Acropolis of Athens

In Athens, the Acropolis is an iconic symbol which stands 156 meters above the sea level. It has a privileged location and is visible from most parts of the city. 

Parts of the Acropolis

The Acropolis is home to some of the most famous classic Greek monuments including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Temple of Athena Nike and the Propylaea, all built of white marble.

The monuments on the Acropolis have been damaged numerous times and sacked by various invaders throughout the centuries; however, the ruins were restored after the Greek War of Independence and now give a good idea of how the landmarks were when they were first built in the fifth century BC.   

Parthenon

The Parthenon is an enormous temple that dominates the Athenian Acropolis. It is also the most important example of ancient Greek architecture.

Constructed between 447 and 432 BC, the beautiful white marble temple was designed in a Doric style. It was built in honor of Athena, the Greek goddess, and it was home to the colossal sculpture of Athena Parthenos, a 12-meter ivory and gold statue. The only remains of the statue are its replicas.

Propylaea

Erected between 437 and 432 BC, the Propylaea is a mammoth gateway to the Acropolis and its landmarks. This rectangular building has a Doric-column façade and is located at the top of numerous steep steps. The portal with five entrances was once used to control the access to the Acropolis.

Erechtheum

The Erechtheum (Erechtheion), built in 421 and finished in 405 BC, is an Ionic style temple erected on the most sacred area of the Acropolis, where Athena’s sacred olive tree grew.

The highlight of the Erechtheum is on the south side of the temple. The “Porch of the Maidens” is made up of six columns carved in the shape of caryatids (a typical Greek female figure used to decorate the ancient Greek temples). The original sculptures are conserved in the Acropolis Museum.

Temple of Athena Nike

On the southwest of the Acropolis is located The Temple of Athena Nike, the smallest temple of them all. The designation “nike” means victory. It was built in 420 BC to commemorate the victory of the Greeks in the Battle of Salamis against the Persian Empire.

The Ionic style monument housed an image of the Goddess of war without wings. According to the legend, the statue was wingless so that it could not fly away from Athens.

Legendary

Although the Greek peninsula offers countless treasures, the Acropolis of Athens is one of the most important landmarks. A visit to nothing but the Acropolis makes the trip to the capital worthwhile.

The Acropolis is currently under construction until 2020 approximately, so you might need a bit of imagination to get a sense of how the landmarks stood in the fifth century.

If you would like to book a tour of the city and the Acropolis click here.