A city whose name already evokes associations with the most important events world history. Sights significant for humanity are concentrated here: the Temple of Hephaestus, the Panathinaikos Stadium, the Temple of Zeus, the Parthenon and dozens of museums with rich funds.
Over the centuries, the Greek capital experienced turmoil and a series of ups, was under the yoke of conquerors and was revived. One thing remained unchanged: the heart of the city is the Acropolis, which has dominated Athens since ancient times.
The Acropolis towers over Athens.
Evening view of the Acropolis from the upper floors of the King George Hotel, perhaps the best hotel in Athens.
Location of the Acropolis: how to get there
The main attraction of Athens is located in the heart of the city and is clearly visible from anywhere in the capital. Acropolis Hill, 156 meters high, is located in the Acropolis district - understandably the most visited area of the city. Getting to the right place will not be difficult. The easiest way is by metro to the nearest Acropolis station or to the stations of Thissio, Syntagma, Omonia and Monastiraki. From the center of Athens you can walk to the Acropolis if you follow Dionysiou Areopagitou Street. You need to constantly go uphill. Closer to the Acropolis, numerous signs will help you get lost.
Acropolis on the map of Athens. A marker is installed at the entrance to the Acropolis
History of the Acropolis
The rocky hill of the Acropolis has been used by the Athenians since time immemorial. During the archaic period, temples were built here, sculptures were installed, and religious ceremonies were held. During the Mycenaean period, the Acropolis served as a royal residence - it would be difficult to imagine a more advantageous and secure location in Athens.
Under Pisistratus, active construction began on the hill ancient temple Acropolis - Hekatompedon, predecessor of the Parthenon. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena and surrounded by several religious buildings. But all the temples fell into disrepair after the Persian invasion. And then the Greeks vowed to restore the shrines, expelling the enemies.
Acropolis in ancient times.
New attempts to build a temple on the Acropolis were made during the time of the famous commander Pericles - he initiated it. The development of the project was entrusted to Phidias, who became the main author architectural appearance. This is how the Parthenon rose above Athens, and it was destined to become a recognizable symbol of Greece. But first the temple passed tests. The Parthenon was converted and captured several times: it served Orthodox church and a mosque, and neighboring buildings were even used to house a harem. Some priceless monuments were dismantled for building materials.
Only with the rebirth of Greece as an independent state did the restoration of the Acropolis monuments begin. And many sculptures were replaced with copies for preservation purposes - the originals are kept in the Acropolis Museum.
For the Greeks, the topic of the heritage of the main attraction of Athens remains sensitive. In the 19th century, a collection of art objects was taken to England by Lord Elgin (whom Byron also called a thief for this). And so far, Great Britain has refused requests from Greece to return the stolen marbles to their homeland.
The famous portico of the caryatids. One of the sculptures was broken out by Lord Elgin and is now kept in the British Museum.
Temples and monuments of the Acropolis
The entrance to the Acropolis is the Propylaea, made of gray Eleusinian and white Pentelic marble. The architecture combines Doric and Ionic columns - the first time in Ancient Greece that two orders “met” in one building. The monumental entrance consists of two porticoes. One looks at the Acropolis, the other is directed towards Athens.
On the southwest side of the Propylaea stands the Temple of Nike. Its marble frieze, made in the Ionic style, depicted the gods and fragments of the battle against the Persians. In ancient times, a now lost statue of Nike stood inside. In 2000, the temple was restored, and today it adorns the Acropolis.
The Parthenon is the main attraction of the Athens Acropolis.
The central place on the hill is given to the Parthenon. Many people come to Athens for this reason. In the ancient city, it served as the main temple dedicated to Athena, and its appearance inspired architects throughout Europe. The Parthenon has still not been completely restored, although this does not prevent it from remaining the most impressive monument of the Acropolis.
Among the important temples of Ancient Athens was the Erechtheion. It was erected on an uneven surface, so the structure is asymmetrical. On the southern part of the Erechtheion there are statues of caryatids, which made the appearance of the temple recognizable. Also on the slopes of the Acropolis you can see the ruins of the Asklepion and the Odeon of Herodes, which still serves as a venue for concerts.
Acropolis Museum
In 2009, the Greek capital inaugurated New Museum Acropolis. Its ultra-modern building is several times larger in area than the old museum. The opening was waited for so long that in the first 3 months the number of visitors exceeded 1 million.
The collection is composed entirely of objects found on the Acropolis since 1834. Here you can see statues, original caryatids, memorial plaques, countless fragments of buildings and religious objects. Visitors even have the opportunity to watch the excavations taking place right under the New Museum building.
The museum covers in detail different eras existence of the Acropolis. It introduces not only ancient period, but also with the era of the Roman Empire. Interactive materials complement the exhibition well. The Acropolis Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions, and holidays organizes interesting events for children.
What to visit near the Acropolis
A visit to the Acropolis can be combined with a walk around other famous places cities. For example, according to the Agora - the center of political, commercial and cultural life of Ancient Athens. ex market square has preserved much architectural evidence, including the Temple of Hephaestus. To the left of the Acropolis is Philopapou Hill with a monument to the Roman ruler Philopapou. The structure has been partially preserved, so the hill attracts tourists with a magnificent panoramic view of Athens.
And, of course, after visiting the Acropolis, you need to go to Monastiraki - the most popular and colorful district of Athens, which has preserved many interesting monuments history. Among them, the Church of the Virgin Mary and the mosque stand out. But the main attraction for tourists is the Monastiraki market, where any tourist will find a souvenir to remember Athens.
ACROPOLIS (GREECE)
Today we will take an excursion to Athens Acropolis.
Translated from Greek as “upper city”. In the ancient Greek city-polises, the acropolis was the name given to the elevated and fortified part. This fortified part of the city, located on an elevated place, served as protection in times of danger. Therefore, it was on the acropolis that temples were erected to the gods, the patrons of the city, and the treasury and weapons of the city were stored. There were such acropolises in many ancient cities. For example, the oldest acropolises in Mycenae and Tiryns are known. But the most famous is, of course, the Acropolis of Athens!
This harmonious ensemble of outstanding works of architecture and sculpture is considered a masterpiece not only of Greek, but also of world art, a kind of symbol of greatness classical Greece. The Acropolis of Athens is listed as a World Heritage Site. Therefore, it is probably unnecessary to say that, having arrived in Athens even for a very short term, you must definitely visit the Acropolis and see, as they say, with your own eyes all this splendor.
In this regard, we decided today to invite you on a fascinating walk around the majestic and ancient Acropolis. This miracle of antiquity is located on a cliff 156 meters above sea level. This rock is of natural origin and has a flat top. It is noteworthy that the entire complex architectural and spatial complex of the Athens Acropolis takes into account the surrounding nature as much as possible. Let's take a walk around this ancient fortress.
Approaching the Acropolis, in the area of the southern wall we will see that the rock on which the Acropolis is built is fortified stone walls. These walls are huge, their thickness is five meters! Such walls were around the entire complex, but only a fragment of them has survived to this day, which we see.
These are very ancient walls! They were erected in the 13th century BC. e. According to legend, these majestic walls were erected by creatures of supernatural strength - the Cyclops. The ancient Greeks believed this. And today, looking even at a fragment of these gigantic walls, we are also ready to believe that walls of such dimensions could only be built by mythical strong creatures!
In general, it should be noted that the first fortifications on the rocky spur of this rock appeared long before the onset of the classical period. In those distant times The Acropolis was the center of the political and military life of the city: first of all, it was the residence of the ruler. But at the end of the second millennium BC, the Acropolis acquired exclusively cult meaning!
According to myths, wooden image The goddess Athena, patroness of the forces of the earth and warlike defender of the city, was cast down to Earth by Zeus and fell straight onto the Acropolis! Therefore, it was here that temples were erected in honor of the goddess! But, unfortunately, almost all of them were destroyed Persian king Xerxes, who captured Athens in 480 - 479 BC. e. The “father of history” Herodotus himself even testifies to this in his notes.
The Acropolis was rebuilt only during the so-called golden age of Pericles. This Athenian strategist, having concluded a truce with Sparta, was given the opportunity to begin developing the capital. Under the leadership of the greatest of Greek sculptors Phidias by the end of the 5th century BC. The Acropolis was rebuilt. Moreover, the new Acropolis was incredibly beautiful and grandiose!
Let's come closer. The Propylaea appears before us from the western part of the complex.
This is the main, ceremonial entrance to the Acropolis! This gate was built in 437-432 BC. Let's mentally transport ourselves to the distant 5th century BC. and let’s see what the Propylaea was like at that time, and at the same time we’ll see what happened here. So, we are in the distant past! In front of us, the Athenians are slowly ascending the wide stone stairs to the Propylaea. Look, citizens on foot are walking along the side passages, and horsemen and chariots are passing along the central one! The sacrificial animals are also brought in.
Pay attention to the Propylaea itself! They are made of Pentelicon marble. You see what a beautiful material this is. Today this marble does not look the same. But nothing can be done, time takes its toll. And in those days the gates simply amazed with their magnificence! You will notice that the Propylaea consists of two Doric porticoes, one of which faces the city, the other faces the top of the Acropolis. Raise your head and look at the ceilings of the porticos. See those square indentations? These are caissons! They are painted with gold stars on a blue background! Very beautiful, isn't it! And you see, where the hillside rises sharply, a transverse wall with five passages has been built. So the central one of these passages is intended only for ceremonial processions! During normal times it is closed by bronze gates. By the way, these gates are the boundaries of the sanctuary. It’s a pity that much has not survived to this day!
Yes, the Propylaea is simply magnificent! Have you forgotten that we are in the distant past? Do you remember? Then look to the left. Do you see this rather large building that adjoins the Propylaea? This is the Pinakothek art gallery. Portraits of the heroes of Attica are exhibited here! Now look to the right. Do you see a ledge on the rock? You know, this is the same ledge from which, according to legend, the Athenian king Aegeus back in the 13th century BC. rushed down when he saw the ship of his son Theseus entering the harbor with black sails, symbolizing the failure of his voyage to the island of Crete! Remember the legend? And remember that this was a mistake, and Theseus was actually alive! Yes, fate sometimes plays cruel jokes on people! On the ledge is a small rectangular temple of Nike Apteros, dedicated to the goddess of victory Nike. Translated, its name sounds like “Wingless Victory.”
Do you know why “Wingless Victory”? The fact is that, under the conditions of a truce in the protracted Peloponnesian War, the Athenians thereby expressed the hope that victory would now not “fly away” from them! Just look at what an unusually elegant marble temple this is! Standing on a three-stage pedestal, this temple is surrounded on all sides by a sculptural ribbon frieze, which depicted episodes of the struggle between the Greeks and the Persians, and the Olympian gods (Athena, Zeus, Poseidon). But we can only see this sculptural ribbon of the frieze when we are transported in our imagination to those distant times. As you understand, it has not survived to this day. If we, all in the same past, go inside the temple, we will see a beautiful sculpture of Athena Nike! The majestic goddess holds a helmet in one hand, and in the other - a pomegranate fruit, a symbol of victorious peace! It’s a pity, but today this magnificent statue can no longer be seen. Unfortunately, it was also destroyed.
But let's continue our journey back in time to the Acropolis. Let's follow the Athenians into the Propylaea. Having passed them, we found ourselves at the very top of the rock. Look, right in front of us rises a huge bronze statue of Athena Promachos, that is, Athena the Warrior. Do you see the gilded tip of her spear? The Athenians are sure that on clear days it serves as a landmark for ships approaching the city. Immediately behind the statue, please note, in the open area there is an altar, and on the left there is a small temple where priests perform rites of worship to the patroness of the city - the goddess Athena. If we approach one of the residents and ask about this place, they will tell us an ancient myth about the dispute between Athena and the god Poseidon for ownership of the largest of the Greek city policies.
We learn that, according to myth, the winner in this dispute was supposed to be the one whose gift would have a benefit for the city higher value. Then Poseidon threw his trident at the Acropolis and at the place of his impact began to beat a source of sea water. He also promised the Athenians success in maritime trade. But Athena still won this dispute! She struck with a spear, and in this place an olive tree grew, which became the symbol of Athens. Therefore, this is where the altar is located. By the way, please note that one of the parts of the temple is dedicated to the legendary king of Athens Erechtheus. This part is called the Erechtheion. Don't be surprised that it's only part of the temple. Then there was only a part, but later this name passed to the entire temple. And today we know this structure as the Erechtheion.
The greatest interest in the Erechtheion is the Portico of the Daughters - six sculptures of the most beautiful girls support the roof of the temple extension instead of columns. In Byzantine times, they began to be called Caryatids, which meant women from the small town of Caria, famous for their exceptional beauty. One of the Caryatids (along with the friezes and pediments of the Parthenon) was taken to England by the ambassador of that country in Constantinople, Lord Elgin, with permission from the Turkish government at the beginning of the 19th century. Elgin's act so excited the Athenians that a legend was soon born about the sounds heard in the night - the crying of the five Daughters remaining on the temple for their kidnapped sister. And Lord Byron “dedicated” his poem “The Curse of Athens” to the robber of these immortal treasures. The famous Elga marbles are still in the British Museum, and the statue on the temple has been replaced by a copy.
Look at the Erechtheion carefully. A special feature of the temple is its unusual asymmetrical layout, taking into account the unevenness of the soil. Such an interior, marble relief friezes, original porticoes, the most famous of which is the portico of the caryatids, can only be seen in the past, since they have not survived to this day: the marble relief friezes are completely destroyed, and the porticoes are very damaged. But, you must admit that even today, even with damaged porticoes, the Erechtheion is still beautiful! This is a pearl of ancient Greek architecture!
The temple consists of two, located on different levels, premises. The eastern part of the temple is located higher than the western. By the way, remember the legend told to us by the inhabitants of Athens about the dispute between Athena and Poseidon?
According to legend, two powerful deities - Poseidon and Athena - fought for the right to patronize the city and its inhabitants. Olympian gods To resolve this dispute, they suggested that the rivals make a gift to the city. Poseidon hit the rock with his trident and a key came from it. sea water- a symbol of the sea power of the city, which was given to it by the god of the sea, and from the place where Athena struck with her spear, an olive tree sprang up. The gods recognized Athena's gift as much more valuable and placed the people under her protection, and the city was named after her.
Now look at the floor in the temple, do you see these irregularities? These are traces of a blow from Poseidon's trident! Do you see the well inside the temple? This well contains salty sea water. This is the source that, according to legend, Poseidon gave to the city! Yes, after everything you have seen, you are now unlikely to say that myths are fiction! On the western side, close to the Erechtheion, is the sanctuary of the nymph Pandrosa. It is there, inside the open courtyard, that you can see the sacred olive tree, the same one that Athena, according to legend, gave to the inhabitants of the city.
We hope you haven't forgotten that we are still in the past? Then we will continue our journey around the Acropolis. Do you see the solemn procession heading towards the most majestic temple of the Acropolis, the Parthenon?
This is the holiday of the Great Pan-finya! The climax of this celebration takes place at the altar in front of the eastern facade of the Parthenon, where the priests are given new clothes for the statue of Athena. Yes, the Parthenon is the most important and most iconic place in the Acropolis. This temple is also dedicated to the goddess Athena. But this time she performed in the guise of Athena Parthenos or Athena the Virgin. Hence the name of the temple.
Look how beautiful this temple is!
It has amazing harmony! Its steps, external colonnade, pediments, friezes and metopes are all immaculate and magnificent! The entire building was constructed from local white marble. The Parthenon is a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture and a symbol of the Greek genius! Let's climb its marble steps. By the way, pay attention to the columns of the temple. You see, the columns taper towards the top. This is not optical illusion, this is actually true. This architectural technique helps to visually increase the height of the columns, and it seems that they rush high into the sky and almost touch the heavens!
As we said, all the structural elements of the Parthenon, including the roof tiles and steps, were hewn from local Pentelic marble, almost white, but over time acquiring a warm yellowish tint. Therefore, today the Parthenon no longer looks snow-white. But, nevertheless, even today it is called the “hymn” of Ancient Greece and the “beauty of simplicity”!
Let's enter the Parthenon. Look, in the space limited by the inner colonnade, there is a colossal, gold and ivory cult statue of Athena! Today it has not survived, but in the past we can see it. You see, the goddess's clothes and helmet are made of pure gold, and her hair and shield are made of gold plates. Look at her eyes! They are made from precious sapphires! On right hand Athena holds a figure of the goddess of victory Nike, and a spear at her left shoulder. Luxurious robes, a helmet, a shield and an aegis decorated with the mask of the Gorgon Medusa give the statue a majestic solemnity. Yes, this is a real goddess! Here she is - the great patroness of the great city!
Athena Parthenos statue
Sculptural groups on the pediments of the temple depict the deeds of this goddess. In the east - the birth of Athena, who, fully armed, jumped out of the head of Zeus after the blacksmith god Hephaestus cut his head with an ax. In the west, there is a dispute between Athena and Poseidon, already known to us, when the olive tree donated by the goddess was considered a more valuable gift than the source of salt water discovered in the rock by Poseidon. Yes, unfortunately, not everything that was created by the ancient masters, and that the Athenians of distant times could see, has survived to this day. Let's now return from our time travel. Let's look at the great Acropolis today. Agree that anyway, what remains and has been preserved is also simply magnificent! Yes, the Acropolis is truly a standard of harmony, naturalness and beauty!
Here are a couple more photos from the Acropolis:
At the entrance to the Acropolis there is also Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the wealthiest Athenian citizens and also the Roman governor of the province of Asia. Besides everything else, he was famous philosopher and was the teacher of Marcus Aurelius.
In 161 AD. in memory of his wife, he built the Odeon (theater) in Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long, built on two floors and was covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries. The theater's capacity was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.
The theater premises were rebuilt and today the Athens Festival is held in the theater, where they present their art to the attention of the audience best theaters peace.
In the 6th century BC. The tyrant Pisistratus, who ruled in Athens, instilled the cult of Dionysus in Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which was held during March - April. Around the same time, the poet Thespis, a native of the demos of Icarius, appeared in Athens. He introduced the first actor to Dionysia and began to write the texts himself, which the actor and the choir members had to read. Before Thespis, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to events from the life of Dionysus, but also to other heroes Greek mythology and real historical characters. Acting masks were also invented and introduced, since the same actor had to play many roles.
In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater was reconstructed many times.
The theater has 78 rows of spectators, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripata - the path that surrounds the sacred rock of the Acropolis.
The front rows of marble spectators, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple, Dionysus Eleftherius.
The Romans changed the theater twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, and again during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.
The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of a god: a seated Zeus, and in front of him Hermes with the baby Dionysus in his arms, along the edges of the Kurita they dance a battle dance with weapons in their hands. Then Icarus is shown sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and on the right is Dionysus alone with his friend Satyr.
Among the museum's exhibits is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are the originals of the Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.
The Acropolis of Athens is the main attraction of Greece. All tourists are concentrated around it. Like any top European attraction, it’s not worth visiting during high season. The surrounding areas are strikingly different from. It's quite safe here, it works huge amount shops, cafes and restaurants.
Athens Acropolis - Pantheon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, Odeon of Herodes Atticus.
The complex is quite small. All the iconic attractions of Athens are concentrated around it. You can easily watch them all in one day.
The Acropolis of Athens is a 156-meter rocky hill with a gently sloping top (~300 m long and 170 m wide)
It’s stupid to think that all these buildings, columns and statues are two thousand years old. Everything they could have been stolen and blown up long ago. Today's acropolis is almost completely reconstructed. It has been going on for a long time and will not end soon.
Parthenon - main temple in ancient Athens. Built in 447-438 BC. e.
In 560-527 BC e. On the site of the royal palace, a temple to the goddess Athena was built. In the 5th century, the Parthenon became the Church of Our Lady. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks (in the 15th century), the temple was turned into a mosque, to which minarets were added, and then into an arsenal. In 1687, after a cannonball hit from a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part of the temple. At the beginning of the 19th century, the English Lord Elgin tore down a number of metopes, tens of meters of frieze and almost all of the surviving sculptures of the Parthenon pediments.
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 much as possible: all late buildings on its territory were eliminated. Reliefs and sculptures of the temples of the Acropolis are in the British Museum (London), in the Louvre (Paris ) and the Acropolis Museum. Remaining under open air the sculptures have now been replaced by copies.
I spent half an hour scrolling through photographs of the Parthenon, but it still remained littered. The solution turned out to be simple - there is almost not a single strictly straight line in the contours.
- The steps have a slight rise towards the center, since otherwise from a distance it would seem that the floor is sagging;
- The corner columns are inclined towards the middle, and the two middle columns are inclined towards the corners. This was done to show them straight;
- All columns have entasis, thanks to which they do not appear thinner in the middle;
- The corner columns are slightly thicker in diameter than the others, as they would otherwise appear thinner. In cross section they are not round;
The Athens Acropolis has very bright and contrasting lighting. In the dark, it is almost impossible to get normal photos. Best time- twilight.
The Odeon of Herodes Atticus (165 AD) is a building for singing and musical competitions, built in Athens under Pericles. It was subsequently used for various public purposes. The Odeon has a classic shape ancient theater for 5,000 seats, in which almost everything from the time of construction has been preserved to this day, with the exception of statues in niches and multi-colored marble cladding. They are not allowed inside; you can only get there during concerts and performances by paying for a ticket. The Bolshoi Theater ballet performed on the stage of the Odeon.
The Theater of Dionysus is located on the southeastern slope of the Acropolis hill and is one of the most ancient theaters in the world. The theater was built in the 5th century. BC e. and was made of wood. Around 326-325 BC the theater was reconstructed: the wooden stage and rows of seats were replaced with marble ones. The stone seats were placed in 67 rows, reaching the base of the Acropolis. The theater now accommodated up to 17 thousand spectators, which at that time amounted to about half of the Athenian citizens. Due to its enormous size, the theater was devoid of roofing, and therefore the actors, choir and spectators were located in the open air, and the stage action took place in natural light
Theater of Dionysus. Athens.
The Erechtheion is one of the main temples of ancient Athens, located on the Acropolis north of the Parthenon. The construction dates back to 421-406 BC. e. The temple is dedicated to Athena, Poseidon and the legendary Athenian king Erechtheus.
Among the attractions of Athens, a special place is occupied by the first modern Olympic venues - Panathinaikos Stadium and the Olympic Village. Since the stadium is modern form built only at the beginning of the renaissance Olympic Games, it was built according to the old model (in particular, its treadmills do not meet modern accepted standards). The stadium, made up of 50 horizontal rows of marble, seats approximately 80,000 fans.
Panathinaikos Stadium. Athens. Entrance - 3 euros.
I already wrote that Athens as a whole and the Acropolis area are two different worlds. Below are photographs of the Acropolis areas - Plaka and Thisio.
is the heart and main tourist attraction of Athens and Greece. Clearly visible from all sides (construction is prohibited
high-rise buildings so as not to block the view of Acropolis) it serves as an excellent landmark for moving around the city.
Annually Acropolis of Athens visited by millions of tourists and travelers from all over the world.
Acropolis translated from ancient Greek as a fortified place in the city.
The Acropolis is the oldest inhabited place in Athens. Already during the Archaic period, there were majestic temples and sculptures here, which later generations of Greeks considered the heritage of the Cyclops. IN Mycenaean period(15 -13 century BC) Acropolis was the royal residence.
It was here that the residence of the legendary Theseus(the conqueror of the Minotaur), unless, of course, his personality was mythical.
During Greco-Persian wars Acropolis was completely destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens swore an oath to restore the shrines only after the victory over the Persians and the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447 BC. under the direction of the famous sculptor Acropolis new construction has begun. , the Temple of Nike, the Erechtheion - these are the masterpieces that we enjoy to this day.
Bule Gate
This gate is named after the French architect Ernest Bühle, who excavated the Acropolis in 1825. This is one of the two Acropolis gates that were built into the fortress walls after the Heruli raid in 267.
Sanctuary of Aphrodite Pandemos
To the right of the Bule Gate are ruins of the temple of Aphrodite. At present, all that remains of the temple is the architrave decorated with garlands and doves.
Sanctuary of Artemis Bravronia
This temple was located in eastern part of the Acropolis, not far from the ruins of the Mycenaean walls. The temple was a Dorian colonnade with two wings in the shape of a “U”. The creation of the temple is attributed to Pisistratus, who came from the region of Brauronia,
Where cult of Artemis was widespread. In the side wings of the temple colonnade, two statues of the goddess were kept: the first was an ancient wooden statue depicting the goddess sitting on a throne, and the second, which was a creation sculptor Praxiteles.
Chalkoteka
East of the Temple of Artemis was Chalkoteka, a building that was used to store metal objects related to the cult goddess Athena. The building was built in the mid-5th century BC, and reconstruction of the building was carried out during the Roman period.
On the southern slope of the Acropolis is the oldest known theater, - Theater of Dionysus(god of winemaking). According to legend, the inhabitants of Athens killed Dionysus when he arrived in Attica and gave wine to people for the first time, thinking that Dionysus was trying to poison them. Then they came to their senses and began to celebrate Dionysia very vigorously - festivals in
the honor of the god they killed. In the end, this all led to the creation of the theater. It was in this theater that masterpieces were first shown Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides and Aristophanes.
In the 6th century BC. ruler of Athens tyrant Peisistratus introduced the cult of Dionysus into Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which was held during March–April. Around the same time in Athens a poet appeared Thespis, a native of the demos of Ikaria. He introduced the first actor to Dionysia and began to write the texts that he should
was read by the actor and choir members. Before Thespis, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to life events Dionysus, but also to other heroes of Greek mythology and real historical characters. Acting masks were also invented and introduced, since one and the same
the actor had to play many roles.
In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater was reconstructed many times.
The theater has 78 rows of spectators, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripata - the path that surrounds the sacred rock Acropolis.
The front rows of marble spectators, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple of Dionysus Eleftheria.
Romans The theater was changed twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD, and again during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.
The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of the god: seated Zeus, and in front of him Hermes with the baby Dionysus in their arms, along the edges of Kurita they dance a war dance with weapons in their hands. Then depicted Icarus, sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and
on the right is Dionysus alone with his friend Satyr.
Temple of Augustus
Not far from the eastern entrance to the Parthenon was Temple of Roma andAugusta. The temple was built in 27 BC. when Octavian received the title of Augustus. It was a small round temple with a diameter of 8.50 meters and 9 Ionic columns. At the foot of the columns there was an inscription that said that the temple was dedicated to Roma and
Augustus from the grateful Athenians.
Sanctuary of Zeus Polyaeus
To the northeast of the Parthenon are ruins of the Temple of Zeus. It consisted of a quadrangular fence, inside of which there was a separate fenced area with a small temple and a hall of gifts. In the temple in honor Zeus The ritual of Diipoly was carried out.
At the entrance to Acropolis There is also the Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the wealthiest Athenian citizens and also the Roman governor of the province of Asia. Among other things, he was a famous philosopher and a teacher Marcus Aurelius.
In 161 AD. in memory of his wife he built Odeon(theater) in
Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long, built on two floors and was
covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries.
The theater's capacity was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.
The theater premises were rebuilt and today the theater hosts Athens Festival, where the best theaters in the world present their art to the audience.
Copper statue of Athena
On the territory of the Acropolis there were many gifts and offerings from various cities and ordinary residents. Was especially valuable statueAthens. The statue was installed between Erechtheion and Propylaea and was 9 meters high. According to Pausanias, the spearhead of the statue and the shine of its helmet were visible to ships that sailed from Cape Sounion to Piraeus.
Odeon of Pericles
East of the Theater of Dionysus was the famous Odeon of Pericles, built in 447 BC. and intended for music competitions. The Odeon was destroyed during the storming of the Acropolis by Sulla's legions in 86 BC. and restored by the king of Capadocia, Ariobarzanes II. Finally Pericles Theater was destroyed by the Heruls in 267 BC.
Between the Theater of Dionysus and the Odeon of Herod of Attica there is a colonnade
Euminius II(king of Pergamon), which was built in the 2nd century BC. as a gift to the Athenians. In ancient times, the colonnade had a roof and was used by residents as a promenade for walking.
In the 5th century, with the advent of Christianity, it became the Church of Our Lady. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks, the temple was turned into a mosque, and then into an arsenal. was dismantled.
In 1687, after a cannonball hit a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part, and in addition unsuccessful attempt The Venetians removed the Parthenon sculptures; several statues were broken.
In the 19th century, the friezes and remaining Parthenon statues were taken to England, where they can be seen in British Museum.
Acropolis Museum
Museum Acropolis was opened in 1878. Initially, the museum building was located in a small room immediately behind the Parthenon.
The museum's collection consists of exhibits that were found during archaeological excavations Acropolis.
Its treasures include surviving parts of the Parthenon friezes as well as sculptures by Greek masters from the 5th century BC.
Museum exhibits exhibited in chronological order. These are pediment sculptures of temples Acropolis with images of the battle of gods with giants, scenes of Hercules fighting with various mythical creatures, as well as the sculpture of Moschophoros, or young man carrying a calf on his shoulders (570 BC)
Among the museum's exhibits is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are originals of the Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.
Reminder for tourists
Acropolis Open daily from 8am to 6:30pm.
Acropolis opening hours may vary slightly depending on
season. On Acropolis It is forbidden to bring any bags (they can be left at the entrance to the Acropolis)
The entrance ticket costs 12 euros, but with this ticket you can also visit Agora and Temple of Zeus.
Acropolis on the map of Athens
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 didn’t 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 born ancient Greek goddess the land of Gaea, half-man, half-snake - King Kekrop.
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 best 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 lately are 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 such a big country and getting to Athens is not difficult, and there are a lot of 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. There are a great variety of excursion programs. 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. On one of them is the Acropolis. Another hill is called Lycabettos, and it is famous for the incredible view of the city from it. 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. A one-time ticket worth 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 the modern city is simply lost against its background.
The place attracts traders, as in the rest of the world, with an influx of tourists.
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, knowing absolutely nothing about their 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, also visit the Central Market of 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 very tasty snack. 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 everything valuable advice, heading 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 in blue and painted with gold stars. WITH inside there are Ionic columns and pavilions. In ancient times there was an art gallery and a library there.
Temple of Nike Apteros
Elegant marble temple dedicated to the Goddess 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 in 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
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 was also where she was kept ancient sculpture, 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 antique 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.
The entrance ticket costs 5 euros. It is open every day except Monday from 8 am to 10 pm.