Athens – Acropolis – Parthenon

THE ACROPOLIS
The word ‘Acropolis’ means the edge of the city. There are many citadels all over Greece. Citadels were always built at a high point, and were often used as a shelter and place to defend against various enemies. The Acropolis of Athens is the most famous of all, so it is known as the “Acropolis”.
The sacred rock of the Acropolis, a symbol of Athens, dominates the center of the modern city and is visible from every corner of it.
The symbol of Athens is the sacred rock, the link between the wonderful ancient civilization and the modern. The monuments that exist today in the Sacred Rock date from the prehistoric period to the depths of antiquity.
There is no Greek or foreign visitor who does not wish to perform the pilgrimage to this sacred rock and to feel its grandeur and beauty. It is an unforgettable and unique experience.

The archaeological walk is an unforgettable experience
The total distance of the archaeological promenade of Athens is about 5 km. The monuments that the visitor can see on the Acropolis are all admirable! Characteristic monuments of that time are:

The Parthenon
The Parthenon, dedicated to the virgin goddess Athena, was built in 447 bc. from Iktino and Kallikratis and under the supervision of Pheidias. The latter designed and constructed the amazing decoration of the temple and the huge statue of Athena of gold and ivory that was kept in the temple. The temple is enormous by combining Ionic and Doric elements, but the impressive architectural achievement is that it creates an impression of lightness as if it hovers a few centimeters above the ground. This is accomplished by the fact that neither does it have not have a single straight line (even if it looks straight) nore a single vertical line.
The columns protrude slightly in the middle and bend inwards as they go up. If we could extend them upward they would form a triangle.

The Propylaea
The Propylaea, the monumental entrance of the sanctuary, still provoke the admiration of its inventive architect Mensikli, who masterfully adapted the gigantic marble structure to the inhospitable surface of the natural rock.

The Erechtheion
The Erechtheion, the temple with its strange shape and the famous Caryatids, was associated with ancient popular beliefs and founding legends of Athens. Here were the first legendary kings of the city of Kekropas and Erechtheus, but also the two great gods of Attica, Athena Polia and Neptune. Indeed, according to tradition, in the Erechtheion there were also the “holy points” left behind by the two gods’ brawling about who will rule the city: the traces of the trident of Poseidon and the olive tree, the gift of Athena to Attica.

The Temple of Athena Nike
The temple of Athena Nike was erected in the Peloponnesian War as a tribute to the goddess of war who won so many victories for the Athenians. Built on a tall tower on the edge of the rock, the small Ionic temple resembles from a long distance to hang in the void. On the edge of the tower were decorated relief wings of Victory, reminiscent of another famous depiction of this deity, the famous Victory of Samothrace

Τhe Acropolis Museum

Τhe Acropolis Museum, one of the most important in the world, includes unique masterpieces, especially original works of archaic and classical Greek art, which are directly linked to the sacred rock of the Athenian Acropolis. The Acropolis Museum is one of the most popular museums in Europe thanks to its design and, of course, the richness of its exhibits. This museum houses the Acropolis monuments and is a relatively new building, since its construction began in 2000. It is located in the center of Athens a few meters from the Acropolis and the base of the building gives the feeling that all the space hangs over the existing archaeological excavation The museum has been rewarded many times and is a modern building bathed in the natural sunlight while offering extensive collections from the Acropolis. Covering different periods of history, the Museum has findings from the surrounding area. Excavations extend from the Hellenic Bronze Age and later, while visitors can see exhibits from the Roman and Byzantine times. An exciting world unfolds in front of you, a world that travels you in the past. This is the magic of the Acropolis Museum!