Buildings of the Athenian Acropolis. Athens Acropolis: a brief description of the complex, history and reviews. Acropolis of Athens: architecture, monuments 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, but because the enemies ancient monument architecture was left alone, 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 the address: Dionysiou Areopagitou 15, Athens 117 42, and on the geographical map you can find it 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 the 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.
The well-known sculptor of that time, Phidias (the author of one of the wonders of the world, the statue of Zeus at Olympia), was entrusted with supervising the construction work, 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, with all its appearance speaks of the high level of 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 are made up of three parts: central, 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 along the perimeter, about ten meters high: seventeen were installed from the south and north side sanctuaries, eight - from 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. In the right hand of the goddess was 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 reinforced with a 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, an olive tree grew near the temple and a trace from the blow of the staff of Poseidon remained in the floor. The story goes that the olive burned down when the ancient Acropolis was set on fire by the Persians, but after its liberation it was 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. WITH south side Erechteinon has 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. Your contribution to the destruction unique complex made by the 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 at the end of the XIX century. 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. It is interesting that he was the third in a row, because as a result of numerous archaeological sites the first two museums did not contain all the finds and were replaced by more large building ten times larger than its predecessor.
Greece ... At the sound of this word, Olympus appears with a host of gods, beautiful and courageous heroes and crowded policies. This picturesque country with a rich history, every corner here is a cultural heritage that takes those who visit it deep into the centuries. famous monument Greek culture considered the Athenian Acropolis, short description which is presented in this article.
Acropolis - the heart of Athens
in the center of the great Greek capital Athens rises a hill 156 meters high, visible from any part of the city. You can climb this hill only from the sea: other slopes are steep and present a serious obstacle. At the top of the hill is a temple complex called the Acropolis ("Upper City" in Greek). The Acropolis served as the abode of the city rulers, as it was the most protected part of the city. Now it is the most popular famous place Greece, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world. It is very interesting both as a monument of history and as a monument of architecture. The Acropolis has seen a lot in its centuries-old life: the heyday of Greek culture, and its decline, and the conquests of the Romans, and the formation of the Ottoman Empire, and the emergence modern Greece. Many times the heart of Athens was destroyed by enemy shells, and now the remains silently remind of eternal values in the hustle and bustle of this world.
A bit of history
Picturesque pedestals and columns with a panoramic view of the capital of Greece today is the temple complex of the Acropolis (Athens), whose history begins around the 16th century BC.
The founder of the Acropolis is the first Athenian king - Kekrops. In those days it was just a hill fortified with huge stones. In the 6th century BC. e. at the direction of King Pisistratus, the entrance gates to the Upper City - Propylaea are being erected. In the 5th century BC. e. under the leadership of the ruler Pericles, Athens became the center of Greek politics and culture, and at the same time, active construction was underway in the Acropolis. built main temple Athens Parthenon, the temple of Nike Apteros, the theater of Dionysus, a statue of Athena Promachos was installed. The remains of these structures make up the Athenian Acropolis, a brief description of them will be given below.
In time, a new temple appeared on the hill - the Temple of Rome and Augustus. Then a long period of wars began, construction was no longer carried out, the Greeks tried to protect what they had.
Over the centuries, the Athenian Acropolis experienced many disasters. Architecture, monuments (Athens is very rich in cultural heritage) were constantly destroyed. The Byzantine rulers made the Parthenon a church, the Ottomans a harem. In the 19th century, it was almost completely destroyed by the Turks. Having finally achieved independence, the Greeks are trying to restore the temple complex and return it to its original appearance.
Currently, everyone can visit the Athenian Acropolis. Brief description of the complex, features of architecture and richest history You can find out during the tour or by studying special literature.
Propylaea - entrance to the Upper City
For those visiting the Athenian Acropolis, a brief description of the main entrance will be very interesting. The idea belongs to the architect Mnesicles, who designed the main passage in the form of porticoes and colonnades, located symmetrically on both sides of the path to the hill. The entire composition was made of different types of marble and included 6 Doric columns, 2 Ionic columns, 5 gates and the main corridor, as well as pavilions adjacent to the west side. Unfortunately, only a few columns and fragments of the corridor have survived to this day.
Great Parthenon
The age of Pericles is the architecture of the classics. The Acropolis of Athens was built according to the ideas of the sculptor Phidias. He, apparently, belongs to the idea of the Parthenon.
The name of the temple means "virgin", and it was conceived in honor of the goddess Athena. Unfortunately, after the explosion of the Venetian bomb in the 17th century, only the columns survived, but according to some descriptions, one can imagine its appearance. In the center of the temple was a statue of Athena in precious decoration, surrounded by more modest statues of various Greek heroes. The temple itself, measuring approximately 70 x 30 meters, was surrounded by marble columns 10 meters high.
Temple of the Erechtheion and Temple of Nike Apteros
It was the Erechtheion temple, named after King Erechtheus, that was considered a place of worship for the goddess Athena, because her wooden statue, according to legend, fell directly from heaven, was kept here. There was also a trace from the lightning of Zeus, which killed the above-named king, and the salty spring of Poseidon, reminiscent of his struggle with Athena for dominion over the Adriatic. A lot of statues of the goddess of war and wisdom are kept by the Athenian Acropolis (architecture, monuments). Athens, named after this goddess, is the heart of Greece, and every temple, every statue here is imbued with reverence for the patroness of the city.
Many temples included the ancient Athenian Acropolis. The description briefly tells about the temple of Nike Apteros. This is a marble structure with four columns, in which there was a statue of the goddess of victory, holding a helmet in one hand, and a pomegranate fruit in the other, symbolizing peace. The Greeks deliberately deprived the statue of its wings so that Victory could no longer fly away from them and never leave their sacred city.
Theater of Dionysus
Let's continue our short excursion to the Athenian Acropolis (brief description). For children, perhaps the most interesting place more precisely, its surviving fragments. Initially, this theater, built for performances during the Lesser and Great Dionysius (that is, every six months), was wooden. Two centuries later, the stage and most of the steps were replaced with marble ones. During the Roman Empire, instead of theatrical performances, gladiator fights were held here. Huge stage and many marble chairs under open sky could fit the whole city. The first rows were intended for honorary citizens, the rest - for ordinary spectators.
Even now, after so many centuries, the theater of Dionysus impresses with its size and majesty.
What else to see in the Acropolis?
In addition to these famous sights, the Athenian Acropolis, a brief description of which we continue, is also interesting for other monuments that are practically not preserved, but still worthy of attention. These are temples, or sanctuaries, of Aphrodite and Artemis, the temple of Rome and Augustus, a small temple of Zeus. In the 19th century, a French scientist discovered a secret emergency gate to the Upper City. They were named after him - the Bule Gate.
Panoramic view of great city Athens, which opens from the top of the hill, can also be considered part of cultural heritage. The whole capital (with its old and new buildings) at a glance, White City on the background blue sea visible in the distance.
What should tourists know?
The Acropolis is open to visitors all year round, from 8:00 to 18:30 on weekdays and in an abbreviated mode (from 8:00 to 14:30) on holidays. There are certain public holidays when the museum is closed to the public. Please read the opening hours carefully before planning your tour. The entrance ticket costs 12 euros and is valid 4 days after purchase (there is a reduced rate for students and pensioners and free admission for schoolchildren).
You can visit the Acropolis either with a guided tour or with individual guide, or independently. In the latter case, only the cost of the entrance ticket is paid, but it should be noted that without the guide's comments, the tour of the monument will not be interesting. It is better to get an audio guide or an accompanying story.
July and August - Peak tourist trips to Athens, so you need to be prepared for queues and a large number guests of the temple complex. It is better to plan a visit in the early morning when there are fewer visitors.
When visiting in the summer, you should wear a hat and take a sufficient amount of drinking water (you can buy it on the territory of the complex, but the price will be unreasonably high).
You should visit the Acropolis in comfortable shoes, prepare for walks over fairly long distances.
In the temple complex, nothing can be touched with your hands, not even stones!
300 meters from the Acropolis is a new Archaeological Museum, where you can see interesting excavations and finds right in the ground, walking along glass floor. The cost of visiting is not high.
On the roof of the museum there is an open cafe where they offer delicious coffee and inexpensive dishes. local cuisine. The view of the Acropolis from there is simply amazing!
Can be purchased to leave the Acropolis in your memory for a long time, description and photo: Greece, Athens, picturesque nature and famous sights will remind you of yourself from the pages of the album.
Tourist impressions
The Athenian Acropolis leaves no one indifferent: the reviews of tourists are mostly enthusiastic, filled with vivid emotions. The grandeur of the temple complex in Athens is amazing! Every stone, every piece of marble keeps centuries of history, the memory of flourishing and destruction, of defeats and victories, the memory of great warriors and cruel conquerors.
Despite the fact that only fragments of its former splendor have survived to this day, there is a special atmosphere cultures of the ancient Greeks, and the people who ascended the hill seemed to become a little closer to this heritage, as if they were surrounded by those deities in whose honor they were built beautiful temples, sanctuaries and colonnades!
History of the Acropolis
According to legend, the founder of Athens and the Upper City was the half-man-half-snake Kekrops. It was he who preferred the goddess of wisdom as the patroness and erected the first temples in honor of her. In subsequent centuries, more magnificent structures appeared on their ruins, until all the buildings of the Acropolis, with the exception of the fragmentary surviving temple of Hekatompedon, were destroyed by the Persians in the 5th century. During the time of Pericles and immediately after his death, the hill was decorated with the best works of ancient architecture - the Parthenon and the Erechtheion.
In the era of early Hellenism and the subordination of Greece to Rome, several theaters appeared at the foot of the hill. Christians turned pagan temples into Christian ones, not rebuilding them, but partially changing the interiors. The Turks who came to the Balkans in the 15th century used the buildings of the Acropolis of Athens as mosques. Significant changes did not occur on the hill until the Venetians bombarded the city with cannons in the 17th century. Many temples were destroyed, and their costly reconstruction has not yet been completed.
In the 19th century, some of the sculptures that adorned the facades of temples were taken to France and Great Britain, and the dispute about their ownership is still ongoing.
Architectural features of the Athenian Acropolis
The territory of the hill was built up gradually, new buildings were erected on the ruins or unfinished foundations of the former ones. Work was frozen for decades due to lack of funds. In general, even in ancient times, the hill was almost always a construction site. The oldest surviving objects of the Athenian Acropolis, such as the Parthenon, were made at the end of dominance in the architecture of a strict Doric order with massive columns. In structures close to them in time, for example, in the Propylaea, elements of a more decorative Ionic style are already manifesting along with Doric ones. The later Erechtheion is an example of the Ionic architectural order.
Parthenon - the most important temple of Ancient Athens
The central, upper point of the panorama of the Acropolis is the Parthenon temple dedicated to Athena, the patroness of the city. This is the pinnacle of creativity of the architect Iktin, who acted, however, not alone, but with a team of like-minded people. The material for the temple was white marble quarried nearby, in sunshine taking on a golden sheen. These features of the stone have become noticeable now, and in ancient times the temple and all the statues were painted in bright colors - red, blue, yellow.
All work, from the creation of the project to the decoration of the Parthenon, was carried out under Pericles, from 447 to 432. BC e. According to the plan of the architects, the temple on the Athenian Acropolis was supposed to surpass all that existed before. Formally, this building is rectangular in plan, resting on three marble steps and surrounded along the perimeter by a colonnade more than 10 m high. People got into the temple through western entrance with low steps. What tourists see today are steps with columns.
The merit of architects is that they put the laws of optics at the service of architecture. The columns widen in the center, the corner columns and the floor are at an angle - all this gives the observer a feeling of strict straightness. In addition, thanks to the tricks of the architects, the Parthenon looks strictly proportional from any point of view - both from the territory of the Lower City, and when approaching it.
Sculptures of Phidias
A giant, 13-meter statue of Athena, which has not survived to this day, was prepared for the temple by Phidias, the author of one of the wonders of the world - the statue of Olympian Zeus. The wooden figure of the armed goddess-warrior, according to historians, was decorated precious stones, ivory and gold. This is indirectly evidenced by the found records containing builders' reports on the purchased materials - in total, about a ton of metal was spent on the statue. Exemplary appearance warriors restored thanks to copies made in antiquity, one of which is stored in National Museum Athens. The goddess in a long robe and helmet leaned on a shield with her left hand, and in her right hand extended to the audience she held a figure of a winged Nike.
In addition to Athena Parthenos, the master, together with his students, made relief metope slabs for the Parthenon frieze. Some of them were taken to Great Britain by Lord Elgin in the 19th century and are now exhibited in the British Museum, in a huge separate room, decorating the marble walls at the level of the visitors' eyes. Quite recently there was a traveling exhibition of the collection in the St. Petersburg Hermitage - an unprecedented case, since the Parthenon sculptures have not yet been exported anywhere. Greece is suing Great Britain in the hope of returning the artifacts to their homeland, since permission to export them was given not by the Greeks themselves, but by the Turks, under whose yoke the country was. However, in Greece there is also something to see: more than 40 original plates have been preserved here. The sculptures of the pediment, unlike the reliefs, almost did not survive and have survived to this day only in fragments.
Further history of the Parthenon
The temple was partially damaged by fire in antiquity, then, in the VI century, after the final decline of Athens, it became a Christian church dedicated to the Virgin Mary. During the alteration for the needs of the cult, the statues and the interior of the Parthenon suffered, instead of the previous decor, wall paintings appeared. Under the Turks, starting from the 15th century, the building served as a mosque. All this time, the temple was in relative safety, until in 1687 the Venetians, in another conflict with the Turks, fired at it, provoking destruction. Decorative details were partially taken out of the country. At the end of the 19th century, restoration work began, which has not been completed to this day.
Erechtheion - the memory of the legendary king
Temples were erected not only in honor of the gods, but in memory of mortals. This honor was awarded to King Erechtheus, who, according to legend, was buried in these places. According to another opinion, it was at this point of the Athenian Acropolis, where in 421-406. BC e. Erechtheion appeared, Athena and Poseidon argued for supremacy in the region. Whitened, as you know, Athena, but just in case the temple was dedicated to both. Erechtheus, who ruled Athens, was also not a stranger to the gods: he died at the behest of the angry Poseidon. The picturesque multi-level ruins of the Erechtheion are located north of the Parthenon. The building is made of several varieties of marble - snow-white Parian, golden-white Pentelian and grayish Eleusinian.
In contrast to the outwardly straight majestic Parthenon, Erechtheion consists of parts different heights. The reason lies in the unevenness of the soil - the architect had to overcome the features of the relief. Mnesicles took up the matter: earlier he had already justified the trust of Pericles by building the entrance gate to the Acropolis - the Propylaea. In order not to offend the gods, the architect wisely divided the space of the temple: Athena got East End, Poseidon and Erechtheus - western. The southern portico of the Erechtheion is supported by caryatids - figures of women who replaced the columns. Today, copies of the statues are installed at the place of work of ancient sculptors, the originals are stored in the Acropolis Museum and the British Museum.
The history of the Erechtheion follows the path of the Parthenon: the building survived Christianization and the invasion of the Turks, but was destroyed in the fight against the Venetians. Subsequently, the Italians tried to put together the details, like a designer, so that the general outlines of the temple were restored, but the impression of devastation still remained.
Propylaea - the main gate of the complex
Tourists get to the Acropolis of Athens through west gate, Propylaea. The six massive Doric columns in the central part of the entrance resemble the Parthenon, the main part of which was completed by the time of construction. Lateral Ionic columns, lighter and more decorative, relieve the feeling of tension. Once adjacent to the gate art Gallery and a library - archaeologists managed to find their traces and recreate their outlines in three-dimensional models. Now general complex the gate was mostly restored, the destroyed columns were replaced with copies.
Temple of Nike Apteros
In front of the main gate, a small temple has been preserved with four Ionic columns with spirals-curls at the top, along the edges of the porticos. The sanctuary was called upon to guard the entrance to the Acropolis. Once there was a statue of Athena inside, whose usual companion is Nike, the goddess of victory. Usually she was depicted as winged, but this temple is an exception, it is no coincidence that its patroness received the name Apteros - “wingless”. The reason for this deviation from the canons, according to legend, is a small trick of the Athenians. They stripped Victory of her wings so that she would never leave the city.
The temple was erected during the Peloponnesian War, so the building was decorated with reliefs depicting the victories of the inhabitants of Attica over the Persians and Spartans for further inspiration. The Turks dismantled the temple for building materials in order to build fortifications from the Venetians. Today's temple was restored much later, the original sculptures were given to the New Museum. The active phase of work has not been completed, so the Temple of Nike is often closed to visitors.
Destroyed objects
A few more objects have been preserved in the Acropolis in the form of remnants of the foundation or shapeless ruins. In the eastern part of the complex is the sanctuary of Pandion, supposedly named after the legendary king of Attica. Between the Parthenon and the Erechtheion is Hekatompedon, the most ancient temple Athenian Acropolis. A hundred years before the appearance of the Parthenon, it was the main sanctuary of the patroness of the city of Athens. From it remained the base of the columns discovered during the excavations and limestone sculptures that retained the remnants of paint. To the right of the Propylaea are the modest ruins of the sanctuary of Artemis and the armory. Behind the Erechtheion was the sanctuary of Pandrosa with an altar to Zeus and an olive tree planted by Athena herself. Nearby was a tiny building in which noble girls worked, weaving peplos, the upper women's clothing, for the statue of Athena for the Panathenaic Games - the largest competition in Attica.
Tourist routes on the Acropolis
It is difficult for a tourist who is not experienced in archeology and architecture to understand the ancient Greek ruins: at first glance, all the ruins are similar to each other, periods and styles are mixed. In order not to get lost, you can choose simple landmarks. The main gate from the west is the Propylaea, a modest temple in front of them is the sanctuary of Nike. The largest rectangular cluster of columns visible in all directions is the Parthenon. A smaller building, harmoniously combining columns of different heights and porticoes decorated with female figures - the Erechtheion. You can also walk along the Acropolis of Athens at night - the objects are illuminated by powerful spotlights.
New Acropolis Museum
The Athens Acropolis Museum, which kept decorative fragments of the buildings of the Upper City, was opened in 1874. Over time, the collection grew so much that the existing halls and storerooms were not enough to store the objects. The new building, much larger than the old one, had to be located near the Acropolis. Misadventures with the project began in the 70s of the twentieth century and lasted until the end of the century: either the Greek authorities could not find suitable architects, or the land plot could not withstand any criticism. Finally, the builders began to dig the ground for the foundation and discovered new archaeological finds. Work in this place was frozen until the architects proposed a project that does not affect the ground layer.
The three-level complex was opened in 2009, 300 meters south of the complex, next to the Acropolis metro station. Its basement rests on a hundred columns, and the glass floor allows you to admire the excavations taking place under the feet of visitors. A fantastic view of the Acropolis opens up through the glass walls. There is a cafe on the ground floor, a souvenir shop and book Shop. IN tourist season the museum is waiting for guests from 8 am to 8 pm, on Friday - until 10 pm, on Monday - until 4 pm, in winter it works on a reduced schedule. The ticket price for adults is 5 euros.
Information for tourists
The largest number of tourists come to Athens from April to October, although the Acropolis welcomes guests all year round. Inspection of the complex will take about two hours, you need to plan it for the early morning, around 8, until the marble warms up under the rays of the sun. In the evening, until 6 o'clock, it is still hot, the main stream organized tourists leaves until 15:00. Be sure to take with you drinking water, shoes are chosen non-slip, without heels.
A ticket to see the Acropolis of Athens with the theaters lying on the slopes of the hill and the nearby Agora and the Temple of Zeus costs 12 euros. It is difficult to see all the attractions at once, so a ticket for one visit to each site is valid for 4 days. There is usually a queue near the ticket office of the Acropolis, you can avoid it if you buy a ticket near another historical monument from the list. During the May Night of Museums and the European Heritage Days in September, the complex can be entered free of charge.
How to get there
Near the Acropolis there are several public transport stops at once. It is most convenient to get off at the metro station of the same name on the M2 line, next to which there is a transfer hub for trams and buses. A little further to the south there is a tram stop 1, 5, 15. Bus number 230 passes from the south. An electric steam locomotive takes guests from the metro and from the Acropolis Museum to the ticket office.
Holidays and festivals in the Acropolis
A breathtaking summer and part of the autumn, the Athens Festival chose Herodes' Odeon, a well-preserved theater built in 165 AD, as one of the main venues. e. Permanent access to it is closed, visitors get inside only during concert events with tickets. The capacity of the theater is about 5000 spectators.
The same fate awaits the theater of Dionysus located on the eastern side of the southern slope of the Acropolis. In the heyday of Attica, competitions of comedians and authors of tragedies were held here; under the Romans, gladiators fought in it. In the process of reconstruction, it is planned to strengthen the remaining stone tiers and add a few more spectator rows to them.
Hotels near the Acropolis
Hotels in the Acropolis area are expensive, but you need to book rooms in them well in advance of the trip due to high demand. Next to the New Museum is the 4-star Herodium, from the southeast - The Athens Gate Hotel, which has earned excellent reviews from guests. A 4-star apart-hotel AVA Hotel and Suites to the east of the hill will cost tourists about one and a half times more than a hotel with rooms.
Restaurants and cafes near the Acropolis
In addition to the museum cafe, you can have a bite to eat in several restaurants along the perimeter of the hill. To the south-west of the Propylaea, at the foot of the semi-wild park "Hill of the Muses", next to bus stop 230, is the restaurant "Dionysos" with magnificent views of the Acropolis from the summer veranda. A little to the east is a restaurant national cuisine"Strophy". On the north side of the hill is the Stamatopoulos tavern, opened back in 1882. The cramped cafe "Klepsydra" is located on a narrow street with graffiti on the walls. Not far from it - "Anafiotika" with live music.
Attractions around the Acropolis
The main historical sights of Athens are concentrated in the Acropolis area. In the east - the ruins of the temple of Olympian Zeus, or rather, one of its corners, the well-preserved temple of Hephaestus and the remains of the laying of the market square-agora - from the northwest. To the west is the Areopagus, a rocky hill where the authorities of Athens met.
Acropolis literally translates as "fortress", "fortification". The Greeks called the acropolis ancient fortresses lined up on the hills. The erection on a hill was an obligatory moment, since it opened from the surfaces great review. This was important from a strategic point of view to quickly repel enemy attacks.
It is also a store of value. The city rulers brought the most expensive things to these structures so that they would be under guaranteed protection from robbers.
Temples were built in the Acropolises, dedicating them to the gods who patronized or cities. They were also erected in honor of the most prominent rulers.
Acropolis of Athens - the symbol of Greece
This building is not even hundreds, but thousands of years old. For centuries Acropolis of Athens struck the eyes of researchers and inhabitants, local Greeks and tourists coming to the country. At all times, travelers from all over the world have been attracted by the splendor and beauty of this ancient structure.
- the most famous of all built by the Greeks. Consists of athenian acropolis from a whole complex of buildings, sculptures and other architectural structures, by the beauty of which one can judge the greatness and exceptional taste of Greek sculptors, artists, sculptors, architects. The Acropolis in Athens is rightfully considered the heritage of Greece, a masterpiece of world art.
There were other structures on the site where the Acropolis in Athens now stands. Many thousands of years ago, completely different shrines stood here, including temples and sculptural compositions. After a long period of time before construction of the Acropolis, the Persian ruler Xerxes destroyed architectural masterpieces. This happened around the year 500. BC. evidence of such events has come down to us in the narratives of Herodotus. He also wrote that it was decided to create a completely different ensemble of architectural monuments on the territory of destruction. The works on its construction date back to the time of Pericles. Already at this time, the Acropolis was no longer interpreted as a fortress city. The Athenians saw its meaning in the religious and cult embodiment of Greek traditions. The marble walls and structures of this Acropolis were supposed to personify the wonderful victory of the Greeks in the war with the Persians.
So in the cradle ancient architecture- Athens, a completely different project was created, which was approved by Pericles. Samo acropolis building The Greeks built about 20 years. The construction work was supervised by a friend of Pericles, the greatest sculptor -. Architectural ensemble, surrounding the main building, was built for more than half a century. During this time, none of the ideas of the design has been modified.
In the ensemble, reflecting the integrity of the Acropolis, one can see organically interconnected sights. According to the researchers of this cultural object, Acropolis of Athens created in exceptional harmony with nature. Among the buildings:
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Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia.
Parthenon.
Temple of the goddess Nike.
Propylaea.
Latest architectural idea Sanctuary of Artemis- this is a corridor, on the sides of which there are Doric-type columns. The sanctuary is located southeast of the Propylaea. Unfortunately, only the ruins of this architectural masterpiece have survived to our time.
The ancient Greeks, when they visited this ensemble, initially climbed to the Propylaea along a huge stone staircase. Propylaea – main entrance to the Acropolis. On the left was the gallery building, in which hundreds of paintings were hung. This museum was called the Pinakothek. Attic heroes, embodied in artistic skill, flaunted in it for all to see. To the right of the entrance to the Propylaea was located Temple of Nike. It was erected on a ledge of a rock. According to legend, it was from her that Aegeus threw himself. In the Temple of Nike athena statue. In this regard, it was sometimes called the "temple of Athena Nike."
Passing through the Propylaea, the eyes of the guests turned to the statue of Athena that appeared before them. It was huge, stood on a stone pedestal. Many of the scientists believe that it is the gilded tip of the spear of the statue in sunny weather served as a guide for captains who decided to find their dock in Athens.
Immediately behind the statue of Athena was an altar, and a little to the left a small temple was built. In it, adherents of the goddess performed their rites of worship.
Is on the territory Athenian Acropolis Erechtheion temple. According to legend, Athena fought with Poseidon for a number of cities. According to the terms of the duel, power would come to the one who would make the most desirable gift for the residents of the policies. Poseidon threw his trident towards the Acropolis, and in the place where the giant projectile hit, he scored a fountain with sea water. Anywhere spear of athena, olive outgrowth. She became a symbol ancient Athens and promised victory to their patroness. Part of the temple built in these places is dedicated to the legendary ruler Erechtheus. He once ruled in Athens. It was in the Acropolis that the sanctuary of the king and his tomb were located. Later, the temple itself became known as the Erechtheion.
It was destroyed by fire, but the temple was restored during times of Pericles. Now about architectural features of this structure can only be judged by archival sources, where in several editions there are outlines of the temple and its brief description. But none of the sculptures or remnants of the marble decorations have survived. All porticos were damaged, including Portico of the Caryatids. It was partially restored according to the drawings and remains one of the main architectural landmarks. Athenian Acropolis.
No less bright Parthenon. This building is quite large and massive, but the structure is very simple. This temple is also dedicated to the patron goddess of Athens. Great Parthenon erected by the ancient sculptors Kallikrat and Iktin. Researchers note the optimal combination of temple columns with steps, friezes, sculptures and a pediment. The building was entirely made of marble. But it was gradually turned from white to multi-colored. In the majestic building, the architects placed a couple of porticos and columns. It was in the Parthenon that a giant statue of Athena flaunted. Created her sculptor Phidias using gold and ivory in his work. The precious metal almost completely made up the upper vestments of the goddess. Later, the statue was irretrievably lost. Only a small copy of it has survived.
Acropolis of Lindos
Near the city of Lindos, which was built in ancient times story full of legends. The settlement was founded in the 12th century. BC. attractions ancient city today - one of the main on the island. This is a favorite place for tourists to visit. Architectural monuments attract here and researchers of ancient Greek culture and art.
In Lindos available and ancient acropolis . He is no less famous than Athens. In addition, this building is much older than what was built in Athens. Acropolis of Lindos erected on high mountain. From its peak you can observe the most beautiful picture - a unique view of the sea.
Athena Linda patronage ala the city of Lindos. That's why linda temple, which was located on the territory of the Acropolis, was considered the dominant structure here.
Researchers spent several years excavating in this area and on one of the fine days they found traces of an ancient sanctuary. The finds are dated to the 6th century BC. The result of the examinations was the conclusion that the temple was once destroyed by fire. But a couple of centuries later, a new building appeared on the same spot. This was probably an attempt to build the Acropolis in the likeness of the old structure. It was distinguished by beautiful architectural design and a huge staircase.
We climbed to the Acropolis of Lindos along a thin path. It wraps around a huge, steep rock on which the temple is erected. On the territory of the complex there were sanctuaries and structures dating back to 400 years. BC. It is known that it was in these sanctuaries that the islanders worshiped their numerous gods of paganism. Here, nearby, archaeologists found:
A tower with a Christian type chapel.
Roman temple.
The ruins of a temple built during the Great Roman Empire.
The ruins of the temple near the Palace of the Grand Master.
Church of St. John. It is known that it was built around the 13th century. new millennium.
Lindos at all times considered the most romantic and majestic structures Ancient Greece . It was raised in beautiful place islands. Staying there evokes thoughts of the Middle Ages on tourists.
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 the brilliance of the spear and helmet of Athena the Warrior from afar.
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, there was a huge amount of valuables, various sculptures inside. 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 has survived from that ancient building, but even now he 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: West Side buildings 3 meters below the east side. This is because the temple was built on uneven ground.
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 female priestesses who worked on the manufacture of the sacred vestments of the goddess.
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 was turned into a Christian church in the 13th century. During turkish wars The Parthenon was shelled. The main building and the colonnade were completely destroyed. Today 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.
