rock was obvious. Even today it remains the heart of the city. On the flat top of the Acropolis, not only the Parthenon was erected, but also the Erechtheion, the temple of Nike Apteros and the Propylaea, the remains of many less significant ancient structures were preserved, and there is the current museum.

All this is surrounded by a fence and forms a single museum complex. The southern slope of the Acropolis, with two large theaters and several smaller temples, is accessed through a different gate and with separate tickets. Now the streets surrounding the Acropolis of Athens are pedestrianized, and you can walk around the hill and the ancient Agora, admiring these monuments. To the west, Thisio has many cafes where you can relax with a cup of coffee on the terrace. At the opposite end is , in the labyrinth of streets of which you can get lost, but the Acropolis can always serve as a guide for you.

You can only get to the top of the Acropolis from the west, from the side where there is a large bus depot at the foot of the hill. The usual pedestrian road to the entrance starts in the northwestern area of ​​Plaka and follows a path that runs above Odos Dioskouros where this street joins Theorios. You can approach the Acropolis from the south, along the pedestrian street Dionisiou-Areopaitou (Acropolis metro station), past the Theater of Dionysus and the Theater of Herodes Atticus, or from the north: through the ancient Agora (entrance from Adriano; Monastiraki metro station), or a more authentic route, but this pays off with magnificent views of both the Acropolis and the Acropolis - from Thisio, along the traffic-free Apostolou Pavlou Street (Thisio metro).

There are no shops or restaurants on the Acropolis, although there are a couple of counters at the main ticket office selling water and sandwiches, as well as guidebooks, postcards and so on. Opposite the Akropoli metro station (on the corner of Makriyanni and Diakou) there is a cafe of the Everest chain, and there are plenty of other similar establishments nearby. And if you don’t want to grab a quick bite, but want to eat properly, then, going in any direction, you will very soon find a cafe or tavern: in Plaka, Monastiraki, Makriyanni or Thissio.

A Brief History of the Acropolis of Athens

In the 2nd millennium BC, the Neolithic settlement on the Acropolis gives way to a Bronze Age settlement. It was a fairly significant fortified settlement, reminiscent of Mycenaean centers. The Acropolis was surrounded by a wall, modeled after the Cyclopean walls and. The remains of these walls can still be seen today. On the territory of the Acropolis there was the king's palace - the basileia. The palace, the remains of which have been preserved, is mentioned in the Iliad and Odyssey.

At the foot of the Acropolis, on the territory of the later Agora ( market square), residents of the Mycenaean-era settlement buried their dead. Like all of Mycenaean Greece, it did not escape the turmoil caused by the invasion of the northern Greek tribes of the Dorians, who moved in several waves starting around 1200 BC. The Acropolis at that time was the place of worship of the goddess Athena - the patroness of the city - and the seat of the rulers of Athens, the Eupatrides, who replaced the king, Basileus. Public meetings took place at the Propylaea of ​​the Acropolis. To the west rose the rocky hill of the Areopagus, named after the god of war Ares. Here, on the leveled peak, the Council of Elders of noble families gathered.

The beginning of the 6th century BC is the time of the reforms of Solon, the wise Athenian legislator. In 594 BC he was elected archon. Solon's reforms laid the foundation for the formation of a democratic city-state in Athens - a polis. In Athens arises new center social and political life in the Agora, located northwest of the Acropolis. Intensive construction in Athens began during the period of tyranny of Pisistratus, who made a lot of efforts to decorate and improve the city. New buildings were erected on the Agora: temples of Apollo and Zeus, an altar of the twelve gods.

On the Acropolis, Peisistratus and his sons also undertook great construction." Old temple Athens was surrounded on all sides by a colonnade. New Propylaea were built, and an altar dedicated to Athena Nike was erected. A large number of statues, brought by Athenian citizens as gifts to the patron goddess of the city, decorated the Athenian Acropolis. After some time, the Athenians achieved military superiority, and after the defeat of the Persians, in which they played a significant role, the period of greatest prosperity of the Athenian state began. It was headed by Pericles, whose reign (444/43-429 BC) is rightfully considered the golden age of Athens.

They not only became one of the strongest and most influential states in Greece, but also became the center of cultural and artistic life of the entire ancient world. Athens headed the Maritime League (Delian League), which united many policies of Northern Greece and the islands of the Aegean Sea. The treasury of the union was kept in Athens, which could dispose of it. This circumstance, as well as the rich booty received by the Athenians after their victory over the Persians, made it possible to carry out an extensive construction program in the city. The grandiose plan of creating a new ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis was brought to life.

At the head of this colossal work was the greatest sculptor of Greece, Phidias, who created two statues of Athena - Promachos (Warrior) and Parthenos (Virgin) - to decorate the Acropolis. A whole galaxy of outstanding architects and sculptors worked under the leadership of Phidias. One after another, monuments were erected that became the best examples of classical Greek architecture: the majestic Parthenon, the light and graceful temple of Nike Apteros, the ceremonial Propylaea, the second largest temple of the Athenian Acropolis - the Erechtheion. The Athenian Acropolis fully expressed the greatness of the city, which, according to the testimony of the ancient Greeks, was recognized as the capital of Hellas.

And, indeed, the following centuries, until the Byzantine era, left almost no traces on the Acropolis. The Peloponnesian War lost by Athens put an end to the prosperity of Athens, which lost its primacy among Greek cities in the 4th century BC. The political decline of Athens was completed by the subjugation of Greece to the rule of the Macedonian kings. In the middle of the 2nd century BC, the Roman Republic subjugated Greece. At the beginning of the 1st century BC, Athens tried to overthrow the power of Rome. In 87 BC, the Roman commander Sulla, after a long siege, took the city and brutally plundered it. The first place among his spoils was occupied by works of Greek art.

In 267 AD the city was subjected to a devastating raid by the Goths and Heruli. With the spread of Christianity, Athens increasingly lost its significance as the center of Hellenic culture. Philosophical schools were closed, and in 529, by decree of Emperor Justinian, the last philosophers and rhetoricians were expelled from Athens. Ancient temples have been converted into Christian churches. After this, temples were used for both secular and religious purposes. The interior of these temples has undergone a radical alteration. A new stage in the city's history begins with the Crusades. After the Fourth Crusade and the capture of Constantinople, it became part of the Latin Empire.

Athens became the capital of the Duchy of Athens, which over the 250 years of its existence (1205-1456) saw a number of rulers change. The Propylaea was converted into a palace, and in 1456, when Athens was captured by the Turks and the Acropolis became a Turkish fortress, the Propylaea became barracks and a gunpowder magazine. In 1656, an accidental explosion at this warehouse destroyed almost the entire central part of the building. The Parthenon turned from a Greek temple into a Roman one, then from a Byzantine church into a Frankish cathedral, and subsequently existed for several centuries as a Turkish mosque. And the Erechtheion, apparently because it was decorated with female figures, at one time served as a harem.

The Venetian diplomat Hugo Favoli wrote in 1563 that the Acropolis was “rising with glittering golden crescents”, and a tall and thin minaret tower rose in the southwestern part of the Parthenon. But, despite all this, the buildings on the rock still resembled, and probably much more than the current ruins, the original Acropolis: ancient, filled with sculptures painted in bright colors. Sadly, all these magnificent examples of architecture were preserved only in engravings and drawings of the time: the buildings were destroyed during the Venetian siege. The Turks dismantled the temple of Nike Apteros, and used the material to build a bastion.

Later, the Venetians, keeping the Turkish garrison under siege, blew up the Parthenon with a cannonball, which was turned into a gunpowder warehouse. The entire cella of the temple was destroyed, and the fire raged for two days and two nights. The destruction of the Parthenon and the capture of the Acropolis was meaningless: the Venetians soon left Athens, and the Turks returned to the Acropolis. For some time, the period of wars, but not destruction, ended for Athens. Lovers of antiquities who entered here not only admired them, but also tried to steal them.

Top of the Athens Acropolis

Today, like two thousand and a half years ago, only one road leads to the top of the Acropolis. In the time of Pericles, a paved road led to the Acropolis of Athens, climbing its gentle slope. The Propylaea rises above the large platform. A gate framed by two pylons opens onto the site. In 1853 they were discovered by the archaeologist Beile - after his name they are called the Beile Gate. From here the road went up to the Propylaea.

The top of the Acropolis is open to the public daily April-September 8:00-19:30; October-March 8:00-16:30, entrance costs 12 €, free on days public holidays and Sundays November-March. By purchasing a ticket, you pay for admission to the Theater of Dionysus, the ancient Agora, the Roman Forum, Kerameikos and the Temple of Zeus, and any of these you can visit before the Acropolis, but make sure that you are not sold separate ticket instead of a general ticket (the ticket is valid for 4 days).

Backpacks and large bags are not allowed in - luggage can be checked into a storage room at the main ticket office. The crowds on the Acropolis can be terrifying - don't want to be trampled by the crowd? Get out early in the morning or in the evening; most people are here late in the morning, when there are a lot of buses with tourists who will soon go for lunch.

• Propylaea of ​​the Athens Acropolis

The Propylaea was built by Mnesicles in 437-432 BC; the proportions of the structure were in harmony with the recently completed Parthenon. The lateral wings are adjacent to the central part of the Propylaea. They were erected from the same Pentelic marble (mined on Mount Pentelikon, northeast of the city) as the temple, and in grandeur and architectural perfection, as well as in the impression they make, the Propylaea is almost comparable to the Parthenon. Mnesicles was the first to combine in one design ordinary Doric columns with columns of the Ionic order, which are taller and more graceful.

The columns, as it were, prepare with their solemn rhythm the reverent mood that was supposed to cover the ancient Athenians who entered the territory of the sanctuary of the goddess - the patroness of the city. The Propylaea became the most revered monument of Athens. The northern wing of the Propylaea consists of an outer portico and a vast rectangular hall behind it. In ancient times, the famous Pinakothek was located here - the first in the world art Gallery. Works by the greatest Greek artists of the classical era, including Polygnotus, were kept here. He worked in the second quarter of the 5th century BC, and six centuries later, already in the Roman era, his works were described by Pausanias in his guidebook “Description of Hellas.” The northern wing of the Propylaea corresponds to the southern one, but it is smaller.

It is believed that Mnesicles deliberately reduced the size of the southern wing because he took into account the presence of the temple of Nike Apteros (Athena the Victorious). One cannot help but be surprised at the skill with which Mnesicles and the author of the temple project, Niki Apteros Kallikrates, solved the difficult task of combining these two buildings in one ensemble. Behind the gates one can see one of the best preserved sections of the Panathenaic Way - the Sacred Road, along which the participants of the Panathenaic festivities were held every four years in honor of the divine patroness of the polis (images of these processions adorned the frieze of the Parthenon).

The procession began in the city, at the main cemetery of Keramikos, and, passing through the Propylaea, headed to the Parthenon and then to the Erechtheion. On weekdays, most of the Sacred Way was used as a regular road. In ancient times, processions passed by the ten-meter bronze statue of Athena Promachos, that is, Athena the Warrior, and recently the exact place where the sculpture’s pedestal stood was established. The statue was sculpted by Phidias, who symbolically depicted in the sculpture the resistance of the Athenians to the Persians. In the Byzantine era, the sculpture was transported to Constantinople (present-day), where it was destroyed by an angry crowd who believed in the rumor that the pointing hand of the goddess had guided the Crusaders to the city in 1204.

• Temple of Nike Apteros in the Acropolis of Athens

It was decided to build a simple and elegant temple of Nike Apteros in honor of the victorious end of the war with the Persians in 449 BC. But construction was completed only in 427-424 BC. It stands on a three-step pedestal. Its monolithic columns are similar to the Ionian columns of the Propylaea. Now the temple has reappeared renewed: it was dismantled, and the fragments were taken away to be cleaned and restored. It's funny, but this is not the first time this has happened: the Turks dismantled the building in 1685 to make room for the battery.

Two hundred years later, restorers collected the scattered parts and recreated the original appearance of the temple. No less impressive is the restoration of the reliefs of the frieze of the temple from fragments. You will see the most remarkable example of art, both by ancient artists and restorers of the century before last, in the Acropolis Museum, this is “Nike Trying on Sandals.” The frieze of the temple very realistically depicts the victory of the Athenians over the Persians at the Battle of Plataea.

From the platform of the pyrgos of the temple of Nike Apteros opens beautiful view over the entire city and onto the Saronic Gulf, the waters of which wash the coast of Attica. One of the poetic myths of Ancient Athens, which Pausanias retold, is connected with this. The myth tells the story of King Aegeus, who was waiting for the white sails to appear and mark the return of his son Theseus, who went to kill the Minotaur. Theseus, who was returning victorious, forgot about his promise to change the black sails to white ones. The father, seeing black sails in the distance, decided that his son had died, in despair he threw himself down onto the rocks and crashed.

It is probably best to look at the temple if you go through the Propylaea and stand a little to the right. From there you can see nearby what remains of the sanctuary of Artemis of Bravron. Although its purpose is not very clear, it is known that it once housed the Trojan Horse, made in bronze. The section of the Mycenaean rampart (parallel to the Propylaea), included by the architects of Pericles in the general building plan of the classical period, is very striking.

• Antique monument Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens

The Parthenon, dedicated to the goddess Athena-Parthenos (Virgin), was built as part of the Pericles program. The temple was intended as a new sanctuary for Athena. Inside, the temple was divided into two unequal parts. In the main, eastern, there was famous statue Athens, made of gold and ivory. Precious stones were inserted into the eye sockets of the statue, and on the chest in the center of the shell was the deadly head of the Gorgon Medusa, made of ivory. The statue carved by Phidias was installed in the twilight of the hall intended for it - the cella, and it remained there until the 5th century BC. The statue has not survived to this day, but numerous later copies have survived, including a remarkable Roman copy exhibited in.

The Parthenon, like other classical temples, stood on a stylobate, each of the steps of which had a height of 0.55-0.59 meters. But its grandeur does not overwhelm the viewer; this is a feature of Greek architecture, its deep humanism. The Parthenon is a classic example of a Greek temple of the Doric order, but at the same time its architecture is distinguished by a number of unique individual features. The proportions of the columns and entablature, the ratio of the number of columns on the sides of the temple (the number of columns on the longitudinal side is one more than twice the number of columns of the facade, that is, 8 and 17) strictly correspond to the standards developed by classical Greek architecture. Techniques such as slight thickening and inclination of the corner columns towards the center, entasis - swelling of the column trunk, and slight bending of the stylobate step were skillfully used.

All these features were supposed to compensate for errors in visual perception, since absolutely straight lines are perceived at a distance by the human eye as slightly concave. As a result, the Parthenon appears before your eyes as an ideal building with clear, harmonious lines and proportions. The Parthenon once looked festive and elegant with its white marble columns and walls, topped with sculptural friezes and pediments, in which polychrome was widely used: the background of the pediments and markers was painted dark red, the frieze - blue. Against this colored background, the figures stood out especially clearly, retaining the color of marble. Their parts were also painted or gilded. All the sculptural decoration of the Parthenon was subordinated to one goal - glorification hometown, its gods and heroes, its people.

The temple was decorated with a frieze of fine workmanship. The theme of the frieze is the glorification of the Athenian people on the day of the celebration of the Great Panathenaia. The main, eastern pediment of the Parthenon was decorated with a composition depicting the myth of the birth of the goddess Athena. The western pediment depicts an Attic legend - about the dispute between Athena and Poseidon for power over Attica. Most of the pediment, central columns and cella were destroyed in 1687, when the Acropolis of Athens was besieged by the Venetians. The best samples The surviving sculptures are now in the so-called “Elgin Marbles”. Several original sculptures and fragments, along with a model of the temple, can be seen in the Acropolis Museum, and the Acropolis metro station is decorated with very good reproductions of the temple.

• Ancient temple Erechtheion in the Acropolis of Athens

North of the Parthenon rises the Erechtheion. The myth tells that when Athena hit the ground with her spear, an olive tree grew from it, and sea water began to flow from the ground. The Olympian gods declared Athena the winner. Pausanias writes that he saw both an olive tree and sea water, and adds: “What is extraordinary about this well is that when the wind blows, the sea seems to splash in it.” The Erechtheion is a completely unique monument. The originality of its asymmetrical plan is explained by the fact that this temple united a number of different sanctuaries. Most of them existed in this place before the construction of the Erechtheion. The construction of the Erechtheion was provided for by the grandiose construction plan on the Acropolis, developed under Pericles.

The Erechtheion was the main place of worship of the goddess Athena, where her ancient statue was kept. The temple was named after one of the most ancient legendary kings and heroes of Athens - Erechtheus. The author of the project of this temple is unknown. Some scientists, finding analogies in the layout of the Erechtheion and the Propylaea, believe that it could be Mnesicles. Once upon a time there was one of the sacred places, where on the rock one could see the mark left by Poseidon’s trident during his dispute with Athena. Kekropion was also located here - the grave and sanctuary of the first legendary king of Attica - Kekron. The famous portico of the caryatids rises above it. On a high plinth there are six statues of girls supporting the ceiling of the portico.

These majestic and strong figures stand calmly. The folds of long Doric peplos falling vertically downward resemble the flutes of columns. Who were these girls portraying? There is a plausible assumption: the number of servants of the cult of Athena included arrephoros, young girls chosen from the best Athenian families for a period of one year. They took part in the production of the sacred peplos, in which they annually dressed ancient statue Athens. Time and people have not been kind to the caryatid statues. Five original statues are in the Acropolis Museum. One of them was broken by Lord Elgin. It has been replaced by a copy.

Southern slope of the Acropolis of Athens

You can get to the southern slope of the Acropolis (daily summer 8:00-19:00; winter: 8:30-15:00; 2 € or with a single ticket to the Acropolis of Athens) from the place where the main ticket office, or from the pedestrian avenue Leoforos Dyonisiou Areopaitou, - this is where the Acropolis metro station is. Dominates on southern slope Acropolis hill, built in the 2nd century, the Roman theater (odeon) of Herodes Atticus, which was restored and is currently in the period summer festivals is the stage for musical performances and productions of ancient Greek drama. Unfortunately, visitors are only allowed inside for performances; access is closed at other times.

But there is also the Theater of Dionysus, which is also located on the southern slope of the Acropolis. This is one of those places in the city that encourages memories of the past: it was here that the masterpieces of Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes were first staged. Tragedies were staged here every year - and every Athenian could take part in the production and in the choir. In the 4th century BC, the theater was rebuilt, and it began to accommodate about 17 thousand spectators; 20 of the 64 tiers of the ancient theater have survived to this day. Here you can see large marble chairs in the first row, which were intended for priests and high officials, as evidenced by the inscriptions on the chairs.

In the center there is a chair for the priest of the god Dionysus, next to it is a chair for the representative of the Delphic oracle. The semicircular orchestra of the theater is paved stone slabs, forming a pattern in the center. The orchestra is closed by a low skena, the front side of which is decorated with reliefs depicting various episodes from the myths of Dionysus. In the middle of the frieze there is an expressive figure of Silenus, a companion of the god Dionysus: bent over, he seems to be holding the pavement of the skene floor on his shoulders. There is bustle and construction equipment around the theater - archaeological excavations are underway, promising to yield interesting results.

The cliffs of the Acropolis rise above the theater. They are crowned by a powerful defensive wall. Two Corinthian columns are visible near the wall - the remains of a Roman-era structure. Below them the entrance to the chapel in the rock, fenced with ropes, darkens. It was once dedicated to Dionysus, now the chapel of Our Lady is Panagia Spiliotis. To the west of the theater are the ruins of the Asklepion, a sanctuary where the god of healing Asclepius was worshiped, built around a sacred spring. In the Byzantine era, the church of the holy healers Cosmas and Damian was erected, of which only ruins remain. Next to the road stretched the foundations of the Roman Stoa of Eumenes, the rows of columns of which stretched to the theater of Herodes Atticus.

• Museum of the Acropolis of Athens

After decades of delays, by the time you read this article, the new Acropolis Museum (opened June 20, 2009) on the southern slope of the Acropolis, Acropolis metro station, will definitely be finally opened. He looks great. Architectural highlights on the top floor, in glass cases and with views straight to the Parthenon. Here, it is hoped, the Parthenon marbles (those currently in the Acropolis Museum and those that may be returned, the Elgin Marbles) will be reunited. To speed up and facilitate the return of these sculptures, the Greeks agree that they simply have them on display, or that part of the museum be the "British Museum at Athens", then the owner will not change.

So far, he has ignored all the proposals, but many continue to believe that the complete set of the new museum - with gaps in place of missing exhibits - will finally force the British Museum in London to take steps forward. Among the exhibits from the old collection, most of which you can see in new places, are sculptures that decorated the frieze of the Old Temple of Athena (VII-VI centuries BC), which partially retained their rich coloring. A little further on is the Moschophorus marble statue (570 BC) - one of the earliest marble statues found on the Acropolis. The sculptor sculpted a young man carrying a sacrificial calf on his shoulders. One of the most precious treasures of the museum is also on display - a collection of statues of the Cor.

The statues depicted priestesses of the goddess Athena and stood near her temple. This is also where interesting statue a rider of fine workmanship. Most of the statues date back to the second half of the 6th century BC, when Ionian sculptors worked in Attica. They created new type bark, maybe less expressive, but more elegant. Here you can also see a charming sculpture that the Greeks call Sandalizussa: Athena Nike (Victorious) trying on sandals. Finally, five authentic caryatids from the Erechtheion are on display. On the lowest floor there is a glazed mezzanine that houses exhibits from early Christian Athens discovered during construction work.

• Areopagus Hill of the Acropolis of Athens

Just below the entrance to the Acropolis of Athens you will see tall, awkward rock-cut steps leading to the Areopagus. On this “Hill of Ares”, during the reign of the Basilean kings, the Court of Elders, the highest body of the Athenian state, met. The court tried murder cases. And the first whom they judged were, according to myth, the god Apec, who killed Allirotheus, the son of Poseidon, and Orestes, the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, who, avenging his father, killed his mother. The victory of democracy took away power from the Court of Elders and transferred it to the People's Assembly (which met on the Pnyx).

The Persians, besieging the Acropolis of Athens in 480 BC, set up their camp here, and in Roman times the Apostle Paul preached. Evidence to this day ancient greatness didn’t get there, the hill is covered with cigarette butts and empty beer cans - both of which are leftovers from tourists relaxing here after excursions around the Acropolis and enjoying the views along the way. And the views here are good - down to the Agora and forward to the ancient cemetery at Keramikos.

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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 Athens Acropolis was built, as they say, on a grand scale. It is impossible to cover it with 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 masters of the ancient world (Phidias, Alkamenes, Agoracritus, 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 was converted into a Christian temple in the 13th century. During the Turkish War, 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

ACROPOLIS-I; m.[Greek akropolis from àkros - up and polis - city]. The central fortified part of an ancient Greek city, usually located on a hill; fortress. Athensky A.

acropolis

(Greek: akrópolis), an elevated and fortified part of an ancient Greek city, the so-called upper city; fortress (shelter in case of war). The most famous is the acropolis in Athens.

ACROPOLIS

ACROPOLIS, an elevated and fortified part of the ancient Greek city, the so-called. upper city; fortress (shelter in case of war). The most famous is the Acropolis in Athens, where the main shrines of the city were located. The Acropolis of Athens, which is a 156-meter-high rocky hill with a gentle peak (approx. 300 m long and 170 m wide), is the site of the oldest settlement in Attica. During the Mycenaean period (15-13 centuries BC) it was a fortified royal residence. In the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. There was a lot of construction going on on the Acropolis. Under the tyrant Pisistratus (cm. PISISTRATOUS)(560-527) on site royal palace the temple of the goddess Athena Hekatompedon was built (i.e., a temple one hundred steps long; fragments of pediment sculptures have been preserved, and the foundation has been identified). In 480, during the Greco-Persian Wars, the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens swore an oath to restore the shrines only after the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447 on the initiative of Pericles (cm. PERICLES) new construction began on the Acropolis; the supervision of all work was entrusted to the famous sculptor Phidias (cm. PHIDIAS), who, apparently, was the author of the artistic program that formed the basis of the entire complex, its architectural and sculptural appearance.
The sacred road along which from the agora (cm. AGORA) moved to the temple of the patron goddess during the main holiday of the Great Panathenaia (cm. PANATHINEA) procession of Athenians leading to the Propylaea (cm. PROPYLEA (in Athens)), having 5 aisles and in ancient times flanked by two equestrian statues of the Dioscuri. (cm. In the left, protruding wing, there was a Pinakothek (a collection of pinak paintings donated to the goddess Athena), in the right there was a storage room for manuscripts and a room for the gatekeeper and guards. To the right of the Propylaea, on a pyrgos (an outcrop of a fortified rock), stands a small, light and graceful Ionic temple dedicated to Athena Nike, known as the Temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Victory; 443-420, architect Kallicrates).
KALLICRATES) (cm. After the participants of the procession passed the Propylaea and entered the sacred territory, a panorama of the central part of the complex opened before them. In the foreground, just to the left of the road, stood a colossal bronze statue of Athena Promachos (Warrior), cast by Phidias. Behind her the Erechtheion was visible in the distance ERECHTHEION)
(architect unknown), temple of Athena and Poseidon at the site of the dispute between these gods for the possession of Attica. The temple has an asymmetrical plan unique in Greek architecture; its three porticos are located at different levels: on the western side there is a portico leading to the temple of Athena Polyada (City), on the northern side there is the entrance to the sanctuary of Poseidon-Erechtheus, at the southern wall of the temple there is the famous portico of the caryatids; the entire building was surrounded by a frieze with overhead white figures (not preserved). In the Erechtheion, the oldest sanctuary of Athens, there was the sacred xoan of Athena (a wooden statue), which according to legend fell from the sky, the altars of Hephaestus and the hero But, the tomb of the legendary Athenian king Kekrops, and the sanctuary of the Attic dew goddess Pandrosa adjoined to the west. In the courtyard of the Erechtheion there grew a sacred olive tree, donated to the city by Athena, and a salt spring flowed, which Poseidon carved with his trident. (cm. The lightness of its forms, the special sophistication of decorative decoration and the complexity of the composition of the small Erechtheion contrasts with the strict and majestic, emphatically monumental Parthenon (Temple of the Virgin Athena; 69.5 m in length and 30.9 m in width, column height - 10.5 m ; 447 - consecrated in 438; architect Ictinus with the participation of Callicrates), representing a Doric peripter. PERIPTER)
. The building is perceived from the Propylaea in three quarters - viewers saw not one of its facades, but the entire volume of the structure, got an idea of ​​​​its appearance as a whole, and before seeing the main, eastern facade, they had to walk around the temple from the outside. (cm. In the temple itself, in the naos, there was a chrysoelephantine statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) by Phidias; the sacred money of the goddess and the treasury of the Athenian Maritime League were kept in the opisthodome. The gables housed sculptural groups, depicting the most significant events in the cult of Athena - her birth and the dispute with the sea god Poseidon for the possession of Attica. Reliefs of metopes (cm. METOPES) Along the perimeter of the building scenes of mythological battles were depicted. Architectural details, sculpture and reliefs were brightly painted. The plan and order of the Parthenon also differ from the traditional ones in a number of features: in front of the naos there was a hall - the maiden's chamber (the Parthenon, which gave the name to the entire temple), along the wall of the naos there was an Ionic frieze depicting the Panathenaic procession.
In front of the Parthenon, on the right side of the Propylaea, there were also the sanctuaries of Artemis Brauronia and Athena Ergana (Craftswoman), and the repository of weapons and sacred armor - Chalkoteka (450). Open area The Acropolis was occupied by numerous altars and gifts to the gods - statues, steles. The temple and theater of Dionysus (6th century BC - rebuilt in 326), the Odeon of Pericles (a covered round building for musical competitions) (2nd half of the 5th century BC) adjoined the northwestern slope of the Acropolis. ), Theater of Herodes Atticus (2nd century AD), Sanctuary of Asclepius, Stoa (Porticus) of Eumenes.
The Acropolis towers over all of Athens, its silhouette shaping the skyline of the city. In ancient times, the Parthenon rising above the hill 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. In ancient times, the sanctuary was known not only as a famous cult center, but also as a monument of great art, confirming the glory of Athens as the “school of Hellas” and beautiful city. The thoughtful composition of the entire ensemble, perfectly found general proportions, a flexible combination of various orders, 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 the highest achievement of ancient Greek architecture and one of the most outstanding monuments of world art.
In the 5th century The Parthenon became the Church of Our Lady, the statue of Athena Parthenos was transported to Constantinople. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks (in the 15th century), the temple was turned into a mosque, to which minarets were added, then into an arsenal; The Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish pasha, the temple of Nike Apteros was dismantled, and the bastion wall was built from its blocks. In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part of the Temple of Athena the Virgin; during an unsuccessful attempt by the Venetians to remove the Parthenon sculptures, several statues were broken.
At the beginning of the 19th century. The Englishman Lord Elgin tore out a number of metopes, tens of meters of frieze and almost all the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon pediments, and a caryatid from the portico of the Erechtheion.
After the declaration of independence of Greece, during restoration work (mainly in the late 19th century), the ancient appearance of the Acropolis was restored as far as possible: all late buildings on its territory were eliminated, the temple of Nike Apteros was rebuilt, etc. Reliefs and sculptures of the temples of the Acropolis are located in the British Museum (London), the Louvre (Paris) and the Acropolis Museum. Remaining under open air the sculptures have now been replaced by copies.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

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- (Greek akrupolis, from bkros upper and pulis city), an elevated and fortified part of an ancient Greek city, the so-called upper city, fortress (shelter in case of war). On the acropolis there were usually temples of divine patrons... ... Art encyclopedia

- (Greek akropolis) an elevated and fortified part of an ancient Greek city, the so-called. upper city; fortress (shelter in case of war). The most famous is the Acropolis in Athens. ACROPOLIS in Athens is a fortified part of ancient Athens, where the main... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary Hotel catalog

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Acropolis- in Athens. AKROPOLIS (Greek akropolis upper city), an elevated and fortified part of an ancient Greek city, the so-called upper city; fortress (shelter in case of war). On the acropolis there were usually temples of the patron deities of a given... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Greek akropolis upper city), an elevated and fortified part of an ancient Greek city, the so-called upper city; fortress (shelter in case of war). On the acropolis there were usually temples to the patron deities of a given city. Most... ... Modern encyclopedia

ACROPOLIS, acropolis. husband. (Greek akropolis) (historical). In ancient Greek cities, the central fortified part, the Kremlin. Athens Acropolis. Ushakov's explanatory dictionary. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 … Ushakov's Explanatory Dictionary

- (Acropolis, Αχρόπολις). In general, the upper city, the citadel, the Kremlin. The Athenian Acropolis, which served as the city’s treasury, is usually called by this name. (

We all studied history in 5th grade Ancient world. We remember photographs and drawings of the Acropolis on the pages of our textbooks.

Then we did not think that thousands of years ago in this place people lived and died, made plans and houses, loved and suffered.

The Acropolis of Athens was the cradle of modern European civilization. The greatness of our ancestors is worthy of respect. But you can fully experience this only by seeing with your own eyes the place where legends were born.

Upper town

According to ancient myth The founder was the half-man, half-snake king Kekrop, born of the ancient Greek goddess of the earth Gaia.
Struck by the beauty of the area, he founded an ancient city.

But then cities could not exist without divine participation. Mycenae and Agros were patronized by Hera, Thebes by , and Demeter was supervised by Eleusis.

The daughter of Zeus, Athena, and the ruler of all seas and oceans, Poseidon, fought for the honorary title of patron of the new city. Kekrop organized a competition, the essence of which was that whoever presented the city with the best gift would own the land.

Poseidon was the first to take part in the competition. In hot and dry areas, there is no better gift than cool water. Hitting the rock with his trident, he created a waterfall. But its waters were salty and useless for the inhabitants.

Athena gave the city an olive tree, which gives shade, and...
Kekrop considered Athena's gift to be the best, and the gods agreed with him.

Since then, the beloved daughter of Zeus became the patroness of Athens. And in her honor, Kekrop built the first sanctuary. And the city that offended Poseidon still periodically experiences drought.

The city was founded on a 156-meter flat-topped hill. From here there was an amazing view of the sea and surrounding area. Initially, in addition to the sanctuary of the divine patroness, there were buildings of political and economic significance, such as the state treasury, a weapons depot, etc.

The acropolis was inhabited mainly by rulers and nobility. Ordinary people and artisans built their homes at the foot of the hill. In case of danger, the population took refuge behind the fortress walls.

Acropolis, translated from Greek, means “upper city”. Each Greek city in those days had its own acropolis. But it was Athens who gained worldwide fame.

This is not only a symbol of the capital, but also a symbol of the entire country. The building is a complex architectural ensemble, listed world heritage UNESCO.

But the buildings that we can see now were not here originally. Throughout history, the Acropolis of Athens has been subjected to destructive raids more than once.

Those temples that have survived to this day were built around the middle of the 5th century BC. e. This happened after finally defeating the Persians, the Greek city-states finally united and created the Athenian Maritime Union under the leadership of Athens.
Then it was decided to allocate money for the restoration of the Acropolis destroyed by the Persians.

The temples were burned to the ground, so they were simply rebuilt. The central place was given to the temple of Pallas Athena - the Parthenon.

Also on the territory of the Acropolis are the temple of the Erechtheion with its famous portico of the Caryatids, the Bravronion and many others.

Each of the temples is unique and is of interest not only to specialists and historians, but also to ordinary tourists, for whom history is not just a word. But the Hellenic temples that have passed through millennia have recently been subject to severe destruction.
The reason for this was a change in the atmosphere. Due to exhaust emissions, the sulfur content in the air has increased. Marble slowly turns into limestone. In addition, the iron structures connecting the marble parts, oxidizing, destroy the noble stone.

The Acropolis is undergoing ongoing restoration. Therefore, scaffolding can spoil the impression for tourists. Until scientists find a way to counteract the chemical destruction of stone, some of the sculptures have been replaced with copies. The originals are housed in the Acropolis Museum.

Athens begins with the Acropolis

No matter where you stay in Greece, it is simply unreasonable not to visit the Acropolis of Athens. Greece is not that big country and getting to Athens will not be difficult; besides, there are a great many ways to get to the capital.

The Acropolis of Athens is an open-air museum. When examining it, you will have to walk a lot and climb a mountain. Therefore, when going on an excursion, do not forget about comfortable shoes and hats. Keep in mind that the steps and stones are mostly slippery.

You will have to decide for yourself how to organize your excursion. Excursion programs great multitude. All usually include a visit to the Acropolis, and several other attractions.

You can buy a tour either in small agencies scattered throughout the city or via the Internet. You can also purchase it from your tour operator. The cost of programs varies in an unimaginable range. It all depends on what the organizers included in the excursion, whether food is included or not, what type of transport, etc.

It will be no less interesting if you organize it yourself. In addition, the feeling of freedom and the fact that you are left to your own devices will add spice and turn an ordinary excursion into a small adventure.

There are two hills in the center of Athens. The Acropolis is located on one. Another hill is called Lycabettos, and it is famous for its incredible views of the city. At the foot of both hills lies the dense buildings of old Athens. It's impossible to go wrong when looking for the Acropolis.

There is plenty of public transport in Athens, but it is still more convenient to move quickly by using the metro.
The metro station with easy access to the Acropolis is called "Acropolis" and is located on the red line.
From the Thissio and Monastiraki metro stations the archaeological site can also be reached on foot.

Travel tickets should be purchased at metro ticket offices or ticket machines. Single ticket costing 1.4 euros will allow you to travel by any type of transport in any direction for 90 minutes. A one-day ticket costs 4 euros.

Rising from the metro to the surface, you will see majestic ancient buildings. The Acropolis is so powerful that modern city just gets lost against its background.

The place of influx of tourists, as elsewhere in the world, attracts traders.

Therefore, there are many eateries, coffee shops and souvenir shops around. A tourist will not be able to stay hungry. But you should still stock up on water in advance, since here it is shamelessly expensive - from 0.5 euros, and the higher you go up the mountain, the higher the price for a bottle of ordinary water.

The archaeological site welcomes tourists in the summer season: on weekdays from 8-00 to 18-30, and on weekends and holidays from 8-30 to 14-30. In July and August, it is better to plan your visit in the morning.

During the day, the impression can be spoiled by the merciless heat. In addition, be prepared for the fact that there will be crowds of tourists there besides you - this cannot be avoided.

If a visit to the Acropolis is not planned as part of an excursion with a Russian-speaking guide (which may be expensive), then download the Mobile Guide program to your gadget in advance, or grab a guidebook.

Otherwise, you will be doomed to contemplate the ruins, having absolutely no idea about them. rich history. If you're lucky, you can join the excursion in Russian.

At the entrance there is a stand with rules of behavior on the territory of the monument. The main thing is not to touch the stones!

The entrance ticket to the Acropolis of Athens costs 12 euros. The ticket is valid for 4 days.

You can also use it when visiting six more attractions: the Theater of Dionysus, the Roman Agora, the Ancient Greek Agora, the Temple of Zeus, the Library of Hadrian and the ancient cemetery - Ceramics.

Refrain from buying souvenirs on the territory of the monument.

Absolutely the same souvenirs, other trinkets and objects of unknown purpose can be purchased at the foot of the Acropolis, and three times cheaper.

The Greeks are friendly people, their food is delicious, the portions are simply huge.

In addition, any self-respecting establishment at the end of the meal will bring you a compliment from the establishment, in the form of a glass or, and the children - a dessert. Therefore, from this point of view, there is no difference in which tavern to eat.

To combine business with pleasure, visit also Central Market Athens. It is located near the Acropolis.

Market open: from Monday to Saturday from 8-00 am to 18-00 pm. It is located just 500 meters from the Monastiraki metro station.

You will not only enjoy the local flavor, but also have a snack at very affordable prices. In taverns you can have a hearty meal for 10-15 euros. And choose cute ones from 1 euro.

Well, now, having received all the valuable advice, we head to the upper city of Athens.

Propylaea

The monumental entrance to the Acropolis, the Propylaea, is located in the western part of the Acropolis.

They were built on a steep slope. Initially, you could get here along a wide path, which the Romans later covered with steps.

The Propylaea consists of two porticoes, one directed towards the Acropolis, and the other towards the city.

The ceilings of the porticos are painted blue and painted with golden stars. On the inside there are Ionic columns and pavilions. In ancient times, there was an art gallery and a library there.

Temple of Nike Apteros

An elegant marble temple dedicated to the Goddess of Victory, constant companion of the goddess Athena.

Inside there was a statue of Nike, which has not survived. But contemporaries claim that Nika held a helmet in one hand and a pomegranate fruit in the other. It is noteworthy that this image of Nike does not have wings, although it was customary to depict her as winged, which gives reason to some scientists to assume that the statue depicted Athena, and not Nike.
Apteros translated from Greek means “wingless”, and Nika means “victory”.

The ancient Greek writer Pausanias claimed that the goddess was deprived of her wings so that she could not leave the city. The friezes are decorated with relief images of gods. The temple is located to the right of the Propylaea, outside the Acropolis and is well preserved.

The temple was restored for the last time in 2000, and is now visible from anywhere in the city center, and when it gets dark the lights turn on, which gives the building a fantastically beautiful look.

Parthenon

Temple of the goddess Athena - - occupies central place in the Acropolis of Athens and named after the virgin goddess. This is the most famous building on the Acropolis.

It is a classic rectangular temple framed by columns.

Ancient architects solved the problem of the optical effect of curvature of columns. They made the middle parts a little thicker. The corner columns were tilted towards the center. And from a distance the columns now appear perfectly straight.

An interesting fact is that the ruler Pericles, who supervised the construction of the temple, spent 450 silver talents on the construction. This amount was incredible for those times. The construction of a trireme (an ancient Greek warship) required only 1 talent. Thus, the cost of the temple was equal to the cost of the entire ancient Greek fleet.

Outraged by such wastefulness, the people presented corresponding claims to the ruler. To which he replied that through the centuries the descendants will be proud of the temple. And he offered to bear all the expenses himself, on the condition that all the glory would belong to him alone. But the wise Greeks still preferred to attribute the costs to the city treasury.

The frieze of the facade is richly decorated with bas-reliefs. It depicts scenes of martial arts, and scenes from real wars, for example, the Trojan War, and myths - the birth of Athena.

Legend has it that Athena's appearance was quite unusual. Zeus's first wife was a fortuneteller. And she predicted that first she would bear him a daughter, and then a son. The son will become the ruler of the universe.

Fearing that his own child would sooner or later overthrow him from the throne, he swallowed his pregnant wife. Soon Zeus began to have a headache. He asked Hephaestus to cut it and see what was happening there. Hephaestus helped, and Pallas Athena in armor jumped out of Zeus's head.

In ancient times, the Parthenon not only housed sacred rites, but also housed the treasury of the Maritime Athenian League and the archives of the city. The treasury was adjacent to the walls of the Parthenon on the western side.

The sculptor who decorated the temple, the famous Phidias, sculpted a 13-meter statue of the Goddess from ivory and gold. She occupied a central place in the temple.

Athena held the winged Nike on one hand and a spear in the other. On Athena's chest is a Medusa mask. At her feet is a shield, and near her spear is a snake. The head was adorned with a majestic helmet. The whole statue was menacing and solemn.

For a long time, historians described her as the standard of beauty. The weapons and clothing were made of gold, and the exposed parts of the body were made of ivory. Phidias made the eyes of the goddess from precious stones. The gold used for its production was also a kind of gold reserve of the state.
The statue was destroyed during a fire in Constantinople, where it was transported in the 5th century.

It is a shame that this masterpiece has not survived to this day. But according to the descriptions of contemporaries, several copies were recreated. The most reliable of which, "Athena Varvakion", is exhibited in the National Museum in Athens.

It should be noted that the statue cost the life of its creator. He immortalized himself and Pericles in the drawings decorating it, portraying him as heroes of battle scenes. To which the people reacted violently - they accused him of blasphemy and threw him into prison. The great sculptor died in prison.

Erechtheion

On the site where there once was a dispute between Poseidon and Athena for the right to patronize the city, and where the founding father Kekrop was later buried, the Greeks erected.

Next to the temple grows that legendary olive tree - Athena’s gift to the city. The temple is dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and the king of Athens - Erechtheus. The temple is named after him.

The architect had to try hard, since the temple was being built on a rather uneven surface. Therefore, the structure is asymmetrical and consists of two rooms at different levels.

The eastern part was erected in honor of Pallas Athena. It has a separate entrance. It also contained her oldest sculpture, which, according to myth, fell from the sky. The priestesses dressed the sculpture in clothes woven by them - “peplos”. And in front of Athena burned an unquenchable golden lamp.
Porticoes of various shapes are built on three sides.

The western room of the temple glorifies Poseidon and King Erechtheus. It also has a separate entrance. The altars are dedicated not only to the gods, but also to mortals Erechtheus and his brother.

In this part of the temple there was a spring of salt water, formed just when Poseidon struck a nearby rock with his trident. The impact trace can still be seen to this day. It is also interesting to see the trace of the lightning of Zeus, with which he struck Erechtheus, and the tombstones of the tomb of the snake-man Cecrops.

Portico of the Caryatids

The Portico of the Caryatids is part of architectural ensemble Temple of the Erechtheion, but this is such a unique structure that it is designated as a separate attraction.

The portico is supported by baskets of statues of beautiful girls. They say that these are residents ancient city Kariy, priestess of the goddess Artemis. They were very beautiful and had the custom of dancing in honor of the goddess Artemis with baskets full of flowers or fruits on their heads.

Currently, the portico is supported by six copies of ancient statues. The originals are distributed to museums around the world. One is in the British Museum, the rest in the Acropolis Museum.
The idea of ​​using sculptures of girls instead of columns has survived to this day, and caryatids have become an architectural element.

Acropolis Museum

The Acropolis Museum is 300 meters away. The building itself is already unique. It is unlikely to go unnoticed by tourists.

Compared to the general background, the museum is simply ultra-modern. Built right on the excavation site. The results of archaeologists' work can be seen through the glass floor on the ground floor. The area of ​​the museum is impressive - 226 thousand square meters. m. There is no point in describing the many exhibits. But the collection of antique statues will definitely be remembered.

The cafe is very conveniently located - right on the roof of the museum.

The incomparable taste is in perfect harmony with the incredible view from the roof of the museum.

Price entrance ticket 5 euros. It is open every day except Monday from 8 am to 10 pm.

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 onset of the classical period of history. As a result of excavations, elements were discovered cultural heritage, which corresponded to the Bronze Age (mostly 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 porticoes.
• 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 it is an ancient monument of 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 of atmospheric phenomena, and some of its parts 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, and 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 arose as a result of a blow from a trident, which the great Poseidon held in his strong hand. 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. Today, 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 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 Upper town. 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.

 

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