RELATED SEARCHES
Sponsored Acropolis Results:
The Acropolis
By:
Published: September 7, 2006
The word "Acropolis" is Greek for "highest point of a city." The Acropolis sits atop a hill jutting up from the plains of Attica, overlooking the city of Athens. Its signature structure, the Parthenon, symbolizes Athens and Greece to the rest of the world.
The Athenians, however, were not the first people to live there. Traces of community life found at the Acropolis date back to the Neolithic period (around 3500 B.C.).
The Acropolis was primarily as a fortress and a royal palace during the Mycenaean period (1600 - 1200 B.C.). However, historians estimate by the eighth century B.C. the Acropolis was beginning to change. Instead of a fortress and walled city center, it became a religious site dedicated to the goddess Athena. Temples honoring Athena and Zeus were built on the grounds before the Persians destroyed it in 480 B.C.
The Athenians eventually defeated the Persians, but the Acropolis lay in ruins for years afterward. Greek statesman Pericles led the effort to restore the sacred grounds during Athens' Classical Period (450 - 330 B.C.). The three best-known temples of the Acropolis were built during this time. They include the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike.
The Parthenon sits at the highest point of the hill. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos ("the Virgin"). The Parthenon was constructed almost entirely of Pentelic marble, a glistening white marble found on Mount Pentelicus near Athens. It has 17 pillars on each long side and eight pillars across the shorter sides. This construction fit the classical Greek ratio of 9:4.
The cella, or inner chamber, contained Phidias' statue of Athena Promachos ("she who fights in the front line"). The statue, long gone, is believed to have been between nine and 13 meters tall and could be seen from any angle on the grounds. Sailors approaching Athens from around Cape Sounion knew their journey was nearly over when they caught sight of Athena's gilt lance reflecting the sun.
If the Parthenon is the most famous Acropolis building, the Erechtheion is the most unique. It comprises three separate sections built on four different levels, including worship areas for Athena and Poseidon.
The temple of Athena Nike was tiny compared to the Parthenon, yet it was an important building. Athenians gathered here to pray to Athena for victory over the Spartans.
The Nike temple was close to the Propylaea, a huge gatehouse at the top of a long staircase. One had to pass through the Propylaea to enter the Acropolis. In ancient times, the Propylaea housed art exhibitions. Athenians also gathered here to discuss politics.
The Acropolis did not fare well during four centuries of Ottoman rule, beginning in 1456. For a while, the Parthenon served as a mosque. The Erechtheion housed a harem. Later, the Parthenon was converted to an ammunition dump and was struck in 1687 by Venetian motor shells. The explosion blew the long sides of the building apart and began a fire that raged for two days. The Propylaea also was damaged in this fire. The temple of Nike was dismantled around the same time to reinforce the wall ramparts.
Wars, benign neglect and outright thievery took their toll on the Acropolis in succeeding years. Even Lord Elgin, English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in the early 1800s, controversially removed scores of Parthenon sculptures and sent them to England, where he felt they would be better protected. Not until 1827, when Greece won its independence from the Empire, was anyone able to stop the destruction of the Acropolis.
Lord Elgin's procured sculptures became known as the Parthenon Marbles. They are housed at the British Museum today. England and Greece continue to wrangle over which country is entitled to them. England feels the marbles are better protected now than they were under Greece's jurisdiction and Greece feels they are historic national property.
Since the turn of the 20th century, attempts have been made to restore and preserve the Acropolis. The Nike temple has been rebuilt. The Parthenon and Erechtheion are being reconstructed and reinforced with titanium inserts. Precious temple artifacts have been removed from the grounds and put on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Today, the biggest danger to the Acropolis comes from the pollution that rises from downtown Athens. It is eating away the Pentelic marble, which has stood silent witness to so much Athenian history.
The Athenians, however, were not the first people to live there. Traces of community life found at the Acropolis date back to the Neolithic period (around 3500 B.C.).
The Acropolis was primarily as a fortress and a royal palace during the Mycenaean period (1600 - 1200 B.C.). However, historians estimate by the eighth century B.C. the Acropolis was beginning to change. Instead of a fortress and walled city center, it became a religious site dedicated to the goddess Athena. Temples honoring Athena and Zeus were built on the grounds before the Persians destroyed it in 480 B.C.
The Athenians eventually defeated the Persians, but the Acropolis lay in ruins for years afterward. Greek statesman Pericles led the effort to restore the sacred grounds during Athens' Classical Period (450 - 330 B.C.). The three best-known temples of the Acropolis were built during this time. They include the Parthenon, the Erechtheion and the temple of Athena Nike.
The Parthenon sits at the highest point of the hill. It was dedicated to Athena Parthenos ("the Virgin"). The Parthenon was constructed almost entirely of Pentelic marble, a glistening white marble found on Mount Pentelicus near Athens. It has 17 pillars on each long side and eight pillars across the shorter sides. This construction fit the classical Greek ratio of 9:4.
The cella, or inner chamber, contained Phidias' statue of Athena Promachos ("she who fights in the front line"). The statue, long gone, is believed to have been between nine and 13 meters tall and could be seen from any angle on the grounds. Sailors approaching Athens from around Cape Sounion knew their journey was nearly over when they caught sight of Athena's gilt lance reflecting the sun.
If the Parthenon is the most famous Acropolis building, the Erechtheion is the most unique. It comprises three separate sections built on four different levels, including worship areas for Athena and Poseidon.
The temple of Athena Nike was tiny compared to the Parthenon, yet it was an important building. Athenians gathered here to pray to Athena for victory over the Spartans.
The Nike temple was close to the Propylaea, a huge gatehouse at the top of a long staircase. One had to pass through the Propylaea to enter the Acropolis. In ancient times, the Propylaea housed art exhibitions. Athenians also gathered here to discuss politics.
The Acropolis did not fare well during four centuries of Ottoman rule, beginning in 1456. For a while, the Parthenon served as a mosque. The Erechtheion housed a harem. Later, the Parthenon was converted to an ammunition dump and was struck in 1687 by Venetian motor shells. The explosion blew the long sides of the building apart and began a fire that raged for two days. The Propylaea also was damaged in this fire. The temple of Nike was dismantled around the same time to reinforce the wall ramparts.
Wars, benign neglect and outright thievery took their toll on the Acropolis in succeeding years. Even Lord Elgin, English ambassador to the Ottoman Empire in the early 1800s, controversially removed scores of Parthenon sculptures and sent them to England, where he felt they would be better protected. Not until 1827, when Greece won its independence from the Empire, was anyone able to stop the destruction of the Acropolis.
Lord Elgin's procured sculptures became known as the Parthenon Marbles. They are housed at the British Museum today. England and Greece continue to wrangle over which country is entitled to them. England feels the marbles are better protected now than they were under Greece's jurisdiction and Greece feels they are historic national property.
Since the turn of the 20th century, attempts have been made to restore and preserve the Acropolis. The Nike temple has been rebuilt. The Parthenon and Erechtheion are being reconstructed and reinforced with titanium inserts. Precious temple artifacts have been removed from the grounds and put on display at the Acropolis Museum in Athens.
Today, the biggest danger to the Acropolis comes from the pollution that rises from downtown Athens. It is eating away the Pentelic marble, which has stood silent witness to so much Athenian history.
Featured Acropolis Products:
