The main monuments of ancient Greece. Ancient Greek sculptures. The most famous sculptures - TOP10

Perhaps in no country in the world you will find as many ancient monuments as in Greece: the famous athenian acropolis and the revolving temple of Apollo at Delphi, the theater of Dionysus and the temple of Zeus, the Tower of the Winds, the Cave of Peramus and much more...

The white-stone ruins here keep the memory of the birth of civilization for centuries, turning legends and myths into history. RT has compiled a list of the most interesting attractions that are worth visiting for anyone who decides to go to this amazing country.

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A unique architectural monument, the palace of King Minos, is located on the island of Crete. Legends about this palace have been going on since ancient times. Visitors have the opportunity to observe a labyrinth of more than a thousand rooms, the walls of which are decorated with frescoes and drawings.

The Acropolis of Athens is an incredibly beautiful hill building in the center of Athens. It is known that the first temples and buildings appeared in the archaic period. The Greek government has repeatedly carried out restorations to restore the place to its original appearance.

The Theater of Dionysus, located on the hill of the Acropolis, is one of the oldest theaters in the world. It was here that the works of the greatest representatives of ancient Greek literature and dramaturgy were first presented to the audience: Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes.

Temple of Nike Apteros is a striking example of classical Greek architectural art. From the site on which the temple is located, you can enjoy the beautiful and impressive panorama of Athens.

The city of Delphi is located in the region of Phocaea, on the southwestern slope famous mountain Parnassus, near the Corinthian Gulf. In ancient Greece, the city was a major trading and financial center.

Olympeion, or Temple of Olympian Zeus, is the largest temple in Greece. Its construction was carried out from the VI century BC. e. until the 2nd century A.D. e. This monument of ancient Greek architecture is located in Athens, not far from the Acropolis and the city center. According to the legends, the temple was erected on the site of the sanctuary of the mythical Deucalion, who was considered the forefather of all the people of Greece.

The Arch of Hadrian was erected in the 2nd century AD. in honor of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Ancient architects placed it on the line of the road connecting the Acropolis Square and Olympion and leaving in a southeast direction.

The uniqueness of the Panathenaic Stadium lies in the fact that it is the only stadium in the world whose walls are made of white marble. It was here that the first Olympic Games were held in 1896.

The Temple of Hephaestus in Athens is one of the best preserved ancient temples in the world. All columns, pediments, as well as most of roofs.

In ancient times, the temple of Apollo was of great importance for the culture of Ancient Greece. It was here that Delphic oracle- a great soothsayer, where even Alexander the Great himself came to ask for a prophecy.

The Temple of Hephaestus (Hephaestion), or Tesseion gave rise to many legends associated with its name. According to one version, the temple was dedicated to the son of Zeus and the god of fire, Hephaestus, the patron of blacksmithing. According to another version, the temple was named Tesseion - in honor of Theseus, the famous hero of ancient Greek mythology.

Delphi is the most popular among the sacred places of Ancient Greece. The town is located at the foot of Mount Parnassus - the place where Apollo lived, surrounded by muses. Since ancient times, many people have specially traveled here from afar to find out the predictions of the famous oracle of Apollo and look into the future.

A huge book depository, built in 132 AD, impressive in its size. Having built a library, Emperor Hadrian presented the Athenians with a new Cultural Center with lecture halls and a lush garden.

The Tower of the Winds is the oldest meteorological monument with a height of 12 meters and a diameter of about 8 meters.

Architectural monuments of ancient Greece - part world heritage humanity, attractions that attract the attention of tourists. The ruins of ancient temples are scattered throughout the Peloponnese and the islands Aegean Sea.

Unfortunately, time had little mercy on religious buildings. The ancient temples themselves are refined and openwork, earthquakes are frequent in Greece, and the local Herostrati tried to seek glory for themselves by arson. Christianity that replaced paganism did not care much about the memory of pagan ancestors. Not very conducive to the preservation of the heritage of antiquity and Muslim rule in the territory of modern Greece.

Only after liberation wars At the beginning of the 19th and early 20th centuries, Greece occupied territory remotely close to the ancient borders. Attention to the architectural heritage of antiquity was drawn only from the second quarter of the 19th century. The study, excavations, restoration and conservation of monuments began.

The pearl of Greece is, of course, Athens. In addition to the Acropolis with the Parthenon temples, the Erechtheion with a portico of caryatids, the temple of Nike Apteros, in the city and its environs there are many living witnesses of antiquity - propylaea, the temple of Hephaestus (Theseion), the monument of Lysicrates (334 BC). Tower of the Winds - built in 44 BC. weather station - bears the features not of Greek democracy, but of Roman imperial architecture.

The Temple of Hera at Paestum (5th century) and the Temple of Hephaestus at Athens (Theseion) are the two best-preserved monuments. Basically, the monuments of Ancient Greece are picturesque ruins.

We know about most of the temples only from the mentions of ancient historians and the meager results of excavations.
Much more survived other monuments of Ancient Greece - amphitheatres. Hewn in mountain slopes, they resisted destruction more strongly and amaze with their excellent acoustics. The amphitheaters in Epidaurus, Delphi, Athens, now empty, were once as crowded as cinemas and supermarkets are now. Theaters at that time were also religious, and not entertainment, structures. They were dedicated to the gods, and the performances on the stage were divine services.

Byzantine civilization left fortification monuments in Greece - ancient fortress in Thessaloniki, the fortress of Mistra, the Venetian fortress of Methoni and religious ones - the temple of the Virgin Ekatondapiliani (IV century) on the island of Paros, the temple of Demetrius in Arta (IX century), the temple of Panagia in Thessaloniki (1028), Kapnikeria in Athens (XI century), Temple St. Sophia on a rock above the sea in Monemvasia. You can admire the paintings of the XIV century in the monastery of Christ the Savior in Verria.

You can also see modern buildings: the Cathedral of St. the Apostle Andrew in Patras was built from 1908 to 1974, the Cathedral of Nektarios of Aegina on the island of Aegina in 1994. All of them are worthy successors of the majestic Ancient Greek architecture.

This amazing country has a huge number of historical, cultural, architectural and natural attractions. Tourists from all over the world come to Greece not just to relax on the beaches. Here you can replenish your knowledge of how the modern Europe, a huge part of which belongs to the classical era of Hellenism and pre-Hellenic history and culture.

TOP 20 attractions in Greece

The sights of Greece will tell you about the birth of the European democratic tradition, the golden era in mythology, literature, sculpture, architecture, theater, sports, etc. In this beautiful country hospitable people live loving Russia they are always friendly Russian tourists. Do not forget the well-known phrase from Russian cinema: "Everything is in Greece!".

1. The ancient Greek city of Delphi

This city used to be religious center worship of the god Apollo. According to legend, it is named after his son Delphi. In addition, the city is known for hosting the famous Pythian Games for many centuries. Delphi is on the UNESCO list. This is a world-class historical and cultural landmark.

Delphi arose approximately 1.6 thousand years BC. and at first Mother Earth was worshiped there. And later, the myths of classical Ancient Greece arose, associated with Zeus and the pantheon of gods. During excavations in the second half of the 20th century, here, on the slope of Mount Parnassus, a temple of Apollo, an ancient theater, a stadium, treasuries, etc. were discovered.

2. Medieval city of Rhodes

And this famous Greek landmark belongs to the era of Antiquity and the Middle Ages with its crusader knights. It is also famous beach resort. The most interesting thing to see here is the Rhodes fortress, which was built by the Knights Hospitaller in the 13th century on the site of the ancient acropolis.

Behind the powerful walls of this fortress is the Palace of the Grand Masters, built on the site of the ancient temple of Helios. In the old town of Rhodes, you can wander along the Street of the Knights, plunge into the Middle Ages. There are ancient forts and ports that played a significant role in the history of the island of Rhodes, and much more.

3. Palace of the Grand Masters

Separately, it is worth talking about such a historical and cultural attraction. Rhodes fortress like this palace. It is also on the UNESCO list, as part of the Rhodes fortress. This is a very impressive building, built according to all the rules of medieval fortification.

For many centuries, the Palace of the Grand Masters served as the residence of the head of the Order of the Hospitallers, who once controlled the entire Mediterranean. Today, the Palace of the Grand Masters has turned into a huge museum, the exhibits of which tell visitors about the history of the island and the city of Rhodes from Antiquity to the present day.

4. Paleokastritsa beach

This is a world-famous beach and a Greek landmark. It is located on the island of Corfu in the north of the Ionian Sea in the resort of the same name. Tourists can fully enjoy the purest turquoise water, the bright but not burning sun, as well as the beautiful olive, lemon and orange groves around.

You can have a great rest on Paleokastritsa beach, it is one of the top ten European beaches, and in parallel to get acquainted with the cultural and historical sights of the island of Corfu, of which there are extremely many since ancient times.

Acropolis is business card contemporary Greek capital. The first thing to see in this city is the Acropolis of Athens. From here begins acquaintance with classical Ancient Greece, with its myths and legends, gods and heroes, scientists and philosophers.

It should be noted that on the hill where today you can see the Acropolis of Athens, in the Mycenaean era stood royal palace. In the 7th century BC e. in the acropolis began to build the most famous temple Parthenon, and a century later the temple of Athena was erected, from which today only the foundation remains.

At the time when Greece was under the Ottoman yoke, the Acropolis of Athens was a mosque. It later became an arsenal. In one of his temples, the pasha's harem was located at one time. The Acropolis of Athens was repeatedly attacked by barbarians and vandals. Today it is a magnificent museum under open sky.

Many tourists tend to visit Cape Sounion in order to see this ancient temple. Once the ancient Greek Poseidon, the god of the sea, patronized the fishermen and sea travelers who lived in Attica and all of Hellas. They brought gifts and sacrifices to their god, and he gave them good luck.

The Temple of Poseidon was built in 400 BC. Among scientists there is a version that it was erected by the Atlanteans - the inhabitants of the legendary Atlantis. Only the ruins of the temple and 12 columns have survived today. Archaeologists found near the temple huge statue men, possibly Poseidon, and several small statues.

Olympus is the most high mountain in the country, located on the coast of the Aegean Sea. But she didn't become famous for that. As you know, it was this mountain that the gods of Ancient Greece chose as their place of residence, which is why Olympus acquired a sacred status. The area around mountain range today it is a national nature reserve.

What mere mortal does not dream of visiting the home of the gods? That is why this mythological sight of Greece is a success among travelers from all over the world. Fortunately, there is also a beautiful tourism infrastructure, incl. ski resort.

8. Santorini Island

This island is considered by many to be the best tourist place on the ground. It is ideal for family vacation. Here are beautiful clean sandy beaches from white to black, houses, as if from a fairy-tale picture. Wedding ceremonies are often held in Santorini between couples who dream of family life, like in a fairy tale.

On such a tiny island, a huge number of attractions. First of all, these are Catholic and Orthodox churches There are about three hundred of them. There are also many ancient ruins of the Minoan era of Greek civilization. Stay in local hotels, sunbathe on the beaches - you will have unforgettable memories.

9. Samaria Gorge

This is a famous natural attraction of the island of Crete. The Samaria Gorge is the largest in Europe, it is named after an old village located nearby. It's incredible a nice place, visiting which you can take many unique beautiful photos.

This gorge is worth a trip. tourist excursion to once again appreciate the great Greek past, to see the ancient Cretan civilization, to be amazed by the beauty of the nature of Crete, its flora and fauna, to get acquainted with the ancient way of life, life, customs and traditions of the islanders.

Ancient Greece influenced many of the world's cultures over the centuries. architectural styles- for example, neoclassicism, so popular in the 19th century, was actually a revival of ancient Greek architecture. A significant number of world masterpieces were inspired by the architecture of Greece, in particular the ancient Greek style of the Doric, Ionic or Corinthian order.

The Minoan civilization flourished in Greek island Crete 27th to 15th century BC e. most famous architectural structure of this period is the impressive palace city of Knossos, located on a hill and surrounded pine forests. It was divided into two courtyards: the Western wing, where religious and official premises were located, and the Eastern wing, which was used for internal needs.

Archaeologists have discovered the beautiful frescoes of Knossos almost intact under layers of ash, suggesting the cause of the Minoan city's destruction. powerful eruption Santorini volcano around 1450 BC. The frescoes are of bright colors and depict peaceful scenes from Everyday life or illustrations of the festivities. These paintings, coupled with the fact that the Minoan cities did not have fortified walls, prove that the Minoans, apparently, had good neighborly relations with other cultures and did not get involved in wars.

Other significant Minoan monuments in Crete are the palace cities of Phaestos and Zakros.

Mycenaean architecture

Mycenaean architecture, which flourished from 1600 to 1200 BC, is very different from Minoan architecture. Unlike the Minoans, who chose trade as the vector of development, Mycenaean society progressed thanks to the cult of war. The Mycenaeans were often involved in armed conflicts, so their cities had solid and high fortifications called Cyclopians, since it was believed that only the Cyclopes could lift the huge stones used to build them.

The protective fences of Mycenae and Tirinth have characteristic cyclopean walls. Also typical of the architecture of the Mycenaean period are vaulted tombs, where the king and high priests were usually buried. The most famous vaulted tomb is the treasury of Atreus in Mycenae, which is considered the tomb of King Agamemnon.

classical architecture

The ancient Greek civilization, now known as classical Greece, reached its peak around 500 BC. Greek builders developed three architectural orders using three different styles of columns.

Ionic order

The earliest known stone column belongs to the Doric order, and somewhat later the builders of the eastern part of Ionia developed their own style, called Ionic. Classical orders are not unique to each area, but are named after the part of the country where they were first discovered. The most elegant and latest style of ancient Greek architecture - Corinthian - became a mixture of Doric and Ionic.

temples

Ancient Greek classical architecture is characterized by unique marble temples. All over mainland Greece and on the islands there are many ancient temples dedicated to various gods, including the temple of Apollo in Delphi, the temple of Hephaestus in Athens, the temple of Athena Aphaia in Aegina, etc.

The temple is the most common and well-known form of Greek public architecture. It did not fulfill the same function as the modern church, as the altar stood in the open air in the temenos, often right in front of the building. Temples rather served as places to store treasures associated with the cult and as a place for worshipers of the deity to leave their offerings, such as statues, armor, or weapons.

The most significant Greek temple monument is the Parthenon, erected on sacred place Acropolis in Athens. The Parthenon, built between 447 and 438 BC. e., represents a prime example Doric and Ionic styles of architecture. This building was dedicated to the goddess Athena, the protector of the city: giant statue Athens Parthenon by Phidias.

The Corinthian style was not so popular in classical architecture, but still in Athens there is a very significant monument built in the Corinthian style - in the city center.

Public buildings

Other architectural forms erected by the Greeks:

• the tholos (or circular temple), the best example of which is the Tholos of Theodore at Delphi, dedicated to Athena Pronia;
• propylon (porch), which forms the entrance to the temple sanctuaries (for example, the propylaea of ​​the Athenian Acropolis);
• public fountains - buildings where women filled their jugs with water;
• stoa (or standing) - a long narrow gallery with an open colonnade on one side, there were rows of shops in the agora ( shopping malls) Greek cities(The fully restored gallery of the Stoa of Attalus can be seen in Athens).

In addition, in large Greek cities palestras or gymnasiums were built, sort of social centers for men. These open-air enclosed spaces were used for sports competitions and exercise.

In the cities there were bouleiteries, public buildings, which served as a meeting place for the city council (bule). Since the Greeks did not use arches or domes, they could not build buildings with large interior spaces. Thus, the bouleiterion had rows of internal columns holding up the roof (hypostyle). To date, no examples of such buildings have been preserved.

Theaters

Finally, each city had a theater used both for public meetings and for dramatic performances. At first, these buildings were actually gathering places for people who wanted to take part in the ritual. For example, during festivities dedicated to the deity, people gathered in the theater to participate in offerings led by priests. With the invention of theater as an art form, dramatic performances became part of such religious celebrations.

The theater was usually located on a hillside outside the city and consisted of multi-level rows of seats arranged in a semicircle around the central performance area - the orchestra. Behind the orchestra was a low building called a skena, which served as a pantry and dressing room.

A number of Greek theaters have come down almost untouched to our time. The most famous of them is Epidaurus, built in the 4th century BC. e., characterized by perfect symmetry and amazing acoustics. Other famous buildings are the Theater of Dionysus, which is considered the first theater in the world, and the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. Both are located at the foot of the Acropolis.

Roman architecture

In the second century BC, the Romans conquered Greece and ushered in a new era in Greek architecture. Roman architecture became a mixture of ancient Greek, Phoenician and Etruscan styles, with little influence from other cultures of the Roman Empire. Athens has many buildings from the Roman period with characteristic arches and stone carvings. For example, the Arch of Hadrian, built in 132 AD to mark the boundaries between the old (classical) Athens and the new (Roman) part of the city.

How do children's impressions differ from the impressions of an adult. When I was in Athens for the first time at school age, it seemed to me that the Acropolis is huge and endless, that you can walk around it forever, and that you will not see such a number of ruins of ancient buildings concentrated in one place anywhere else. But when I arrived there as an adult, I realized that either I already travel so often that it’s harder and harder for me to be impressed, or the Acropolis is really not that big, and one should be surprised that such a huge place happened in such a small area. the number of important historical events that influenced the course of the history of the world.

In general, even cities as huge by ancient standards as Athens or Rome now seem almost tiny. I mean the historical part of modern cities, of course. Almost all the most important things are within easy walking distance from each other, very convenient for tourists. On the other hand, if you think about the fact that the ancient Greeks once walked on these very stones, that Socrates, Plato, Plutarch were here ... - it becomes somehow a little uncomfortable.
From the modern bustling area of ​​Monastiraki, the road to the Acropolis takes only 15-20 minutes, and even then at a leisurely pace. True, you have to go uphill all the time, because the Acropolis is located on a hill. The higher you climb, the better you can see the ancient buildings that have survived in the area:


The first stop on the way is the hill of Ares, or Areopagus. Among the ancient Greeks, this place was known as the meeting place of the council of elders who ruled the city in ancient times. From here one of the most beautiful views of Athens opens. View from the Areopagus towards the Agora and the Temple of Hephaestus:




Towards Pnyx Hill:


Modern Athens is quite Big city. Sometimes it's hard to believe that once life here was concentrated in a much smaller space. In the distance, you can see Lycabettus Hill - this is another fairly popular place for tourists with cameras. Below are paths among numerous ancient stones: it’s even a shame that so many buildings have not survived from those times:


Traditional view from the Areopagus to the Acropolis, more precisely, to the Propylaea - the main gate of the Acropolis:


And this is the view from the Acropolis to the Areopagus. This very small and uneven stone hill is the Areopagus, the place where important political and political events were once taken. judgments. In size, by the way, it is somewhere the same as the famous stones lying in Central Park in New York. But the historical significance cannot be compared.


The Parthenon is under chronic restoration. The ancient stones scattered across the territory of the Acropolis are trying to gather together and restore the building from them to the maximum. It is still difficult to say what will come of this venture, especially considering how much was taken from the Acropolis from Greece back in the Middle Ages. Elements of the Parthenon are now kept in Paris, the Vatican, Munich, Vienna, Copenhagen... And, of course, no one is going to return them to the Greeks.


But for some reason the Erechtheion is not being restored. Although, maybe they will reach it in time:


The famous portico of the Caryatids:





The Acropolis is always quite crowded. It is understandable, because this is the most famous place in Athens. In scale modern world The Acropolis seems rather small. From this angle, almost the entire hill is visible:


Meanwhile, even now a building of this magnitude seems grandiose:




The flourishing and decline of civilizations is generally an interesting thing: once one of the greatest nations in Europe, it suddenly disappears. In rare paintings by Greek artists of the Middle Ages, you can see images of shepherds grazing goats on the top of the Acropolis: several centuries have passed since the collapse of Athens - and there seems to be no trace of the ancient Greeks. The medieval inhabitants of Greece, probably, did not even know what kind of buildings they were standing on the hill.


Traditional view of the city from the Acropolis:




Below you can see the temple of Zeus:


Herod's Odeon is a huge beautiful amphitheater built in the 2nd century AD, already under the Romans. An absolutely colossal project by those standards: this musical theater can accommodate up to six thousand people at the same time. The Greeks have recently refurbished the Herodeon, and now concerts are held there from time to time:




Nearby is the theater of Dionysus, it is 5-6 centuries older than Herod's odeon, and was built in a typical Greek style: the Greeks always chose a natural hill for the construction of amphitheaters.


Behind the Theater of Dionysus, an ultra-modern building can be seen - this modern museum Acropolis, which opened a couple of years ago:


Let's go down to the theater of Dionysus:


View from the theater to the Acropolis:

Already somewhere at the exit from the territory of the Acropolis:




The new modern Acropolis Museum is really good. True, at the time when I was there, it was not yet fully open. But even the part that was in open access, impressed:


According to the plan, sculptures from the temples of the Acropolis, everything found on the hill, surviving fragments of the Parthenon, as well as copies of ancient works of art related to the Acropolis exported from Greece should be stored here.

The opening of the museum was planned to coincide with Olympic Games 2004, but the Greeks, in their traditional manner, stretched out all the deadlines, did not hand over the project on time, and the construction of the museum building was completed only by the end of 2007, and the final transfer of all the exhibits was completed only in the summer of 2009, i.e. . 5 years later than planned.


The museum, however, turned out to be very good, and now, perhaps, it can quite compete even with the national archaeological museum, which until now was considered the main museum of the city.




Well, to top it off - a short run towards the Temple of Zeus, which was visible from the Acropolis in the photographs above.
View from it towards the Acropolis:


The temple of Zeus itself was once the largest temple in all of Greece. It was built over four centuries and completed construction only in the 2nd century. BC. Now only a single corner and a couple of columns at the other end of the temple remain from the temple.


The most beautiful elements of the temple were taken from Athens to Rome by the ancient Romans.



But even from these few columns, one can quite imagine the scale of the building: