Athens Acropolis
Location
About
A rocky citadel rising 156 meters above Athens, the Acropolis contains the supreme architectural achievement of the ancient Greek world: the Parthenon, the Erechtheion with its Porch of the Caryatids, the Propylaea gateway, and the Temple of Athena Nike. Built primarily between 447-406 BCE under the patronage of Pericles, these marble structures represent the apex of Doric and Ionic architecture. The Acropolis housed the 12-meter gold-and-ivory statue of Athena Parthenos by Pheidias.
Significance
The Acropolis is the founding monument of Western architecture, democracy, and intellectual civilization. The Parthenon's mathematical refinements (entasis, curvature of the stylobate, column tilt) were designed to trick the eye into perceiving ideal forms. Athena's temple dominated the ancient Mediterranean as a symbol of Greek civilization. The Acropolis Museum (2009) is one of the world's finest archaeological museums.
History & Historical Arc
The Acropolis was inhabited from the Neolithic period and served as a Mycenaean palace (1200 BCE). The great building pr…
Archaeological Notes
The Acropolis has been excavated systematically since 1885. Restoration using original marble and titanium rods has been…
Key Features & Structures
- Parthenon (temple of Athena, 447-432 BCE)
- Erechtheion with Porch of the Caryatids
Visitor Information
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Open daily. Combined ticket with other major Athens sites. Best at dawn or early evening. Mu…
Related Figures
In the Bible
Source References
- Plutarch, Life of Pericles 12-13
- Pausanias, Description of Greece 1.22-29