Brief description of the Athenian acropolis. Athens Acropolis: a brief description of the complex, history and reviews. Acropolis of Athens: architecture, monuments Athens

Acropolis is the name of a hill and an outstanding architectural ensemble located on it. In Greek, the spelling of "Acropolis" looks like this: "Ακρόπολη". Usually this word is translated as "upper city", "fortified city" or simply "fortress". At first, the mountain was used as a refuge. Subsequently, there was royal palace and even, if you believe the myths, the residence of Theseus - the winner of the Cretan monster Minotaur.

Since the first temple of Athena appeared on the mountain, it has been considered sacred. Around this narrow rock with three steep walls, the city of Athens has grown, the heart and soul of which are located on the holy Acropolis. From the top of the mountain, the capital of Greece is visible at a glance. Just as from the city, the buildings of the Acropolis are perfectly visible from everywhere, next to which tall buildings are prohibited.

In 1987, the Acropolis of Athens was listed by UNESCO as a site world heritage. This organization uses the image of the Parthenon as its emblem.

The image of the Athenian Acropolis will be recognized even by those who have never seen it with their own eyes. Greatest achievement the ancient Greeks deservedly became the hallmark of Greece. Settlements on a high rocky hill with a flat top were already around 4000 BC. The architectural and historical ensemble of the Acropolis, whose ruins we see now, was created mainly in the 5th century BC. under the commander and great Greek statesman Pericles. It included:

• Parthenon - main temple. It was built in honor of the patroness of the policy, the goddess Athena.
• Propylaea - front entrance to the Acropolis
• wide marble staircase
• Pinakothek - located to the left of the Propylaea
• A 12-meter statue of Athena the Warrior, created by the sculptor Phidias from ivory and gold
• Niku-Apteros - the temple of the wingless Athena the Victorious with an altar in front of him. The altar was dismantled by the Turks at the end of the 18th century, but in 1935-1936 it was recreated
• The Erechtheion is a temple dedicated to Athena and Poseidon. On one of its porticoes, instead of columns, the famous caryatids are installed.
• the sanctuary of Zeus Polyeas and others.

Location of buildings on the Acropolis

Facade of the Propylaea, a wide marble staircase leading to them and adjoining buildings

In the 2nd century A.D. e. Herodes Atticus built the grandiose Odion Theater at the foot of the Acropolis.

The main architects of the Acropolis are Iktin and Kallikrates, who built the Parthenon, and Mnesicles, the creator of the Propylaea. The sculptor Phidias was involved in finishing and supervising the construction together with Pericles.

L. Alma-Tadema (1836–1912). Phidias showing friends, including Pericles and his beloved Aspasia, Parthenon frieze, 1868.

The Parthenon is translated as "room for virgins". According to one of the assumptions, in it, the chosen girls wove a light fabric for the peplos - women's clothing sleeveless with many pleats. A special peplos, embroidered with a pattern, was offered to the goddess Athena during the Panathenaic - solemn ceremonies in her honor.

Athena Parthenos

Destruction of the Acropolis

The centuries-old Acropolis has undergone repeated conquests by other peoples and the influence of other cultures. This was reflected in his appearance most often not in the best way. The Parthenon had to visit a Catholic church and a Muslim mosque. He was also a Turkish powder warehouse, which played a tragic role in his fate.

During the Turkish-Venetian war, the Turks, hoping that a Christian would not fire on the building, which had been a Christian temple for several centuries, placed weapons stocks in the Parthenon and hid children and women. However, on September 26, 1687, the commander of the Venetian army ordered cannons to be fired at the Acropolis. The explosion severely destroyed central part monument.

Engraving depicting the explosion of the Parthenon

James Skin.Ruined Parthenon with the remains of the cathedral-mosque, 1838

The Acropolis suffered seriously due to vandalism and unceremonious robbery. So during the years 1801-1811 the British ambassador to Ottoman Empire Lord Thomas Elgin removed a significant part of the ancient Greek statues and frieze from the Parthenon to England, and then sold it to the British Museum.

Restoration of the Acropolis

Since 1834, research and restoration work has been carried out on the territory of the Acropolis. They have been especially actively produced since the end of the 20th century. A new modern spacious museum has been built in Athens. Archaeological finds discovered in the Acropolis are exhibited in its halls. Among them are fragments of the frieze of the Parthenon, sculptures, figures of caryatids, statues of kors, kouros and Moschophoros (Taurus).

New Acropolis Museum in Athens

Moschophoros (Taurus) and the "boy of Critias", discovered during the excavations of the Athenian Acropolis. Around 1865

It is completely unrealistic to restore the monument, but with the help of modern digital technologies, you can see its greatness with the help of 3D reconstruction. During their heyday, the structures of the Acropolis, from the buildings to the statues, were adorned with colorful decorations. Immerse yourself in the new and at the same time the old colorful reality of Ancient Greece allows you to "Interactive tour of the Acropolis of Athens", which is open to the public from March 24, 2018 in "Θόλος".

Illustrations

Reconstruction options in color

IN old times on the high hill of the Acropolis, the city of Kekropia was erected, which later received a new name - Athens. It is better to admire the Acropolis in Athens at sunrise or sunset, it is at this time that the ruins of the former great city come to life and seem to be rebuilt.

History of the Athenian Acropolis

Let's take a look at the history of the city. King Kekrops is considered the founder of Athens. Founding 12 is attributed to this great man Greek cities, the introduction of a ban on human sacrifice, and, most importantly, the introduction of the cult of Zeus the Thunderer. The arrival of the greatness of the goddess Athena occurs during the reign of another king - Erechtonius, it was during his reign that the city was renamed Athens.

Approximately in the II millennium BC, the territory of the Acropolis completely contained Athens. It was surrounded by powerful walls. On the western sloping side, a particularly strong fortification of Enneapilon "Nine-Gate" was erected. Outside the walls was the palace of the Athenian kings. It was in it that the sanctuary of Athena was later placed, and as the city grew, the Acropolis became a religious center dedicated to the patroness of the city.

Architecture of the Athenian Acropolis

The construction of the ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis began after the great victories of the Greeks over the Persians. In 449, Pericles' plan to beautify this area was approved. The Athenian Acropolis was to become a great symbol of a great victory. No money or material was spared. Pericles could get whatever he wanted for this business.

Tons of material were brought to the main hill Greek capital. It was considered pride for everyone to work at this facility. Several excellent architects were involved here at once, but Phidias played the main role.

Propylaea of ​​the Athenian Acropolis

The architect Mnesicles created the buildings of the Propylaea, which are the entrance to the Acropolis, decorated with porticos and a colonnade. A similar structure introduced the visitor sacred place in absolutely new world not like everyday reality. At the other end of the Propylaea, a statue of the patroness of the city of Athena Promachos, executed personally by Phidias, was installed. Speaking of Phidias, one can say that it was from his hands that the famous statue of Zeus came out in Olympia, which became one of the seven wonders of the world of the ancient world. The helmet and spear of the warrior Athena were seen even by sailors sailing through Attica.

Parthenon - the first temple

The main temple of the Athenian Acropolis is the Parthenon. Previously, it contained another statue of Athena Parthenos, also made by Phidias. The statue was made in chrysoelephantine technique, like Olympian Zeus. But this miracle has not reached us, so it remains only to believe the rumors and images.

The columns of the Parthenon, made of marble, have lost their original whiteness over the centuries. Now its brownish columns stand out beautifully against the evening sky. The Parthenon was the temple of Athena Polias the Guardian. Due to the position of the building, this name was usually shortened to big temple or even just the Temple.

The construction of the Parthenon was carried out in 447-428 BC under the leadership of the architects Iktin and his assistant Kallikrat, of course, not without the participation of Phidias. The temple was supposed to be the epitome of democracy. Great calculations were made for its construction, which is why the building was completed in just 9 years. Other decoration continued until 432.

Erechtheion - the second temple

The second temple of the Acropolis is the old Erechtheion, also dedicated to Athena. There was a functional difference between the Erechtheion and the Pantheon. The Pantheon was intended for public needs, the Erechtheion, in fact, was the temple of the priests.

The temple, according to legend, was built at the site of the dispute between Poseidon and Athena for the right to rule in Athens. The elders of the city were supposed to resolve the dispute, at their request, power was given to one of the gods, whose gift would be the most useful for the city. Poseidon made a stream of salt water from the hill of the Acropolis, while Athena grew an olive tree. The daughter of Zeus was declared the winner, and the olive tree was the symbol of the city.

In one of the rooms of the temple there was a trace of the impact of the trident of Poseidon on the rock. Near this place is the entrance to the cave, where, according to another legend, the snake of Athena lived, which is the personification of the glorious king-hero Erechthonius.

In the same complex there is the grave of Erechthonius himself, and in the western part of the temple there is a well with salt water, as if appeared at the behest of the same Poseidon.

Temple of Athena Nike

Athena in the Acropolis found its embodiment in another form - Athena Nike. The first temple dedicated to the goddess of victory was destroyed during the wars with the Persians, therefore, after the conclusion of the truce, it was decided to restore the sanctuary. The temple was built by Callicrates in 427-424 BC.

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Each policy of Ancient Greece had its own Acropolis, but none of them can surpass the Athenian in scale, layout and concentration of such a number of monuments of past eras.

Without it, the capital of Greece is simply unthinkable; it is rightfully considered its hallmark, a real mecca for tourists from all over the world. Here time stops, it is frozen in the impeccable elegance of architectural forms. Everything here looks majestic and impresses with its scope and monumentality, testifying to the high level of development of the culture of the ancient Greeks and remaining a model of world architecture for centuries.

Originally on the hill of the Acropolis was imperial palace, and in the 7th century BC, large-scale reconstruction began and the foundation was laid for the first and most significant temple - the Parthenon. It impresses not only with its size, but also with a special layout - it can be seen in volume. If you look at the building from the side of the central gate, three walls appear at the same time. The secret is that the columns of the Parthenon are located at a certain angle to each other, this is the reason for a number of other interesting architectural features. And the main decoration of the temple was the statue of Athena, made of ivory and gold. Around the 5th century BC, she was taken to Constantinople, where she burned down in a fire.

Acropolis

No less grandiose is the Erechteinon, built on the site where the legendary dispute between Poseidon and Athena took place. Here, in the sanctuary of Pandora, an olive branch was kept, and a spring flowed with sea ​​water. In addition, the temple has famous sculptures Caryatids - six beauties that replace the columns of the temple, many friezes and a mosaic preserved in places.

The temple of the goddess Nike also stands out among others, which, according to legend, the Athenians left without wings so that she would not fly away from them, and victory was always theirs. It's true legendary place- it was here that Aegeus was waiting for his son Theseus, and in a fit of unbridled despair he jumped into the sea. And very close is the ancient theater of Dionysus, where Aristophanes and Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides presented their dramas and comedies.

Previously, one could enter the Acropolis through a huge gate - the Propylaea, which is a masterpiece of architectural art and was called "the brilliant face of the Acropolis."

In one of their parts of these gates, the very first art gallery in the world was placed.

Of course, even the monumental structures of the Acropolis are subject to the influence of time, so everything that can now be seen there is pretty much destroyed. Changed the look even more upper city» numerous destruction and devastation that occurred in different times. But, nevertheless, the Athenian Acropolis amazes us with its grace, luxury and perfection, even being in ruins.

general information

Among all the sights of Greece special place occupies the Acropolis. athenian acropolis stands out from all architectural monuments ancient Greeks.

Each Greek city had its own Acropolis, but none of them can be compared with the splendor and monumentality of the Athenian. The architectural ensemble was erected on a gentle hilltop in honor of the patroness ancient city goddess of war, wisdom and justice - Athena. The Acropolis in Athens was significant place for the ancient Greeks for a long time. The history of the ancient sanctuary is closely intertwined with the well-known Greek mythology.

The Acropolis was built during the heyday of Athens under Pericles in the fifth century BC. This monument of ancient Greek architecture reflected the power, wealth and majesty of Athens at that time.

The Athenian Acropolis harmoniously blended into the surrounding area. It combines the features of ancient Greek classical architecture with innovative architectural elements for that time.

Temple Erechtheion

In the VII-VI centuries. BC. began large-scale work on the construction of the first temples. During the reign of Peisistratus, the temple of Hekatompedon was erected, dedicated to the goddess Athena. At this time, two large temples were built - “ old temple” and “Hekatompedos”, as well as the Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia, for which many donations were made in the form of bronze and terracotta figurines with inscriptions praising the ancient goddess.

Parthenon temple

In 490 BC the ancient Greeks undertook the construction of a monumental and majestic temple"Preparthenon". However, the construction was never completed. During the war with the Persians in 480 BC. the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed. The inhabitants of the ancient city buried the surviving objects that decorated the temples in the cavities of the rock. And the Acropolis itself acquired two new defensive walls. The ruins of temples on the northern part of the Acropolis hill can still be seen in one of the walls in which they were included.

Temple of Roma and Augustus

During the heyday cultural life ancient Athens in the middle of the 5th century. BC. under the leadership of the outstanding Greek statesman Pericles, the grandiose construction of the Parthenon began. Not only Greeks were involved in the work, but also foreigners. At this time, the most famous buildings of the Acropolis were created - the Parthenon itself, the Propylaea, the Erechtheion and the Temple of Nike Apteros. Outstanding architects and architects worked on the construction of these truly amazing buildings. ancient greece- Callicrates, Iktinos, Mnesicles, Archilochus and many others. The decoration of the temples was created by the hands of famous artists and sculptors of that era.

The temples of the Acropolis, located on north side hill, were erected in honor of various Olympic gods. And temples were built in the southern part of the Acropolis, praising the numerous qualities of the patron goddess of the city: like Polyas (patron of the city), Parthenos, Pallas, Promash (goddess of war), Ergan (goddess of manual labor) and Nike (Victory).

In 27 BC architectural ensemble The Acropolis was supplemented by a small Temple of Augustus and Roma. In the III century. BC. a defensive wall was erected around the Acropolis with two gates that have remained intact to this day.

View of the Acropolis

After the establishment of Christianity, in particular in the sixth century AD, the temples of the Acropolis were converted into Christian churches.

Despite the barbaric attitude of people and the ruthlessness of time, the temples of the Acropolis have not lost their grandeur and proudly tower over Athens today.

Ticket prices and tour services

The Acropolis of Athens is open from Monday to Sunday from 08:00 to 20:00. Because of extreme heat(over 39°) the opening hours of the museum may change.

The last visitors can enter the museum 30 minutes before closing time.

The museum is closed on public holidays:
January 1, March 25, May 1, Easter Sunday, December 25 and 26.

The ticket price is - 20€
For parents and teachers accompanying children elementary school, the museum provides benefits - 10€

The ticket price includes a visit to the excavations of the Acropolis, as well as two of its slopes: the South slope of the Acropolis and the North slope of the Acropolis

The museum does not provide guided tours in Russian, but when buying a ticket, you can ask for a brochure in Russian. To get acquainted with the objects of the Acropolis, we recommend taking 1.5 hours of time, and it is best to come to the opening, so there will be an opportunity to take pictures against the background of sights, and not a large crowd of people. Be sure to stock up drinking water, but if you did not take water with you, then there are drinking fountains on the territory of the museum. Near the entrance to the territory of the Acropolis there are many cafes, but the prices there are much higher - lemonade from 4.5 €

There is also a single ticket ( special ticket package), valid for 5 days for visiting 11 museums: Acropolis of Athens, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Lyceum of Aristotle, Hadrian's Library, Archaeological Museum of Keramika, Athenian Agora, Keramik, Archaeological Museum of the Athenian Agora, North Slope of the Acropolis, Roman Agora, South Slope of the Acropolis.

Price single ticket is 30€ , or 15€ (if you are a parent or teacher accompanying a student)

The Athenian Acropolis is the main attraction of Athens, a real symbol of Greece, and its main temple, the Parthenon, is “ business card» of this country.

The Acropolis of Athens arose as a protective structure about 6-10 thousand years ago. Even then, this rocky spur, located today on the outskirts of Athens, attracted with its impregnability - a rock 70-80 meters high with an almost flat upper platform and steep slopes on three sides already served as a refuge for local population in the event of an attack. But the real fortifications began to be built here around 1250 BC, when the hill was surrounded by powerful walls 5 meters thick, the construction of which was then attributed to the Cyclopes.

But the real heyday came here in the 5th century BC, when the Greeks expelled the troops of the Persian king Xerxes. After themselves, the Persians left only destruction, and the ruler of the Athenian state, Pericles, decided not to restore the ruins, but to rebuild the Acropolis. It was during his reign and under the guidance of the outstanding sculptor Phidias that this religious center the city turned into that pearl, which, albeit with numerous, often irreparable destruction, has survived to this day, and which the whole world now knows.

From 450 BC were lined up here famous buildings ancient Greek architecture, the main of which were the Parthenon (the temple of the goddess Athena Parthenos), the Propylaea, the solemn entrance to the Acropolis, the temple of Nike Apteros (unlike the generally accepted image, the Athenians made their Nike wingless so that the goddess of victory would not fly away from them), the Erechtheion temple, dedicated to the king ancient Greek mythology Erechtheus, as well as Nike and Poseidon, and the statue of Athena Promachos, striking in its size (21 meters) and grandeur, with a helmet cast in gold and a spearhead, which served as a kind of guide for ships that saw the light of the great goddess from afar.

The passing centuries did not spare the Athenian Acropolis. In the 6th century, it was taken to Constantinople and there the statue of Athena died during a fire around the 12th century, all the temples were badly damaged, including the Parthenon, which changed its name several times throughout its history, which was both a Catholic church and a mosque, and barely not destroyed by a terrible explosion of gunpowder that occurred on September 26, 1687 during the siege of the city by the troops of the Venetian Republic. Only after Greece gained independence in 1830, the looting and removal of the ruins of the Acropolis to the largest museums in the world was stopped, and since 1898 a large-scale reconstruction of the monument has been carried out. http://omyworld.ru/2091

A state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum has opened in Athens.

The museum exhibits unique finds of ancient times, in particular marble sculptures, which are parts of the frieze of the main Athenian ancient temple of the Parthenon. Some are presented as duplicates, as the largest collection of originals is still in the British Museum in London. At the beginning of the century before last, they were transported to Britain by Lord Elgin, then the British ambassador to Greece.

The Greek side has been trying to regain these exhibits for several decades in a row. Greek President Carolus Papoulias, in his speech at the opening, once again called on Londoners to return the sculptures. But the British Museum considers itself their rightful owner and emphasizes that it is here that the exhibits are available free of charge to visitors from all over the world.

Sculptures from the Athenian Acropolis in the museum.

It looks like the goddesses from the east frieze of the Parthenon looked like this.

You look at the buildings of the architects of antiquity and it becomes sad that despite the fact that they are currently trying to save all the buildings, however, time has already been significantly lost. One can only guess about the former splendor or read in ancient manuscripts. Look around these structures, a huge number of faceless primitive buildings of our time. What will we leave a descendant?