The erection of statues on the acropolis. The Acropolis of Athens - the greatest monument of ancient architecture in Athens

Acropolis

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

(Greek akrópolis), 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.

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. Athens Acropolis, which is a 156-meter rocky hill with a gentle top (approx. 300 m long and 170 m wide), - a place ancient settlement in Attica. In 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 Peisistratus (cm. PISISTRAT)(560-527) in place royal palace a temple of the goddess Athena Hekatompedon was built (i.e., a temple a hundred steps long; fragments of sculptures of pediments have been preserved, a foundation has been revealed). In 480, during the Greco-Persian wars, the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens took an oath to restore the shrines only after the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447, on the initiative of Pericles (cm. PERIKL) new construction began on the Acropolis; the management of all the works was entrusted to the famous sculptor Phidias (cm. PHIDIUS), who, apparently, was the author of the artistic program that formed the basis of the entire complex, its architectural and sculptural appearance.
Sacred road, along which from the agora (cm. AGORA) moved to the temple of the patron goddess during the main holiday of the Great Panathenaic (cm. PANATHINEI) procession of the Athenians leading to the Propylaea (cm. PROPYLEIA (in Athens), having 5 passages and in ancient times flanked by two equestrian statues of the Dioscuri. In the left wing, protruding from them, there was the Pinakothek (a collection of pinak paintings brought as a gift to the goddess Athena), in the right there was a repository of manuscripts and a room for the gatekeeper and watchmen. To the right of the Propylaea on a pyrgos (a ledge of a fortified rock) stands a small, light and graceful temple of the Ionic order, dedicated to Athena Nike, known as the temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Victory; 443-420, architect Kallikrates (cm. KALLIKRAT)).
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, slightly to the left of the road, stood a colossal bronze statue of Athena Promachos (Warrior), cast by Phidias. Behind her in the distance was the Erechtheion (cm. ERECHTHEION)(architect unknown), the temple of Athena and Poseidon on the site of the dispute between these gods for the possession of Attica. The temple has an asymmetric plan, unique in Greek architecture; its three porticoes are located on different levels: on the west side - a portico leading to the temple of Athena Poliada (City), on the north - the entrance to the sanctuary of Poseidon-Erechtheus, at the southern wall of the temple - the famous portico of caryatids; the whole building was surrounded by a frieze with overlaid white figures (not preserved). In the Erechtheion, the oldest sanctuary of Athens, there was the sacred xoan of Athena (a wooden statue), according to legend, which fell from the sky, the altars of Hephaestus and the hero Booth, the tomb of the legendary Athenian king Kekrop, from the west adjoined the sanctuary of the Attic dew goddess Pandrosa. In the courtyard of the Erechtheion, a sacred olive tree grew, donated to the city by Athena, a salty spring beat, which Poseidon carved with his trident.
Ease of form, special sophistication decorative finishes and the complexity of the composition, the small Erechtheion contrasts with the strict and majestic, emphatically monumental Parthenon (the temple of Athena the Virgin; 69.5 m long and 30.9 m wide, the height of the columns is 10.5 m; 447 - consecrated in 438; architect Iktin with the participation of Kallikrates), which is a Doric peripter (cm. PERIPTER). The building is perceived from the Propylaea in three quarters - the audience 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 go around the temple from the outside.
In the temple itself, in the naos (cm. NAOS), there was a chrysoelephantine statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgo) by Phidias, the sacred money of the goddess and the treasury of the Athenian Maritime Union were kept in the opisthodom. In the pediments there were 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. Metope reliefs (cm. METOPES) scenes of mythological battles were depicted along the perimeter of the building. Architectural details, sculpture and reliefs were brightly painted. The plan and order decision of the Parthenon also differ from the traditional ones in a number of features: in front of the naos there was a hall - a maiden's chamber (the Parthenon, which gave the name to the whole 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 Bravronia and Athena Ergana (Craft), a repository of weapons and sacred armor - Halkoteka (450). The open area of ​​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. ), the theater of Herodes Atticus (2nd century AD), the sanctuary of Asclepius, Stoya (Portico) of Eumenes.
The Acropolis rises above all of Athens, its silhouette forms 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; sailors approaching the shore could already see from afar the brilliance 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 the most beautiful city. Thoughtful composition of the whole ensemble, perfectly found general proportions, flexible combination of various orders, the finest molding 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 c. The Parthenon became the Church of Our Lady, the statue of Athena Parthenos was moved 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 attached, then into an arsenal; The Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish pasha, the temple of Nike Apteros was dismantled, and the wall of the bastion was built from its blocks. In 1687, after a cannonball hit from a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost the entire central part of the temple of Athena-Virgo; during an unsuccessful attempt by the Venetians to remove the sculptures of the Parthenon, several statues were broken.
At the beginning of the 19th century Englishman Lord Elgin broke out a number of metopes, tens of meters of a frieze and almost all the surviving sculptures of the pediments of the Parthenon, a caryatid - from the portico of the Erechtheion.
After the declaration of independence of Greece, during the 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 liquidated, the temple of Nike Apteros was re-laid, etc. The reliefs and sculptures of the temples of the Acropolis are in the British Museum (London), the Louvre (Paris) and the Acropolis Museum. Remaining under open sky the sculptures have now been replaced by copies.

encyclopedic Dictionary. 2009 .

See what "acropolis" is in other dictionaries:

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

ACROPOLIS, acropolis. husband. (Greek akropolis) (source). In ancient Greek cities, the central fortified part, the Kremlin. Acropolis of Athens. Dictionary Ushakov. D.N. Ushakov. 1935 1940 ... Explanatory Dictionary of Ushakov

- (Acropolis, Αχρόπολις). In general, the upper city, the citadel, the Kremlin. Usually this name is called the Athenian Acropolis, which served as the treasury of the city. (

This is the elevated part or the so-called upper city. Fortifications were built here, where in case of attacks citizens could hide and, of course, the most basic temples were erected here. All ancient Greek cities had acropolises, but the most famous is the Acropolis of Athens, towering 150 meters above the main city.

The Acropolis rises above all of Athens, its silhouette forms the skyline of the city. Rising above the hill in ancient times could be seen from any end of Attica and even from the islands of Salamis and Aegina; sailors approaching the shore could already see from afar the brilliance of the spear and helmet of Athena the Warrior.

The Acropolis just refers to 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 steep. Previously located inside great amount valuables, various sculptures. Now only four great structures can be found inside the Acropolis.

History of the Acropolis

The construction of the Acropolis began in the 2nd century BC. But during the Greco-Persian wars, it was completely destroyed. For almost a century, he stood in a terrible state.

By the middle of the 5th century BC, Athens became the most prosperous city in Hellas, an economic and cultural center. It reached its peak during the reign of Pericles. On his initiative, the city began to be decorated with all sorts of buildings. In 449, the grandiose reconstruction of the Acropolis was completed.

The Athenian Acropolis was built, as they say, on a grand scale. It is impossible to capture it with one glance. Of course, today only a small part of that ancient structure has been preserved, but even now it is worthy of admiration. To begin with, it is worth getting acquainted with the Acropolis, which existed under the ancient Greeks.

Only one entrance led to the Acropolis along a narrow road located on the western side. This entrance is through the gates of the Propylaea, built by the architect Mnesicles in 437-432 BC. The gates were decorated with a wide staircase and two porticos, one of which faces the hill, and the second - to the city. Once upon a time, the ceilings of the Propylaea were painted with golden stars against the blue sky.

The Propylaea are surrounded by the walls of the temple of the Wingless Nike. Small building with 4 columns. This temple was designed as early as 450 BC, but construction could only begin in 427. They built it for 6 years. In ancient times, inside the temple was a wooden statue of the goddess of victory. Traditionally, Nika 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, 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 was 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 priestesses, the altars of Ifest and Erechtheus .. The most important rites were performed in this temple.

The temple of Erichtheion was small in size (23 by 11 meters), but it united several sanctuaries under it at once. The temple was uneven in its height: the western part of the building is 3 meters lower than the eastern side. This is because the temple was built on uneven surface.

The interior 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. All around the perimeter there were friezes, the theme of which was myths.

A sacred olive tree grew in front of the western facade of the temple, 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 9 years (447 - 438 BC). Its architects were Iktin and Kallikrat. 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. ancient world(Phidias, Alkamen, Agoracritus, Callimachus). The popular notion that Greek temples were always colored is actually wrong. In ancient times, the Parthenon was very colorful, and according to today's tastes, it is even almost luridly 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. The face of the goddess and her hands Phidias made of Ivory and the clothes were covered with gold plates.

The second room was intended for priestess girls who worked on making sacred vestments goddesses.

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 are located through the Beile gate, built in the Roman-Byzantine era. They got their name in honor of the archaeologist Beyle, who in 1853 discovered them under the remains of a Turkish fortification. Right 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 overthrown, they tried to restore the temple, but it was no longer possible to make it the same as before.

Much of the Acropolis was irretrievably destroyed. For example, the statue of Athena the Warrior was taken to Constantinople, where it was destroyed in the 13th century.

The Temple of the Erechtheion repeatedly suffered from robbers, especially during the Greek struggle for independence in 1821-1827. Only in 1906 they began to carry out the reconstruction of the temple, restoring it on the preserved foundation.

The Parthenon in the 13th century was turned into christian temple. During turkish wars The Parthenon was shelled. The main building and the 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 buildings on our planet. Much has been destroyed, if not completely destroyed. But something has been preserved and still attracts tourists to Athens.

When the Greeks rebelled Ottoman Empire, during one of the battles they managed to surround the Athenian Acropolis, on the territory of which the Turks were staying. When the shells of the besieged began to come to an end, they began to destroy the columns of the Parthenon in order to make ammunition out of the parts holding them together. The Greeks could not allow this, and therefore, in order for the enemies to leave the ancient monument of architecture alone, they sent them a batch of lead.

The Acropolis is located in the capital of Greece, in Athens, on a rocky hill with a flat top at an altitude of 156 meters above sea level. m. and the area it occupies is about three hectares (300 meters long, 170 meters wide). You can find the new Acropolis at: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athens 117 42, and geographical map– detect at the following coordinates: 37° 58′ 17.12″ s. sh., 23° 43′ 34.2″ E d.

The Acropolis of Athens is a complex of structures, most of which were built in the 5th century. BC. the best architects of Hellas. Initially, it was intended not so much for the defense of the city, but for holding pagan services. A huge number of temples dedicated to Athena (the most famous Acropolis Parthenon), as well as Poseidon and Nike, were erected on its territory.

Actively building up the Acropolis in Athens began in the 7th-6th centuries. BC. and one of the significant buildings of that time was Hekatompedon, the temple of the most revered goddess ancient Greece, Athens. True, a century later, during Greco-Persian War most The Persians destroyed the sanctuaries, and having driven the enemies from their territory, the Greeks began to build the New Acropolis.

lead construction work was entrusted to the famous sculptor of that time, Phidias (the author of one of the wonders of the world, the statue of Zeus at Olympia), who, judging by the descriptions of his contemporaries, developed the plan for the architectural complex. And he was helped to create a new Acropolis by the most eminent architects of those times - Callicrates, Mnesicles, Iktin, Archilochus and others. The new Acropolis in Greece, erected by ancient masters, speaks of high level architecture of the ancient Hellenes.

What does the Acropolis look like?

It was possible to climb to the top of the rock of the Acropolis of Athens only from the western side along a zigzag road, from other sides it was impregnable. Below, at the foot, there were two theaters - Dionysus, built by the Greeks, and the Odeon of Herod Atticus, erected by the Romans in the II century. AD If you look at the map, you can see that the monuments of the Acropolis in Greece have about fifteen buildings (together with theaters), plus a museum is currently open on its territory in a separate building.

Promachos

Interestingly, the first monument that the New Acropolis saw was not a building, but a statue of Athena Promachos, created by Phidias himself. The goddess was wearing a helmet, leaning on a spear with her right hand, she had a shield in her left (the helmet and the tip of the spear were made of gold). Promakhos was made of bronze, had a height of about 7 meters and was installed so that it could not only be seen from anywhere in the city, but also from the sea - the sailors saw the golden helmet and the tip of the spear shining in the sun from a great distance.

Propylaea (437 - 432 BC)

Athena Promachos was located opposite the main entrance to the Acropolis of Athens. It was made by the architect Mnesicles from white Pentelian and gray Eleuscan marble. The Propylaea consists of three parts: the central one, in which there were six Doric columns, and two adjacent wings. It is interesting that Ionic columns were installed on both sides of the main passage - apparently, this principle of combining columns of two different types was used here for the first time.

Parthenon (447 - 438 BC)

The Greeks are convinced that the Acropolis and the Parthenon are two inseparable concepts, since it is impossible to imagine them without each other. The Parthenon was erected by Callicrates and Iktin from Pentelian marble on top of a rock and was dedicated to the patroness of the city, the goddess Athena.

The Parthenon is a rectangular building 30.8 x 69.5 m with columns located around the perimeter, about ten meters high: seventeen were installed on the southern and northern sides of the sanctuary, eight on the western and eastern (the entrances to the temple were also located here).

The Parthenon was decorated with sculptural bas-reliefs from the life of the city: the procession of the chosen virgins to the Acropolis with a gift for the goddess (held every four years), about a hundred bas-reliefs depicting various battles. The eastern side of the Parthenon told the legend of the birth of Athena, the western side - about her dispute with the god of the seas, Poseidon, about who will be the patron of Athens.

The main hall of the Parthenon was divided into three parts with the help of two rows of columns. In the depths of this architectural monument, there was a twelve-meter sculpture of Athena. AT right hand the goddess had Nike, on the left side was a spear. The face and hands of the statue were carved from ivory, weapons and clothes were cast from gold, precious stones shone in the eyes.

Unfortunately, in the V Art. the sculpture was taken to Constantinople, where it burned down in a fire.

At the western entrance there is a square parthenon hall, which housed the archive and treasury of the city maritime union. Presumably, the name of the Greek temple came from this hall, which means “house for girls”, since it was here that the priestesses made peplos (women’s sleeveless outerwear, sewn from light material, which was presented to the goddess during the solemn procession.

Temple of Athena the Conqueror (449 - 421 BC)

A small marble temple is located (the dimensions of its base are 5.4 x 8.14 m, the height of the columns is 4 m) in the southwest of the Propylaea, on a small ledge of a rock, which was previously fortified retaining wall. The author of this original architectural monument was the author of the Parthenon, Callicrates. The sanctuary was surrounded by columns, while on three sides the building was surrounded by walls, while on the eastern side, where the entrance to the temple was located, there was no wall, instead of it there were two pillars.

Interestingly, another name for this small marble temple is Nike Apteros, which means Wingless. According to legend, the wooden statue of the goddess of Victory, which was located in this temple, did not have wings: the Athenians categorically did not want her to leave the city.

Erechteinon Temple (421-407 BC)

Erechtion is considered the last architectural monument of the Acropolis, was dedicated to two gods at once, Athena and Poseidon, and got its name because of the remains of the tomb of the ruler Erechtheus found on its territory.

The shrine is located behind the back of Promachos and was erected in the place where, according to legend, Athena argued with Poseidon. According to the description of eyewitnesses, near the temple grew olive Tree and in the floor there was a trace from the blow of the staff of Poseidon. The story goes that the olive burned down when ancient acropolis set on fire by the Persians, but after his release it revived.

Despite the fact that the temple is inferior in size to the Parthenon (11.63 x 23.5 m), its architecture has a more complex plan.

The eastern portico of the building is supported by six Ionic columns, the northern portico by four. The frieze of the shrine was made of marble-like limestone, in which marble white sculptures were inserted. On the south side of the Erechteinon there is a portico, which, instead of traditional columns, was supported by statues of girls. Currently, all original sculptures have been replaced with copies and are in the Louvre, the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum.

Acropolis today

Unfortunately, history did not spare the Athenian Acropolis: people first made the Church of the Mother of God from the Parthenon, then a mosque, the Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish Pasha, the Temple of the Wingless Nike was dismantled and a fortress wall was erected from it, and during the war with Turkey in the 19th century. he was significantly damaged by a projectile fired by the Turks. Contributed to the destruction of the unique complex strongest earthquake in Greece in 1894.

As soon as the Greeks regained power over the city, they were engaged in the restoration of their sights. After Greece proclaimed late XIX Art. independence, this issue was taken up more seriously, as a result of which they managed to achieve significant successes, thanks to which museum visitors now have the opportunity not only to see the new Acropolis, but also to more clearly imagine how it looked in antiquity.

They liquidated all the late buildings of the Acropolis, rebuilt the temple of Nike, created copies of the sculptures and replaced the originals with them, taking them to museums for storage, one of which was placed at the foot of the cliff. The new Athens Acropolis Museum was opened in 2009. Interestingly, it was the third in a row, because as a result of numerous archaeological excavations, the first two museums did not contain all the finds and were replaced by a larger building ten times larger than its predecessor.

The city, already from the name of which many people associate with major events world history. Significant sights for mankind 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 upheavals and a series of ups and downs, was under the yoke of conquerors and was reborn. One thing remained unchanged: the heart of the city - the Acropolis, which has dominated Athens since ancient times.

Evening view of the Acropolis from the top floors of the King George Hotel, perhaps the best hotel in Athens.

Location of the Acropolis: how to get to it

The main attraction of Athens is located in the heart of the city and is perfectly visible from anywhere in the capital. The 156 meters high Acropolis Hill is located in the Acropolis area - for obvious reasons, the most visited area of ​​the city. Getting to the right place is not difficult. The easiest way is by metro to the nearest Acropoli station or to the stations of Thissio, Syntagma, Omonia and Monastiraki. From the center of Athens, the Acropolis can be reached on foot if you follow Dionysios Areopagite Street. You have to keep going uphill. Closer to the Acropolis, numerous signs will not let you go astray.

Acropolis on the map of Athens. Marker placed 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 and sculptures were installed, religious ceremonies were held. During the Mycenaean period, the Acropolis served as a royal residence - it was difficult to imagine a more advantageous and safe location in Athens.

Under Pisistratus, active construction of the ancient temple of the Acropolis - Hekatompedon, the predecessor of the Parthenon, began on the hill. It was dedicated to the goddess Athena and surrounded by several religious buildings. But all the temples fell into decay after the invasion of the Persians. And then the Greeks vowed to restore the shrines, driving out the enemies.

Acropolis in antiquity.

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 of the architectural appearance. So the Parthenon rose above Athens, and it was destined to become a recognizable symbol of Greece. But before 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 taken apart for building materials.

Only with the revival of Greece as independent state the restoration of the monuments of the Acropolis began. And many sculptures were replaced with copies for preservation purposes - the originals are stored in the Acropolis Museum.

For the Greeks, the theme of the heritage of the main attraction of Athens remains painful. In the 19th century, a collection of art objects was taken to England by Lord Elgin (whom Byron called a thief for this). And so far, the UK is refusing Greece's requests 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 Pentelian marble. The architecture combines Doric and Ionic columns - the first time in Ancient Greece two warrants "met" in one structure. The monumental entrance consists of two porticos. One looks at the Acropolis, the other is directed towards Athens.

On the southwestern side of the Propylaea stands the Temple of Nike. Its marble frieze, made in the Ionic style, depicts the gods and fragments of the battle against the Persians. In ancient times, the 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 Athenian Acropolis.

The central place on the hill is given to the Parthenon. For the sake of it, many people come to Athens. AT ancient city he served as the main temple dedicated to Athena, and his appearance inspired architects throughout Europe. The Parthenon has not yet been completely restored, although this does not prevent it from being 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 asymmetric. On the southern part of the Erechtheion 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 Asklepion and the Odeon of Herodes, which still serves as a venue for concerts.

Acropolis Museum

In 2009, the New Acropolis Museum was solemnly opened in the Greek capital. Its ultra-modern building is several times larger than the size of the old museum. The openings were waited for so long that in the first 3 months the number of visitors exceeded 1 million.

The collection is made up entirely of objects found on the Acropolis since 1834. Here you can see statues, original caryatids, memorial plates, countless fragments of structures and religious objects. Visitors even have the opportunity to watch the excavations that take place right under the building of the New Museum.

The museum covers in detail the different eras of the existence of the Acropolis. He introduces not only the ancient period, but also the era of the Roman Empire. Interactive materials complement the exhibition well. The Acropolis Museum regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and holidays arranges interesting activities for children.

What to visit near the Acropolis

A visit to the Acropolis can be combined with a walk around other famous places in the city. For example, according to the Agora - the center of the political, commercial and cultural life of Ancient Athens. The former market square has preserved many architectural testimonies, including the Temple of Hephaestus. To the left of the Acropolis is Philopapu Hill with a monument to the Roman ruler Philopapu. The building 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 area of ​​​​Athens, which has preserved many interesting historical monuments. Among them stand out the Church of the Virgin and the mosque. But the main attraction for tourists is the Monastiraki market, where any tourist will find a souvenir to remember Athens.

Acropolis in Athens is business card Greece, tourists from all over the world come here. In terms of the number of ticket sales and attendance, it is not inferior to the Colosseum in Rome.

Despite past wars and natural disasters, he stood for two thousand years (and will stand for the same) and still amazes the imagination with his majesty and perfection of forms.

Similar structures were built not only in, but also on the territory of Asia Minor (), in and Ancient Rome. The Acropolis is the elevated part of the city (built on a hill). It served as a refuge for the nobility in case of war. Palaces, government buildings, temples of patron deities were built on its territory. Despite the endured cataclysms, the Athenian Acropolis has been preserved better than any of the existing ones. To this day, active work is underway to restore it.

Story

Even in the archaic times, the first temples were laid. In VII-VI BC. active development of the hill began. It served as a royal residence. In 447 BC the rebuilding of the complex began by the famous sculptor of that time, Phidias. The complex received the architectural appearance that is known to us now. Gradually greatest monument dilapidated culture, Athens turned into country town Roman Empire.

A panoramic walk along the street near the Acropolis is many times more interesting than the ruins themselves (:

AT Byzantine period the temple of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the city (Parthenon) became christian church. With the advent of the Turks in the 15th century, the entire temple complex was turned into a mosque, and then into an ammunition depot and an arsenal. In the XIX century, Greece became an independent country, from that moment the ancient appearance of the Acropolis began to be actively restored. The buildings built on the territory in the Middle Ages and New Time were liquidated.

All the sculptures that are located on the territory of the Acropolis in Athens have been replaced by copies, the originals are kept, and the Acropolis Museum.

What does the Acropolis look like?

Unfortunately, at the moment it is ruins.. Yes, large-scale work is underway to restore its individual facilities, but the completion of the work is very far away.

The height of the hill on which the monument is built is 300 meters. Climbing on it, you will have a beautiful view of Athens. The Acropolis consists of 21 elements, which are interconnected in one architectural ensemble.

Temple of the Parthenon in Athens

The Parthenon, the key temple of the Acropolis, is the best preserved. Created from white marble, it turned yellow over time. It is considered the oldest building in the world, because its age is two thousand years! Its history is the history and culture of all Greece.

Until recently, the Theater of Dionysus staged ancient Greek comedies and tragedies, but now it is partially closed for reconstruction (due to be completed in 2015).

The architecture of the Erechtheion temple has an unusual asymmetrical layout, and a lot of relics were found in it, which are stored in museums around the world.

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Useful information

Arrive at opening time or a few hours before closing time to skip the long ticket queue and walk around the complex without the heat. Stock up on water, you will have to climb a 300-meter hill. On the rise you will find a rather steep staircase, be careful.

The entrance ticket costs 12 euros, it can be purchased on the spot. Discounts for students and pensioners. The line is long, but it moves very fast. The ticket is valid for four days. If you don’t have enough energy to see everything at once, you can always return. AT winter time on Sundays admission is free.

Opening hours: from 8:00 to 20:00 hours, closed on Monday.

The fastest way to get there is by metro. Get to the Acropoli station, from there follow the signs that are at every step.

Acropolis on the map

Acropolis of Athens, Athens 105 58, Greece