When was the Athenian Acropolis built? The Acropolis in Athens is the sacred center of the ancient city. What to visit near the Acropolis

The Acropolis of Athens is the greatest monument of ancient architecture in the Greek city of Athens. Ancient temples of the gods of Hellas were located here. The Acropolis rises above the city, standing on a huge limestone rock.

View of the Acropolis of Athens (Carole Raddato / flickr.com) Parthenon (Tilemahos Efthimiadis / flickr.com) Acropolis of Athens (© A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons) Acropolis, Propylaea (Dimitris Kamaras / flickr.com) View of the Plaka area from the Temple of Zeus Olympian, Acropolis, Athens, Greece (George Rex / flickr.com) Acropolis - Theater of Dionysus (swifant / flickr.com) Temple of Nike Apteros (Tilemahos Efthimiadis / flickr.com) Temple of Apteros (Tilemahos Efthimiadis / flickr.com) Close-up one of the corners of the Temple of Apteros on top of the Acropolis (Jack Zalium / flickr.com) Propylaea (elias filis / flickr.com) Propylaea (piet theisohn / flickr.com) Entrance to the Acropolis (ohhenry415 / flickr.com) View of the Acropolis from the Agora ( Arian Zwegers / flickr.com) Erechtheion (Casey And Sonja / flickr.com) Hecatompedon (Roy L… / flickr.com) Ronny Siegel / flickr.com Erechtheion / Caryatids (George Rex / flickr.com) Odeon of Herodes Atticus built in 161 AD on the southern slope of the Acropolis in Athens in memory of his wife Annia Regilla, Athens, Greece (Carole Raddato / flickr.com) Parthenon, Acropolis of Athens (Carole Raddato / flickr.com) Parthenon, 1985 (Nathan Hughes Hamilton / flickr .com) In front of the Parthenon (Kristoffer Trolle / flickr.com) Parthenon, Acropolis in Athens (faungg's photos / flickr.com) Parthenon in Athens (Attica, Greece) (© A.Savin, Wikimedia Commons) Map of the Acropolis with captions (© Madmedea , Wikimedia Commons)

The main attractions of Greece are the Acropolis of Athens, Olympia and Rhodes.

The Acropolis is the greatest monument of ancient architecture in the Greek city of Athens. This is a whole complex of structures, on which the ancient masters of sculpture and architects worked.

The Acropolis of Athens was sacred place, ancient temples of the gods of Hellas were located here. It is sad that now only ruins can be seen here. But even now, the architectural ensemble of the Acropolis of Athens is admired by lovers of antiquity.

The Acropolis is the heart of Athens, and of all Greece. It rises above the city, standing on a huge limestone rock. Its upper platform is small - 300 by 130 meters.

At the top stands majestic Parthenon, the temple of the goddess after whom the capital of Greece is named. It is the main attraction of the Acropolis. It can be seen almost everywhere in the city, and at present it is forbidden to build high-rise buildings in Athens so as not to overshadow this unique cultural monument.

Next to the Parthenon, you can see the graceful Erechtheion - the temple of three deities: Athena, Poseidon and Erechtheum. It was possible to enter the Athenian Acropolis only through the huge gates - the Propylaea.

Acropolis in ancient Greece

Acropolis in Greek means high city. As already mentioned, he stands on an impregnable rock, which, in turn, crowns the hill, stretched from west to east. It is surrounded by walls, especially they are high in those places where it is possible to climb the rock.

Propylaea (elias filis / flickr.com)

In ancient times, the Acropolis of Athens served as a sanctuary and at the same time a refuge natural origin who protected the Greeks from their enemies.

In the 480s BC, the "high city" was besieged by the Persians under the leadership of King Xerxes.

They were unable to climb the imposing rock, but were able to penetrate the Athenian Acropolis from the north. There seemed to be thickets of bushes there, the slope was not guarded, and it was assumed that no one would be able to climb it. However, several Persians were able to get into the Acropolis and the first thing they did was open the gates.

The invaders took out all the valuables and destroyed many buildings, including the still unfinished Parthenon. Arrows found on the northern slope testify to this event. When the Greeks returned to their monastery after the battle of Salamis, they built a wall to protect the north side and, of course, sought to restore their sanctuary.

Excavations have shown that in the 2nd century BC, religious holidays, meetings of authorities and lawsuits took place here. And the whole social, cultural and religious life of Athens took place in the Acropolis. The oldest buildings The Acropolis is poorly preserved, unlike Olympia and other places of worship in Greece.

The oldest buildings on the Acropolis

From the buildings of the VI century, only the foundations have survived to the present, due to the war of the Greeks with the Persians. The buildings that were in this period are undoubtedly like the temples of Apollo at Corinth, Hera at Olympia and Demeter at Paestum.

Their architecture is heavy and harsh. In the 6th century BC, the most ancient temple Athens on the Acropolis, which was called. Having passed through the gates - Propylaea, a person admired its beauty.

Ancient masters strove for symmetry, which was present everywhere: in planning, in images. The pediment of the Hekatompedon depicted the struggle of Hercules with Triton. And also there was a sculpture of a kind Attic creature, which had three bodies and three heads and was called Tritopator.

He is depicted crawling out of the corner of the pediment. The paint on it was preserved, the body was pink, and the hair and beards were blue. It is noteworthy that one of the heads is kept in the museum and went down in history under the nickname "Bluebeard". The ancient master filled the low parts of the pediment with writhing snake tails.

A soft limestone relief depicting the battle between Hercules and the Hydra was also found here. The statues found here are widely known. Someone claims that these are sculptures of goddesses, someone sees in them girls who bring gifts to Athena. Their clothes are beautiful and festive, complex hairstyles are richly decorated.

Athenian Acropolis during the reign of the Romans

Many buildings arose when Greece became part of the Roman Empire, under Hadrian. The temple of Zeus and the Acropolis in Athens are separated by an arch, this is the border between the old ancient city and buildings from Roman times.

View of the Plaka area from the Temple of Olympian Zeus, Acropolis, Athens, Greece (George Rex / flickr.com)

On the side of the Acropolis, on the arch is written: "This is the city of Theseus." It is connected with the heroic legend. Rise of Athens above the rest Greek cities, occurred after the state fell on the island of Crete.

This event happened thanks to Theseus, who defeated the minotaur. With the help of Ariadne's thread, he was able to return, at the same time free and glorify the city.

On the other side you can see the inscription: "This is the city of Hadrian." That is, the city of the emperor, under which many buildings were built in Athens. The material was Pontic marble.

The construction was carried out in such a way that the whole complex of buildings looked harmonious, and there was no sudden transition from the rest of the city to the sanctuary. Not far from it is the theater of Dionysus, the market square, other sanctuaries - the temple of Zeus and the temple of Hephaestus.

The architectural ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis

The ruins that can be seen in the Acropolis now belong mainly to such majestic buildings as the Propylaea with the temple of Nike the Wingless, the Parthenon and the Erechtheion.

The ensemble of the Athenian Acropolis was truly beautiful in ancient times, if, for example, in Olympia all the temples are similar, then in the Acropolis each building is unique.

Acropolis, Propylaea (Dimitris Kamaras / flickr.com)

The first thing you can see from the buildings of the Acropolis is the majestic gate with columns - the Propylaea.

They were built after the creation of the Parthenon. Initially, they had to be absolutely symmetrical.

But since the temple of Nika the Wingless appeared on the right side, it was necessary to make this part of the gate smaller in order to achieve harmony.

The author of this majestic gate was the architect Mnesicles. He skillfully combined the harsh Doric and sublime Ionic orders in the construction. This building was a gate with a roof, which was supported by columns, with 5 passages.

On the left side there used to be an art gallery. To the right was a small room. A lift was equipped to the gate, which did not have steps, so that chariots could drive in.

Temple of Apteros (Tilemahos Efthimiadis / flickr.com)

The Temple of Nike the Wingless (Goddess of Victory), of course, had a statue of the goddess inside. The Nike sculpture here does not have wings, as it was conceived on purpose, since the Greeks wanted victory to always remain here. The temple stands as if it invites you to enter inside.

The interior space is small, the walls are made of unpolished marble. Outside, the temple is decorated with a frieze, on which the gods and battle scenes.

The reliefs of this temple were discovered in 1835. They were supposed to be located under the columns of the temple. These are relief images of the goddess Nike in various poses and scenes, but most often in profile. On one, she slaughters a bull; on the other, she removes her sandals before entering the temple.

Erechtheion (Casey And Sonja / flickr.com)

Passing through the gate, one could see the statue of Athena, which obscured the southern portico of the Erechtheion.

The choice of the place where it was built is connected with the myth. This legend formed the basis of the whole city. Athena and Poseidon argued which of them would become the patron of the city. Poseidon struck with his trident and a spring gushed out at that place. Athena grew an olive, and locals chose her.

The Erechtheion was created in a lighter Ionic order and differs significantly from the Parthenon. In that historical monument two types of marble are combined - white and purple.

The portico of the Caryatids is the southern portico of the Erechtheion. Here, 6 sculptures of caryatids rest against the roof with their heads, holding it. The principle of symmetry and harmony prevails here too, half of the sculptures rest on the left leg, half on the right. Elaborately carved folds in the sculptures' clothing show slight tension. Inside the Erechtheion is complex, it has many levels. Here are the sanctuaries of the gods: Poseidon, Athena and Erechtheus.

The main temple of the Athenian Acropolis - the majestic Parthenon

The Acropolis ensemble is crowned by the eight-columned Parthenon. In its grandeur, it tops the list of ancient buildings. By appearance it is similar to the Temple of Zeus at Olympia. But it stands on a specially leveled and backfilled area.

Parthenon, 1985 (Nathan Hughes Hamilton / flickr.com)

During its construction, the simple archaic arrangement of buildings, such as at Olympia and Delphi, went back centuries. A solemn procession passed along it in ancient times. It exalts the greatness of man.

Of particular interest are the metopes of the Parthenon, although they are poorly preserved. They depict the gods of ancient Greece, the series of which is completed by the goddess of the night, Nux.

It also depicts preparations for a military campaign, the farewell of soldiers, and the Trojan War. The southern metopes show the battle with mythical creatures - centaurs.

The frieze of the Parthenon depicts a solemn procession in the third year of the Olympiad. It is noteworthy that Olympic Games, got its name because it was originally held in Olympia.

Horsemen, priests with rams and bulls, young men carrying vessels are depicted here. On the other side, the frieze depicts the gods surrounded by noble people of Greece.

How to get to the Acropolis?

The Acropolis of Athens is the main attraction of Greece and, of course, a place of pilgrimage for tourists.

You can get to the Acropolis by metro. The nearest station is Acropoli. Alternatively, you can get off at: Thissio, Syntagma Square, Monastiraki Square, Omonia Square.

Useful information for tourists

• Entrance to the whole archaeological zone costs 12 euros, except Sunday (on this day you can go for free).
• On Mondays and holidays, all museums and areas are closed. On other days, the visit is open from 8:00 to 19:00.
• The archaeological zone includes attractions such as the Acropolis, the Temple of Zeus, Keramiko, the Ancient Agora, the theater of Dionysus.
• Beforehand, it is better to familiarize yourself with the scheme on which these cultural monuments are marked.

You can also visit the New Acropolis Museum, which houses many of the sculptures found here. The entrance to it is 5 euros, the visit is possible from 8:00 to 20:00.

In ancient Greece, in addition to the Acropolis, you can visit attractions such as the Temple of Zeus at Olympia and the Palace of the Grand Master in Rhodes.

ACROPOLIS (GREECE)

Today we will make an excursion to the Athenian Acropolis.

Translated from Greek as " upper city". In the ancient Greek city-states, the acropolis was called the elevated and fortified part. This fortified part of the city, located on an elevated place, served as protection in times of danger. Therefore, it was on the acropolis that they erected temples to the gods, patrons of the city, kept the treasury and weapons of the city. Such acropolises were in many ancient cities. Known, for example, the oldest acropolises in Mycenae, Tiryns. But the most famous is, of course, the Acropolis of Athens!

This slender ensemble of outstanding works of architecture and sculpture is considered a masterpiece of not only Greek but also world art, a kind of symbol of the greatness of classical Greece. Athens Acropolis listed world heritage. Therefore, it is probably superfluous to say that, having arrived in Athens, even for a very short time, you must definitely visit the Acropolis and see, as they say, with your own eyes all this splendor.

In this regard, we decided today to invite you for an exciting walk around the majestic and ancient Acropolis. This miracle of antiquity is located on a rock 156 meters high above sea level. This rock natural origin and has a flat top. It is noteworthy that the entire complex architectural and spatial complex of the Athenian Acropolis takes into account surrounding nature. Let's take a walk through this ancient fortress.

Approaching the Acropolis, in the area of ​​the southern wall, we will see that the rock on which the Acropolis was built is fortified with stone walls. These walls are huge, five meters thick! Such walls were around the entire complex, but only a fragment of them has survived to this day, which we can see.

These are very ancient walls! They were erected in the 13th century BC. e. According to legend, these majestic walls were erected by creatures of supernatural power - the Cyclops. The ancient Greeks believed this. And today, even looking at a fragment of these gigantic walls, we are also ready to believe that only mythical creatures-strongmen could build walls of such dimensions!

In general, it should be noted that the first fortifications on the rocky spur of this rock appeared long before the onset of the classical period. In those distant times, the Acropolis was the center of the political and military life of the city: first of all, it was the residence of the ruler. But at the end of the second millennium BC, the Acropolis acquires exclusively cult significance!

According to myths, the wooden image of the goddess Athena, the patroness of the forces of the earth and the militant protector of the city, was thrown by Zeus to Earth and fell right on the Acropolis! Therefore, it was here that temples were erected in honor of the goddess! But, unfortunately, almost all of them were destroyed by the Persian king Xerxes, who captured Athens in 480-479 BC. e. This is even evidenced in his notes by the "father of history" Herodotus himself.

The Acropolis was rebuilt only in the so-called golden age of Pericles. This Athenian strategist, having concluded a truce with Sparta, got the opportunity to start arranging the capital. Under the guidance of the greatest of the Greek sculptors, Phidias, by the end of the 5th century BC. The Acropolis was rebuilt. Moreover, the new Acropolis was incredibly beautiful and grandiose!

Let's get closer. The Propylaea appear before us from the western part of the complex.

This is the main, solemn entrance to the Acropolis! These gates were erected in 437-432 BC. Let's mentally fast forward to the distant 5th century BC. and let's see what the Propylaea were at that time, and at the same time we will see what happened here. So, we are in the distant past! In front of us, the Athenians are slowly climbing the wide stone stairs to the Propylaea. Look, pedestrians are walking along the side aisles, and horsemen and chariots are passing through the central one! Sacrificial animals are also led here.

Pay attention to the Propylaea themselves! They are made of Pentelikon marble. See how beautiful this material is. Today, this marble looks different. But nothing can be done, time takes its toll. And in those days, the gate was simply amazing with its magnificence! You noticed that the Propylaea are two Doric porticos, one of which faces the city, the other - to the top of the Acropolis. Raise your head and look up at the portico ceilings. See those square holes? These are caissons! They are painted with gold stars on a blue background! Very beautiful, isn't it! And you see, where the slope of the hill rises sharply, a transverse wall with five passages was built. So the central of these passages is intended only for solemn processions! In normal times, it is closed with bronze gates. By the way, these gates are the boundaries of the sanctuary. It is a pity that much has not been preserved to this day!

Yes, the Propylaea are amazing! Have you forgotten that we are in the distant past? Remembered? Then look to the left. See this rather large building that adjoins the Propylaea? This is the Pinakothek, an art gallery. Portraits of the heroes of Attica are exhibited here! Now look to the right. See the ledge on the rock? You know, this is the very ledge from which, according to legend, the Athenian king Aegeus in the XIII century BC. rushed down when he saw the ship of his son Theseus entering the harbor with black sails, symbolizing the failure of his voyage to the island of Crete! Remember the legend? And remember that it was a mistake, and Theseus, in fact, was alive! Yes, fate sometimes plays cruel jokes with people! On the ledge is a small rectangular temple of Nike Apteros, dedicated to Nike, the goddess of victory. In translation, its name sounds like "Wingless Victory".

Do you know why Wingless Victory? The fact is that in the conditions of a truce in the protracted Peloponnesian War, the Athenians thereby expressed the hope that victory would not “fly away” from them now! Just look at what an unusually elegant marble temple it is! Standing on a three-stage pedestal, this temple is surrounded on all sides by a sculptural frieze ribbon, which depicted episodes of the struggle between the Greeks and the Persians, the Olympic gods (Athena, Zeus, Poseidon). But we can only see this sculptural band of the frieze by transporting ourselves in our imagination to those distant times. To this day, as you know, it has not survived. If we, all in the same past, go inside the temple, we will see a beautiful sculpture of Athena Nike! The majestic goddess holds a helmet in one hand, and a pomegranate fruit in the other, a symbol of the victorious world! It is a pity, but today this magnificent statue is also no longer visible. She, unfortunately, was also destroyed.

But let's continue our journey through the Acropolis in the past. Let's follow the Athenians into the Propylaea. Passing them, we found ourselves at the very top of the cliff. Look, right in front of us rises a huge bronze statue of Athena Promachos, that is, Athena the Warrior. See the gilded tip of her spear? The Athenians are sure that on clear days it serves as a guide for ships sailing to the city. Just behind the statue, pay attention to open area there is an altar, and a small temple was erected on the left, where the priests perform rites of worship to the patroness of the city - the goddess Athena. If we go up to one of the residents and ask about this place, they will tell us ancient myth about the dispute between Athena and the god Poseidon for possession of the largest of the Greek policies.

We learn that, according to the myth, the winner in this dispute should have been the one whose gift would have been more important for the city. Then Poseidon threw his trident at the Acropolis and in the place of his blow a source of sea water began to beat. He also promised the Athenians success in maritime trade. But Athena still won this dispute! She struck with a spear, and in this place an olive tree grew, which became the symbol of Athens. Therefore, this is where the altar is located. By the way, please note that one of the parts of the temple is dedicated to the legendary king of Athens, Erechtheus. This part is called the Erechtheion. Do not be surprised that only part of the temple. Then there was only a part, but later this name was transferred to the whole temple. And today we know this building as the Erechtheion.

Of greatest interest in the Erechtheion is the Portico of the Daughters - six sculptures of the most beautiful girls support the roof of the temple extension instead of columns. In Byzantine times, they began to be called Caryatids, which meant women from small town Kariya, famous for their exceptional beauty. One of the Caryatids (together with the friezes and pediments of the Parthenon) at the beginning of the 19th century, with the permission of the Turkish government, was taken to England by the ambassador of this country in Constantinople, Lord Elgin. Elgin's act so excited the Athenians that soon a legend was born about the sounds heard in the night - the crying of the five Daughters remaining on the temple for their kidnapped sister. And Lord Byron "dedicated" his poem "The Curse of Athens" to the robber of these immortal treasures. The famous Elgin marbles are still in the British Museum, and the statue on the temple has been replaced with a copy.

Look at the Erechtheion carefully. The peculiarity of the temple is its unusual asymmetric layout, taking into account the unevenness of the soil. Such an interior, marble relief friezes, original porticos, the most famous of which is the portico of caryatids, can only be seen in the past, since they have not survived to this day: the marble relief friezes are completely destroyed, and the porticos are very damaged. But, you must admit that even today, even with damaged porticos, the Erechtheion is still beautiful! This is a gem of ancient Greek architecture!

The temple consists of two, located on different levels, premises. The eastern part of the temple is higher than the western part. By the way, remember the legend told to us by the inhabitants of Athens about the dispute between Athena and Poseidon?

According to legend, two powerful deities, Poseidon and Athena, fought for the right to patronize the city and its inhabitants. The Olympic gods, in order to resolve this dispute, offered the rivals to make a gift to the city. Poseidon hit the rock with his trident and scored from it with a key sea ​​water- a symbol of the sea power of the city, which was given to it by the god of the sea, and from the place where Athena struck with a spear, an olive tree sprang up. The gods recognized Athena's gift as much more valuable and gave the people under her protection, and the city was named after her.

Now look at the floor in the temple, see these irregularities? These are the marks of Poseidon's trident! Do you see the well inside the temple? This well contains salty sea water. This is the source that, according to legend, Poseidon bestowed on the city! Yes, after all that you have seen, you are now unlikely to say that myths are fiction! On the western side, close to the Erechtheion, is the sanctuary of the nymph Pandrosa. It is there, inside the open courtyard, that you can see the sacred olive, the very one that Athena, according to legend, gave to the inhabitants of the city.

We hope you have not forgotten that we are still in the past? Then we will continue our journey through the Acropolis. Do you see the solemn procession heading to the most majestic temple of the Acropolis, to the Parthenon?

This is the holiday of the Great Pan-fines! The climax of this celebration takes place at the altar in front of the eastern facade of the Parthenon, where new clothes for the statue of Athena are handed over to the priests. Yes, the Parthenon is the most important and most iconic place in the Acropolis. This temple is also dedicated to the goddess Athena. But this time she acted in the guise of Athena-Parthenos or Athena-Virgo. Hence the name of the temple.

Look how beautiful this temple is!

It has amazing harmony! Its steps, outer colonnade, pediments, friezes and metopes - everything is impeccable and magnificent! The entire building was erected from local white marble. The Parthenon is a masterpiece of ancient Greek architecture and a symbol of Greek genius! Let's climb its marble steps. By the way, pay attention to the columns of the temple. You see, the columns taper upwards. This is not an optical illusion, this is how it really is. This architectural technique helps to visually increase the height of the columns, and it seems that they rush high into the sky and almost touch the sky!

As we said, all the elements of the Parthenon's construction, including the roof tiles and steps, were carved from local Pentelian marble, almost white, but with time acquiring a warm yellowish tint. Therefore, today the Parthenon no longer looks snow-white. But, nevertheless, even today it is called the "anthem" Ancient Greece and the "beauty of simplicity"!

Let's enter the Parthenon. Look, in the space bounded by the inner colonnade, there is a colossal, golden and ivory cult statue of Athena! Today it has not survived, but in the past we can see it. You see, the clothes and helmet of the goddess are made of pure gold, and the hair and shield are made of gold plates. Look at her eyes! They are made from precious sapphires! On the right hand of Athena she holds the figure of the goddess of victory Nike, at the left shoulder - a spear. Luxurious robes, a helmet, a shield and an aegis, decorated with the mask of the Gorgon Medusa, give the statue a majestic solemnity. Yes, this is a real goddess! Here she is - the great patroness of the great city!

statue of Athena Parthenos

The sculptural groups on the pediments of the temple depict the deeds of this goddess. In the east - the birth of Athena, who, fully armed, jumped out of the head of Zeus after the blacksmith god Hephaestus cut his head with an ax. In the west, there is a dispute between Athena and Poseidon, already known to us, when the olive tree donated by the goddess was recognized as a more valuable gift than the source of salt water discovered in the rock by Poseidon. Yes, unfortunately, not everything that was created by the ancient masters, and that the Athenians of distant times could see, has survived to this day. Let's now return from our time travel. Let's look at the great Acropolis today. Agree that all the same, what is left and preserved is also just great! Yes, the Acropolis is truly a standard of harmony, naturalness and beauty!

Here are a couple more photos from the Acropolis:

At the entrance to the Acropolis is also Theater of Herod Attica. Tiberius Claudius Herod Atticus was one of the richest Athenian citizens, as well as the Roman governor in the province of Asia. Among other things, he was a famous philosopher and was the teacher of Marcus Aurelius.
In 161 AD in memory of his wife, he built the Odeon (theater) in Athens. This is a perfectly preserved example of Roman architecture in Athens.
The theater had a stage 35.4 meters long built on two floors and was covered with white and black marble slabs from the Karista quarries. The capacity of the theater was up to 5,000 people. The roof of the theater was made of cedar wood.
The theater premises were rebuilt and today the Athens Festival is held in the theater, where they present their art to the attention of the audience. the best theaters peace.

In the 6th century BC the tyrant Peisistratus, who ruled in Athens, instilled the cult of Dionysus in Athens and organized the Great Dionysia, which were held during March - April. At about the same time, the poet Thespis, a native of the demos of Ikaria, appeared in Athens. He introduced the first actor in Dionysia and began to write texts himself, which the actor and members of the choir were to read. Before Thespides, these texts were pure improvisation of the choristers. Thespis also began to devote texts not only to events from the life of Dionysus, but also to other heroes. Greek mythology and real historical figures. Actor masks were also invented and introduced, since the same actor had to play many roles.

In the 4th century BC, during the reign of Lycurgus, the wooden spectator rows were replaced with stone ones and have not changed since then. The stage of the theater has been rebuilt many times.

There are 78 spectator rows in the theater, which are divided by a passage into two zones. The passage is also part of the Peripate - the path that surrounds the sacred rock of the Acropolis.

The front marble spectator rows, 67 seats, were intended in ancient times for rulers, archons and priests. In the center of the front rows is the throne of the chief priest of the temple of Dionysus Eleftherios.

The Romans changed the theater twice. Once during the reign of Emperor Nero, in the 1st century AD and another time during the reign of Phaedrus, in the 3rd century AD.

The friezes that can be seen today on the proscenium of the theater depict scenes from the myths of Dionysus. The first frieze depicts the birth of a god: Zeus is sitting, and in front of him is Hermes with the baby Dionysus in his arms, along the edges of Kurita they are dancing a combat dance with weapons in their hands. Then Icarus is depicted sacrificing a goat to Dionysus, and on the right, only Dionysus is depicted with his friend Satyr.

Among the exhibits of the museum is a well-preserved metope from the southern facade of the Parthenon, depicting the battle of the Lapiths with the centaurs. The pearls of the museum are the original Caryatids from the southern portico of the Erechtheion. The statues are stored in a room with a special temperature regime.

The Athenian Acropolis, which is a 156-meter rocky hill with a gentle top (approx. 300 m long and 170 m wide), is the site of the oldest settlement in Attica. In the Mycenaean period (15-13 centuries BC) it was a fortified royal residence. In the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. There was a lot of construction going on on the Acropolis. Under the tyrant Peisistratus (560-527) in place royal palace a temple of the goddess Athena Hekatompedon was built (i.e., a temple a hundred steps long; fragments of sculptures of pediments have been preserved, a foundation has been revealed). In 480, during the Greco-Persian wars, the temples of the Acropolis were destroyed by the Persians. The inhabitants of Athens took an oath to restore the shrines only after the expulsion of enemies from Hellas. In 447, on the initiative of Pericles, new construction began on the Acropolis; the management of all the works was entrusted to the famous sculptor Phidias, who, apparently, was the author of the artistic program that formed the basis of the entire complex, its architectural and sculptural appearance.

The sacred road, along which the procession of the Athenians moved from the agora to the temple of the patron goddess during the main holiday of the Great Panathenas, leads to the Propylaea, which has 5 passages and was flanked in antiquity by two equestrian statues of the Dioscuri. In the left wing, protruding from them, there was the Pinakothek (a collection of pinak paintings brought as a gift to the goddess Athena), in the right there was a repository of manuscripts and a room for the gatekeeper and watchmen. To the right of the Propylaea on a pyrgos (a ledge of a fortified rock) stands a small, light and graceful temple of the Ionic order, dedicated to Athena Nike, known as the Temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Victory; 443-420, architect Kallikrates).

After the participants of the procession passed the Propylaea and entered the sacred territory, a panorama of the central part of the complex opened before them. In the foreground, slightly to the left of the road, stood a colossal bronze statue of Athena Promachos (Warrior), cast by Phidias. Behind it in the distance was the Erechtheion (architect unknown), the temple of Athena and Poseidon at the site of the dispute between these gods for the possession of Attica. The temple has a unique Greek architecture asymmetric plan; its three porticos are located at different levels: on the west side - a portico leading to the temple of Athena Poliada (City), on the north - the entrance to the sanctuary of Poseidon-Erechtheus, at the southern wall of the temple - the famous portico of caryatids; the whole building was surrounded by a frieze with overlaid white figures (not preserved). In the Erechtheion, the oldest sanctuary of Athens, there was the sacred xoan of Athena (a wooden statue), according to legend, which fell from the sky, the altars of Hephaestus and the hero Booth, the tomb of the legendary Athenian king Kekrop, from the west adjoined the sanctuary of the Attic dew goddess Pandrosa. In the courtyard of the Erechtheion, a sacred olive tree grew, donated to the city by Athena, a salty spring beat, which Poseidon carved with his trident.

The lightness of forms, the special sophistication of decorative finishes and the complexity of the composition of the small Erechtheion contrasts with the strict and majestic, emphatically monumental Parthenon (Temple of Athena the Virgin; 69.5 m long and 30.9 m wide, the height of the columns is 10.5 m ; built in 447 - consecrated in 438; architect Iktin with the participation of Callicrates), which is a Doric peripter. The building is perceived from the Propylaea in three quarters - the audience saw not one of its facades, but the entire volume of the structure, got an idea of ​​​​its appearance as a whole, and before seeing the main, eastern facade, they had to go around the temple from the outside.

In the temple itself, in the naos, there was a chrysoelephantine statue of Athena Parthenos (Virgin) by Phidias, the sacred money of the goddess and the treasury of the Athenian Maritime Union were kept in the opisthodom. In the pediments there were sculptural groups depicting the most significant events in the cult of Athena - her birth and the dispute with the sea god Poseidon for the possession of Attica. The metope reliefs around the perimeter of the building depicted scenes of mythological battles. Architectural details, sculpture and reliefs were brightly painted. The plan and order decision of the Parthenon also differ from the traditional ones in a number of features: in front of the naos there was a hall - a maiden's chamber (the Parthenon, which gave the name to the whole temple), along the wall of the naos there was an Ionic frieze depicting the Panathenaic procession.

In front of the Parthenon, on the right side of the Propylaea, there were also the sanctuaries of Artemis Brauronia and Athena Ergana (Craft), a repository of weapons and sacred armor - Halkoteka (450). The open area of ​​the Acropolis was occupied by numerous altars and gifts to the gods - statues, steles. The temple and theater of Dionysus (6th century BC - rebuilt in 326), the Odeon of Pericles (a covered round building for musical competitions) (2nd half of the 5th century BC) adjoined the northwestern slope of the Acropolis .), the theater of Herodes Atticus (2nd century AD), the sanctuary of Asclepius, Stoya (Portico) of Eumenes.

Parthenon

In ancient times, the Parthenon rising above the hill could be seen from any part of Attica and even from the islands of Salamis and Aegina; sailors approaching the shore could already see from afar the brilliance of the spear and helmet of Athena the Warrior. In ancient times, the sanctuary was known not only as a cult center, but also as a monument of art, confirming the glory of Athens as the "school of Hellas" and the most beautiful city. The well-thought-out composition of the entire ensemble, perfectly found general proportions, a flexible combination of various orders, the finest modeling of architectural details and their unusually accurate drawing, the close relationship between architecture and sculptural decoration - make the buildings of the Acropolis highest achievement ancient Greek architecture and one of the most outstanding monuments of world art.

In the 5th century, the Parthenon became the church of Our Lady, the statue of Athena Parthenos was transported to Constantinople. After the conquest of Greece by the Turks (in the 15th century), the temple was turned into a mosque, to which minarets were attached, then into an arsenal; The Erechtheion became the harem of the Turkish pasha, the temple of Nike Apteros was dismantled, and the wall of the bastion was built from its blocks. In 1687, after being hit by a cannonball from a Venetian ship, an explosion destroyed almost all central part temple of Athena the Virgin, during an unsuccessful attempt by the Venetians to remove the sculptures of the Parthenon, several statues were broken. At the beginning of the 19th century, the Englishman Lord Elgin broke out a number of metopes, tens of meters of a frieze and almost all the surviving sculptures of the pediments of the Parthenon, a caryatid from the portico of the Erechtheion.

After the declaration of independence of Greece, during the restoration work (mainly at the end of the 19th century), the ancient appearance of the Acropolis was restored as far as possible: all late buildings on its territory were liquidated, and the temple of Nike Apteros was re-laid. The reliefs and sculptures of the temples of the Acropolis are in the British Museum (London), in the Louvre (Paris) and the Acropolis Museum. The sculptures that remained in the open air have now been replaced by copies.

The Acropolis of Athens (Greece) is the most popular and interesting attraction that several million travelers come to see every year. It is visible from various points of the city, because the government has forbidden the construction of high-rise buildings nearby that can block this attraction. People new to the map of Athens can use the Acropolis as a guide to avoid getting lost in the narrow streets of the city.

History of the Acropolis

In ancient Greece, the term "acropolis" meant a well-fortified place or settlement. Several millennia ago, the main city was located here, protected by reliable fortifications from enemies. Even before the beginning of the Mycenaean era, the Acropolis was a majestic city. On the territory there were many temples with the necessary objects of worship and other important state buildings. Due to the monumentality of the structures, it is assumed that the mythical Cyclopes took part in the construction of the Acropolis. Only they could lift huge boulders.

In the period from the 15th to the 13th century BC, the royal residence was located in the Acropolis. If you believe in the reality of myths, it was here that the residence of Theseus, who owns the victory over the Minotaur, was located.

By the 7th century BC. Athena became the main patroness of the Acropolis. Her cult became widespread, and a beautiful temple was erected in honor of the goddess. A century later, Peisistratus began to actively build up the Acropolis, new buildings of the Propylaea and the Areopagus appeared.

Alas, during the war with the Persians, the Acropolis was badly damaged. Most of buildings were completely destroyed. The Greeks did not accept the fall of their beloved city and vowed to restore its greatness. With the advent of peace in 447 BC. builders, under the guidance of the famous sculptor and architect Phidias, began to revive the Acropolis. They restored it completely, some temples of the Acropolis of that period have survived to this day. Among them are the Erechtheion, the temple of the goddess Nike, the statue of Athena, and the Parthenon.

Until the 3rd century AD The acropolis existed in relative world, so the inhabitants were able to significantly increase the architectural wealth of the city. Statues of kings and new temples appeared, but the danger of another invasion forced them to switch to strengthening the walls.

Over the next few centuries, power over the Acropolis changed. Other saints were worshiped in the temples, and the main buildings changed their purpose. Having regained power, the Greeks began to actively restore the Acropolis. The main task of the builders was to restore the place to its original appearance.

Acropolis architecture

Today the Acropolis is the largest temple complex. Thanks to the work of restorers, many buildings appear almost in their original form. They amaze with snow-white columns, labyrinths of corridors and high walls. The entrance to the territory was carried out through the gate. Some of them are called Bule Gates after the archaeologist who found them. The gate was built in a powerful fortress wall in 267 BC.

Immediately outside the gates, the Propylaea began - buildings that immersed travelers in the world of the Acropolis. They consisted of a long colonnade with porticoes. Passing through the corridors, the travelers appeared in front of the statue of Athena, the patroness of the city. The statue was so large that its helmet and spear could be seen from the ships passing by.

Behind the Propylaea, tourists see the Temple of Nike Apteros (Wingless Nike). This is a small building with four columns and sculptures, which are located on the frieze ribbon. The wingless Goddess of Victory was made on purpose so that she could not fly away from the Greeks.

The most important temple of the Acropolis - the Parthenon - is located almost in the heart ancient city. This the greatest building built in honor of Athena. The length of the temple exceeds 70 m, and its width is 30 m. The perimeter is decorated with huge ten-meter columns.

Many buildings of the Acropolis belong to the architect Phidias. He also created a beautiful statue of Athena, which reached a height of 12 m. The statue was decorated with many decorative elements symbolizing invincibility. Part of the attire and decorations were made of gold.

Not far from the Parthenon is another beautiful temple - the Erechtheion. It is dedicated to King Erechtheus, Athena and Poseidon. The building also served as a storehouse, a treasury and a place for religious ceremonies. Due to the unevenness of the earth's surface, the western part has a lower height than the rest of the sides.

The structures of the Athenian Acropolis are very diverse, in addition to those listed, the following buildings can be distinguished:

• Sanctuary of Aphrodite. The ruins of a temple with a beautiful architrave covered with figures of doves with garlands have survived to this day.
• Sanctuary of Artemis. The building from the time of Peisistratus is decorated with a large colonnade and statues of Artemis.
• The Temple of Augustus, built in honor of the Roman emperor, has a compact size and a round shape. Its diameter is 8.5 m, and the perimeter is decorated with nine columns.
• Sanctuary of Zeus. A small temple, which was divided by a low side into the hall of the temple itself, where rituals were held, and a place for gifts.
• Halkoteka. A special room where all the necessary attributes were kept for rituals in honor of Athena. It is located near the Temple of Artemis.
• Theater of Dionysus. A beautiful building in the south of the Acropolis. According to legend, the inhabitants of the city killed Dionysus, thinking that he wanted to poison them. To atone for their guilt, they began to organize noisy holidays on the day of his death in the theater of Dionysus.

The restoration process of the Acropolis has not yet been completed. There are several reconstruction programs funded both by the government and by independent charities. Scientists are sure that the Acropolis has not yet revealed all its secrets, therefore research work And archaeological excavations continue.

Acropolis Museum

In addition to the ruins of ancient buildings, it is worth visiting the Acropolis Museum. At first it was located in a small room near the Parthenon. The first expositions were exhibited there in 1878. Gradually, the number of exhibits increased and it was decided to build a modern building. Today the museum is located at a distance of 300 meters from the walls of the city.

The galleries show archaeological finds found in the Acropolis. Among them are the Parthenon friezes and sculptures by masters of the 5th century. BC. There are many statues from the temples, which depict battle scenes of gods, giants, Hercules, figures of Caryatids and Moschophoros. Some statues require a strict temperature regime, which is closely monitored by the museum staff.

Tours of the Acropolis

The complex is open daily from 8:00 to 18:30, except for public holidays. Entrance to the territory is paid, it is 12 euros. EU citizens are offered discounts: the entrance fee for pensioners and students is 6 euros, and schoolchildren visit attractions for free. On one ticket, a tourist has the right to see the sights for four days. To enter the Acropolis Museum, you need to pay an additional 1 euro.

It will take from 4 to 6 hours to explore the numerous temples in detail, so you should stock up on water and sun protection. Comfortable clothes and shoes are welcome. Although it rarely rains here, the marble steps can be slippery even in dry weather.

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 grandeur 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 on the territory of destruction. architectural monuments. 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 of 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 site, Acropolis of Athens created in exceptional harmony with nature. Among the buildings:

Parthenon.

Temple of the goddess Nike.

Propylaea.

1. Sanctuary of Artemis Brauronia.

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. the sights of the ancient city today are one of the main ones 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 of ancient Greece. It was raised in beautiful place islands. Staying there evokes thoughts of the Middle Ages on tourists.